1. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1’56.595 294.599
2. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1’56.994 293.000 0.399
3. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda 1’57.584 297.684 0.989
4. Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1’57.741 290.556 1.146
5. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team Honda 1’58.172 294.037 1.577
6. Toni Elias San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1’58.295 288.847 1.700
7. Mika Kallio Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1’58.302 296.296 1.707
8. Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1’58.497 289.699 1.902
9. Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1’58.582 294.599 1.987
10. Marco Melandri Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki 1’58.739 292.682 2.144
11. James Toseland Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1’58.764 290.556 2.169
12. Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1’58.821 291.183 2.226
13. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1’59.041 290.010 2.446
14. Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1’59.055 290.791 2.460
15. Niccolo Canepa Pramac Racing Ducati 1’59.531 289.855 2.936
16. Gabor Talmacsi Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda 1’59.979 292.365 3.384
17. Michel Fabrizio Pramac Racing Ducati 2’00.423 292.762 3.828

Related posts:

1. British Grand Prix Free Practice 2 Results
2. British Grand Prix Qualifying Practice Results
3. Casey on pole — 2009 MotoGP Qatar qualifying times

Niccolo Canepa

“At one point it was difficult just to stay upright, and I didn’t have the advantage that the other riders had in terms of experience. You need to have a lot of patience and sensitivity with the bike in these conditions.”

Mika Kallio

“I’m not very happy, because I expected more from this race. I was fighting for sixth before heavier rain came down, but as soon as I switched machines it became less intense and I couldn’t do times like my first one on slick tires.”

Mika Kallio will undergo another round of surgery on his injured finger this week, after which both riders will rest up ahead of the next round in the Czech Republic.

Related posts:

1. British Grand Prix Qualifying Practice Results
2. British Grand Prix Free Practice 2 Results
3. Mika Kallio showing good signs on first stint with factory bike

One cannot start to fathom what went on the minds of the whole Ducati Marlboro Team when they decided to play God and forecast rain at Donington Park—they setup the Desmosedicis of Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden on full wet-weather tires when no else on the grid did so. One last big gamble perhaps, particularly for Casey Stoner who was down 28 points (with only 7 rounds left) to championship leader Valentino Rossi prior to the race.

But what could have been the decision that put Casey back on course to fight for the championship looked glimmer and glimmer as the race progressed—Casey Stoner (who started 4th) was quickly relinquished to last as early as the first lap. By the second lap, the decision looked even more abominable as riders up front started completing more laps on slicks. By this point, it was either going to rain hard or they just threw away a race.

To add insult to injury, Casey Stoner, had he finished strong with a podium or even just a top ten (finish), could have gained more of an advantage as both Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo (#1 and #2 in the championship) crashed—with Lorenzo not scoring any points and Rossi finishing only fifth.

As for Nicky’s part of the gamble, at least he was not in a position where he could lose or gain something with that big a consequence. Had the gamble paid off for him, sure he could have picked up a place or two (probably even win the race), but at this point he could not lose any much more as he is already in deep as far as the season is concerned—it’s cruel but it’s true.

On the other hand, as I assume we are all MotoGP fans here, I cannot help but feel really good for the top 3: Andrea Dovizoso, Colin Edwards and Randy de Puniet—all having maiden podium finishes for this season, and at one point, all potential first GP win.

I wonder what could Casey and Nicky have left to say as the official statements start to come out. Watch out for those.

Guess who’s the top Ducati rider in this race? Niccolo Canepa.

British Grand Prix final results

1. Andrea Dovizioso
2. Colin Edwards +1.360
3. Randy de Puniet +1.600
4. Alex de Angelis +8.958
5. Valentino Rossi +21.622
6. James Toseland +22.465
7. Marco Melandri +35.284
8. Niccolo Canepa +38.769
9. Dani Pedrosa +42.112
10. Mika Kallio +45.845
11. Loris Capirossi +53.190
12. Gabor Talmacsi +1’12.315
13. Chris Vermeulen +1’20.398
14. Casey Stoner +1 Lap
15. Nicky Hayden +1 Lap

Related posts:

1. Stoner and Hayden talk about wet tire gamble
2. Casey Stoner tops Free Practice 1 at Qatar
3. Casey on pole — 2009 MotoGP Qatar qualifying times

Nicky and Niccolo once again at the bottom? Go Mika!

