On 10 March 2007 the Australian won by bending Valentino Rossi in the first stage of the World Championship. Nobody knows, but it is the beginning of the world championship ride
Federico Mariani
March 10
Certain dates are periodic, they mark a before and an after. Certainly March 10, 2007 has a special meaning both for MotoGP and for Casey Stoner. The top class inaugurated on that day the change in displacement of the motorcycles, which went from 990 cc to 800 cc. And the first winner of the new era is an Australian just 21 years old riding a Ducati. A surprising success, embellished by the duel won against Valentino Rossi. Nobody knows at that moment, but it is the beginning of an unforgettable season.
ducati missile
–
The date also has another meaning: for the last time Qatar hosts the top class GP during daytime. Qualifying deceives the Yamahas, with Rossi on pole and teammate Colin Edwards third. Among them Stoner. At the start the M1 number 46 seems to be able to lead easily, but on the straight that leads to the finish line here is the first surprise: the Ducati flies with 30 km / h more top speed. The Red of Borgo Panigale reached 325 km / h, while the Yamaha stopped at 295. A gap that Valentino will underline after the race and during the whole season.
DUEL
–
Rossi, however, does not give up. In the following laps, in the mixed section, the Yamaha seems more docile to ride than the Desmosedici and the Italian manages to take the lead. But once again the situation is reversed on the straight. It is not only thanks to the engine: Stoner’s lines in the last corners before the finish line are perfect and give wings to his bike, unlike his teammate Loris Capirossi, who crashed 15 laps from the end. Casey definitively breaks the delay five laps from the end, increasing the advantage visibly. His progression allows him to get out of the way of all opponents. Valentino is the last to surrender: he finishes second, ahead of Daniel Pedrosa.
predestined
–
The Australian’s victory, his first in MotoGP, doesn’t catch too much attention at the moment. Having arrived at Ducati in place of Sete Gibernau, he does not seem to have what it takes to be a champion, as the difficult experience with the Honda of Lucio Cecchinello would apparently demonstrate. Underestimating him will be a serious mistake: Stoner is serious and the success in Qatar will be accompanied by nine other seasonal affirmations and the world title, so far the only one of the Italian team in the World Championship. Successes matured with a guide as precise as it is instinctive, which has two strengths in the use of drifting and in the speed out of corners. On that 10 March 2007 the MotoGP discovers a new star and Ducati finds its prophet.
10 March 2022 – 09:30
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED