Moto GP 
/ Trent Burton / 10 June 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Casey Stoner remains the man to beat, whatever the conditions
"Last week Stoner was (an unheard of) [1.6] for the win, in which he dutifully delivered, and after today’s sessions he’s at that price yet again. The form he’s in at the moment, coupled with the fact he enjoys Silverstone, means he’s without question the man most deserving of your money this weekend."
The weather has already played a big part in the racing so far at Silverstone and threatens to carry on doing so but the class and speed of Casey Stoner has been on show nonetheless. Oppose him at your peril, says Trent Burton.
The first day's practice at Silverstone has offered us four season in one day. The MotoGP boys' ninety minutes on track had a little bit of everything - from bright sun to pouring rain and everything in between. There was one constant through all of this though.
In every condition, Casey Stoner was in a league of his own. Six tenths quicker than the field in the dry, two seconds quicker in the wet and then seven tenths up on the drying track. And despite all this he spoke of a missing a lot of grip in the morning session. Everyone else has to be hoping like hell he doesn't find it.
Last week Stoner was (an unheard of) [1.6] for the win, in which he dutifully delivered, and after today's sessions he's at that price yet again. The form he's in at the moment, coupled with the fact he enjoys Silverstone, means he's without question the man most deserving of your money this weekend.
Last year's runaway winner Jorge Lorenzo has looked comfortable on the Yamaha today but there's no question it's down on power. Silverstone is a fast and flowing circuit and not the place where the nimbleness of the Yamaha can make up for it's downfalls in the top speed department. It's visibly smooth, but just not that quick. He's not been able to get within a second of Stoner today but he's still a second favourite for the win, albeit a distant one at [5.7]. He'll take it to the Australian the best he can, but I expect another points consolidating ride from Jorge on Sunday rather than outright glory.
Everyone has been saying, pretty much since round one now that Marco Simoncelli is more than due his first ever- podium. He got a terrible start last week from pole and you got the feeling he was almost scared to overtake after the Le Mans incident and cruised home in sixth. He's been the only guy to get close to Stoner so far at Silverstone and I'd be taking anything around [1.6] for a top 3 result.
The biggest cheers in Britain are bizarrely not reserved for the British riders but instead for Valentino Rossi. But based on today's performance there will be little to cheer about. Yes, this is Rossi's first proper look at the circuit having missed last year's race through injury. But even so, to see him in twelfth, over three seconds off the pace, in this morning's dry session was a huge shock. Then the rain came. Usually the rain is a great leveler and like he did in the wet in Jerez, I expected to see him much closer to the front. Instead he came home in ninth.
I went and had a good look at the Ducatis around various points in the circuit today and it's clear they are having real difficulties with that bike mid corner. Rossi just can't put the power down with any sort of confidence and they need to rectify that as quickly as possible. It's not often you see a look on Vale's face that's one of dejection, but I saw that this afternoon.
From a hometown point of view, things are shaping up very nicely indeed. Cal Crutchlow has been in great spirits all week, ready to give it his all in his first ever home GP.
It's not just Cal going well for the Brits, though. In the 125cc class Danny Webb was second quickest in the wet whilst in Moto2 Scott Redding was fastest in the dry and Bradley Smith third quickest in the wet. If you're after a patriotic punt, given the forecast, I'd be taking Bradley Smith at [2.1] to make his first Moto2 podium on Sunday.
I'll be back briefly tomorrow after qualifying with an update on the progress everyone's made with some more track time and also take a punt on the biggest gamble of the weekend. The weather.
Recommended Bets
Back Casey Stoner for the win at [1.6]
Back Bradley Smith for a Top 3 in Moto2 at [2.1]
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