Related posts:

1. British Grand Prix Free Practice 2 Results
2. Czech Grand Prix Free Practice 1 results
3. Casey on pole — 2009 MotoGP Qatar qualifying times

Related posts:

1. British Grand Prix Qualifying Practice Results
2. Czech Grand Prix Free Practice 1 results
3. Casey on pole — 2009 MotoGP Qatar qualifying times

Aside from Nicky getting his best qualifying result yet, he got involved in a bizarre slash freakish accident when he high-sideded his Desmosedici GP9 on a wet circuit, before the fastest descending part in Sachsenring. Worse, he hit a passing Niccolo Canepa, who had no idea of what had happened until he saw the replays. Both Nicky and Niccolo are beat and bruised but will be able to race tomorrow.

Niccolo Canepa

“What a hit ! I didn’t understand what happened until I saw the replay while I was in the mobile clinic. When I was on the ground after the accident I saw and heard Hayden saying to me “Sorry, sorry, sorry”, but I didn’t understand why. He doesn’t have to worry because this sort of thing can happen and the most important thing is that both of us are ok and ready to race tomorrow. I suffered a hard contusion on my back, head and ankle, but nothing is broken. I felt a lot of heat in my lower back but everything seems back to normality now. I want to thank the mobile clinic doctors who have helped me to relax and will do everything possible to put me back in top form for tomorrow’s race.”

Nicky Hayden

“I saw him out of the corner of my eye. I hoped he’d seen me but I wasn’t sure. I know why I crashed. It was my own fault, rider error, but I was also thinking ‘hell, I hope he’s not going to come back down on the racing line because he was on a slow lap. Sometimes you wonder if people see you, so I was trying to get ahead of him. When I lost the rear and started going right, I just thought ‘I hope I don’t land in front of him.’ At about that time I felt him. He actually cushioned the fall for me. It’s a cruel world and I’m lucky I knocked him down or I could have got hurt worse. So I’m sorry but also grateful!”

Update

Check out the crash in YouTube, before MotoGP files for copyright complaints.

Related posts:

1. Happy Birthday, Niccolo Canepa!
2. Niccolo Canepa Switches To Onde 2000 Ducati
3. Best ever qualifying for Nicky — 4th in Germany

Complete qualifying results for Germany

1. Valentino Rossi 1:32.520
2. Jorge Lorenzo 1:33.160
3. Casey Stoner 1:33.759
4. Nicky Hayden 1:34.404
5. Alex de Angelis 1:34.490
6. Randy de Puniet 1:34.564
7. Colin Edwards 1:34.607
8. Dani Pedrosa 1:34.725
9. Loris Capirossi 1:34.741
10. Mika Kallio 1:34.771
11. Andrea Dovizioso 1:34.892
12. Chris Vermeulen 1:34.937
13. Marco Melandri 1:34.938
14. James Toseland 1:35.005
15. Niccolo Canepa 1:36.012

No Sete Gibernau in this race.

Update – Nicky Hayden talks about qualifying practice

“In some ways the session was a complete disaster but I ended up with my best grid position of the year so I’ll take it! I went out on the first bike and immediately something happened to the gearbox going into turn one and I almost went down. It was stuck in second gear so I had to ride it all the way back to the pits like that. I didn’t feel as comfortable on my second bike but I knew that was all I had to work with for the rest of the session so I was a little tentative. Then we made a couple of changes and got going pretty good. Things were coming together so I went out with ten minutes to go, got right on the pace and felt I could do something special. I set my best time through the first split but then in the downhill section I lost the rear and there was no way of getting it back, unfortunately it took Niccolo out too. I’m basically okay from the crash and I hope Niccolo is okay too because it was my fault. I was trying too hard when it was getting too slippery – it was raining harder but I felt like I could go faster”

