Loris Capirossi back up speed and back on the podium,
Casey Stoner keeps fighting for fifth place.
Ducati MotoGP Team rider Loris Capirossi rode a brilliant race to
second place in punishing heat at the Sachsenring this afternoon,
while team-mate Casey Stoner came home in fifth to maintain his
lead at the top of the World Championship.
Capirossi chose a different compound rear Bridgestone to Stoner
and the Italian's choice paid dividends in the later stages of the
race when he came through from fourth place to second. The
newly resurfaced Sachsenring is ultra-demanding on tyres and
today's ground temperature of more than 50 degree made tyre
choice even more critical than usual. Capirossi attributed his
speed to a revised engine spec and weight distribution, as well as
a canny tyre choice.
Steadfast Stoner ran strongly in second place until two-thirds
distance, then began slipping back, fighting a spirited rearguard
battle to stay fifth, just ahead of Marco Melandri and John
Hopkins. Stoner had started the race from pole position after
leading every pre-race session. click on ozzy go to the full story