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Written by:
Colin Young
06/26/2008 - 12:07 PM
Assen, The Netherlands
Ducati Marlboro's Casey Stoner (Photo: Ducati Corse) ยป More Photos
Just four days after the crushing win by Casey Stoner and Ducati in the British Grand Prix nothing has changed. Stoner stunned his rivals by going 1.1s under the lap record in early practice for Saturday's Dutch TT at Assen with his rivals searching for answers.
The margin to the second rider, Yamaha's Valentino Rossi, was 0.7s and Stoner's pace was scarily fast ahead of Assen's traditional Saturday raceday.
And Tech3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards, third fastest today, says there is only one answer.
"We're all racing for second already," said Edwards at the end of two hours of free practice in sunny and warm conditions. "I don't know what Casey and Ducati have found but right now they seem untouchable. It's seventeen of us versus Casey.
"Somebody has stuck a rocket up Casey's ass. It's like that Eminem song, 'Guess who's back, who's back again?' I got to say he's really impressive.
"The race lap record here is 1'37.1 and that's not a qualifier he is on and he is doing a 1'36.0. And that is making us all look like chumps and I'm under the lap record pace too.
"So he is nailing it to us right now and hats off to him."
Hayden was fourth fastest and also a fraction under his own circuit record, making good use of his decision to switch to Honda's air-valve motor.
But the 2006 world champion was also taken aback by Stoner's performance, reminiscent of his dominance and 10 race victories last season. With superb and nerveless riding, Stoner is now making the most of recent engine management updates to Ducati's 800cc V4 motor.
"It's frightening, he's really putting the times down," Hayden said. "But it doesn't matter what they have done to that bike, I can tell you Casey is riding the wheels of that thing.
"Right now it's a little bit scary."
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