‘Pathetic’ crash fails to slow Casey Stoner

Casey Stoner bounced back from what he described as a ‘pathetic’ slow speed crash to smash the lap record during a one-day test at the Mugello circuit in Italy yesterday (Monday).

The Australian had a small crash at the first corner in the morning session before he set an impressive best time of 1.47.326, which was nearly 0.7s faster than his pole position time set at the Italian Grand Prix.

Testing a new Bridgestone front tyre for 2012 and a revised swingarm from HRC, the 2007 world champion knocked 1.2s off his best time set in the Mugello race.

Stoner led the Mugello race for 17 of 23-laps but faded to third place having suddenly lost grip caused by an over pressured Bridgestone rear tyre.

Explaining his crash to MCN, the former factory Ducati rider said: “I just ran wide and got on the dirt at the first corner. It wasn’t a big lose and I dropped it onto my elbow but then I couldn’t get it back. The bike slid for only four metres and it was quite a pathetic crash really. I don’t think I even moved a metre after I crashed.”

Stoner was happy with the 2012 Bridgestone front tyre he assessed in a 47-lap stint and he said: “It wasn’t too bad, so we got something positive from this. It wasn’t really any different to the one we have now but maybe there is a little bit more contact feeling.

“The construction is a little different, so it felt good with stability but maybe a little bit more movement in the hard braking, so we will see what happens with that.”

The 25-year-old was also happy with the performance of an updated swingarm that Honda delivered for him to analyse.

Stoner, who has won four out of eight races so far in 2011 to lead Jorge Lorenzo by 19-points, said the swingarm could suit the tight nature of Germany’s Sachsenring for the forthcoming German Grand Prix.

Large parts of the Sachsenring are taken at full lean angle, and Stoner is confident the improved rear grip could work to his advantage.

He added: “The feeling with the swingarm was positive. It is a little bit softer in places and a bit stiffer in other places We’ve got a little bit more grip but earlier so you don’t have to pick up the bike so much and we get more traction, so hopefully this can help us, especially at a track like Sachsenring where you spend a lot of time on the edge of the tyre.”