Related posts:

1. Nicky Hayden & Niccolo Canepa crash
2. Casey on pole — 2009 MotoGP Qatar qualifying times
3. Casey Stoner tops Free Practice 1 at Qatar

Damage to one of the fingers on his left hand means the Finnish rider will be unable to ride his Ducati Desmosedici GP9 Satellite this weekend at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix and the MotoGP rookie will therefore have to wait a while longer to make his Laguna debut.

The ring finger of his left hand was cut down to the bone in the crash meaning Kallio has lost the nail on that finger for good, though fortunately the nervous system in the finger has not been damaged. A bandage has been placed on the finger and it is being disinfected daily.

After the Sachsenring and Donington rounds, Kallio will probably require a skin graft to permanently close the wound. He is expected to compete at those two European rounds with an imitation skin protection on the injured finger.

The Pramac Racing team have decided not to find a substitute for the Scandinavian rider for the Laguna Seca weekend, meaning Niccolò Canepa will make his American debut alone.

Fabiano Sterlacchini, the Pramac Racing Technical Director, stated, “Mika’s condition is better than what we thought straight after the race, but still we preferred to give him a weekend off to recover. This would have been the first time at Laguna Seca for him and with his precarious physical condition we preferred not to take any more risks and we hope he will be at his best in three weeks time at Sachsenring. Mika will not undergo surgery before the German GP, but will continue to take medication and have the injured finger cleaned daily to avoid infection and further complications.”

Kallio himself commented, “I was so excited to race at Laguna Seca, but I guess destiny wanted it to be this way and I will have to miss out, which is a pity. We have taken this decision together with Pramac Racing and I think this is probably the best way. Laguna would have been a new circuit to learn for me and with my physical condition we thought it would have been too risky. I will look after myself in the best way possible to be in good form at Sachsenring, which is one of my favorite circuits. I wish all the best to Niccolò who will have to do well for the Pramac team this weekend.”

MotoGP.com

Related posts:

1. Pramac retains Mika Kallio for 2010
2. Mika Kallio to replace Casey Stoner
3. Mika Kallio: clutch control problems due to injured finger

The Pramac Racing team surprised Niccolo as he was lured to the Ducati satellite team’s weekend base under the guise of a routine pre-GP interview, before other members of the squadron emerged from the wings. He was presented with a cake and received an Italian rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, which left him beaming with smiles.

“It has been a great surprise that I really didn’t expect,” said the MotoGP rookie. “Everybody says that I need more experience to be a top rider, so now I’m a little closer!”

“It’s a lovely cake, but I can’t eat any of course! I’m already a little too fat!” joked the birthday boy.

Related posts:

1. Niccolo Canepa Switches To Onde 2000 Ducati
2. Nicky Hayden & Niccolo Canepa crash
3. Hayden misses on podium but happy to be back on form

Unfortunately, Nicky Hayden suffered a huge highside at the end of the session and is presently being attended to by doctors. Nicky was conscious.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1:55.286 sec
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1:55.759 sec
3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1:55.783 sec
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1:55.977 sec
5. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:56.149 sec
6. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:56.194 sec
7. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 1:56.358 sec
8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:56.493 sec
9. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:56.790 sec
10. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 1:56.852 sec
11. Marco Melandri ITA Hayate Racing Team 1:56.962 sec
12. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:57.225 sec
13. James Toseland GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:57.510 sec
14. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1:57.729 sec
15. Sete Gibernau SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando 1:57.899 sec
16. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1:58.215 sec
17. Yuki Takahashi JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 1:58.784 sec
18. Niccolo Canepa ITA Pramac Racing 1:58.999 sec

Related posts:

1. British Grand Prix Qualifying Practice Results
2. British Grand Prix Free Practice 2 Results
3. MotoGP Qatar Test Results Day One