After starting from second at the Motegi circuit on Sunday in the second MotoGP race of 2009, Casey Stoner was looking for more than his eventual fourth place at the Japanese venue.

After dropping back early on Casey Stoner fought back and passed the likes of fellow Aussie Chris Vermeulen, former team-mate Marco Melandri and Andrea Dovizioso to finsish fourth, eventually crossing the line just two seconds behind podium finisher Dani Pedrosa.

Assessing his performace Stoner said, “The race in general I am quite happy with, as I think I rode quite well. The team did the best job they could this weekend, with the short time that we had, and everybody else is in the same situation.”

Ducati rider Nicky Hayden was expecting to start Friday’s practice session for the Polini Grand Prix of Japan having fully recovered from his Qatar crash, however on Thursday Hayden said that he would have to wait longer to put the unfortunate incident behind him.

“I got checked out again at home; no disrespect to the hospital in Qatar, but it’s always good to get your own doctor and people you trust to look you over,” said Hayden. “I went today to get the two stitches in my chest taken out, but the doctors said that it wasn’t ready yet so we’ll keep those in. They don’t bother me at all, apart from itching sometimes.”

Whilst the crash without doubt affected his performance at round 1, Nicky Hayden believes that he is starting in near-perfect condition this weekend.

“I’m not at 100% for some things, but the motorcycle position is no problem for me. My sleep wasn’t affected, and being in my own bed certainly helped. It just shows how much things like back braces, helmets and boots have progressed that I can take a crash like that and be OK.”

Round 2 promises to be a must watch event. 

2008 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi’s achievements have been recognised with a nomination for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award, the award will be decided at the tenth edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards.

The Italian is one of six sportsmen to be entered onto the final shortlist. Also in contention for the award are Olympic gold medal winners Michael Phelps & Usain Bolt, F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, ATP tennis world number one Rafael Nadal and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Valentino Rossi has been acknowledged by the selection panel in the past, In 2006 he was named as the winner of the Laureus Spirit of Sport Award for his contribution to motorcycling.

Previous winners of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award are Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Michael Schumacher and Lance Armstrong.

Returning from a considerable break from the MotoGP paddock, Sete Gibernau returned to race at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, Gibernau was delighted after wards to have achieved a point-scoring finish in his comeback race.

Gibernau had qualified in 15th place on the grid, but the 36yr old from Barcelona got away solidly at the start and managed to maintain a decent pace and eventually on his new satellite Ducati bike crossed the line in 13th position. It was Sete Gibernau’s first race since the Portuguese GP of 2006, on that day he crashed out and injured his shoulder, leading him to announce his retirement from the sport.

Now riding with the newly established Grupo Francisco Hernando team in his 2009 return, Sete Gibernau said, “It was a hard race for us. We didn’t know if we could go the whole distance so I want to thank the team, as they did a great job and they really helped me a lot. I’m satisfied because beforehand I didn’t think I would be able to finish the race and we even got some points so I couldn’t ask for more!

Casey Stoner almost made the first race in Qatar look easy, but after the race the Stoner revealed that his third consecutive victory at the Losail International Circuit came with a lot of concentration and adaptation was also required needed over the 22-lap race.

Stoner revealed that a fuel consumption issue had Casey modifying his style as he streaked out in front.

“We had a very small problem with fuel consumption, and the team had told me that if it was possible I should run in a way that would help it out. I tried faster corner speeds and riding with higher gears, but from about lap ten it wasn’t enough,” said the Ducati Marlboro man. “I had to change my style again, but there were no problems after that.

Casey Stoner regarded his win at the Losail circuit in 2008 as a false dawn in his season, as the victory would disguise some serious problems with the Desmosedici GP8 that would end up taking time to solve. This year the Aussie sees himself as being in a much stronger position for the upcoming season.

In the 2008 MotoGP season Andrea Dovizioso was like a breath of fresh air, he finished as the highest non-factory rider in fifth place.

Dovizioso will head into his second season in MotoGP class at this weekend’s first race of the year at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, but now he is as a Repsol Honda team rider, having been ‘promoted’ by HRC, no doubt as a reward for his hard work and loyalty to honda.

Winter testing has proven to be a testing time the Italian youngster as he has to adapt to riding on Bridgestone tyres and has taken on the burden of extra responsibility which comes with being a factory rider. Furthermore his new team-mate Dani Pedrosa has missed a significant amount of preseason testing due to injury, which has all led to extra pressure on Dovizioso and his crew.

Dovizioso a former 125cc World Champion made a spectacular entrance to the MotoGP in 2008 when he qualified ninth and finished fourth in his first race at Qatar, beating his charismatic compatriot Valentino Rossi in the process.

It is the first of seventeen races that will decide who shall be crowned the king of the MotoGP takes place at the Losail International Circuit.

The race is the only night event on the MotoGP calendar, the Commercial bank Grand Prix of Qatar is a showpiece event for both the World Championship and the state .

The ever present Italian and Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi has won races at every track used in 2009, but is still chasing a win after sunset. Valentino Rossi was victorious by day in the desert in 2005 and 2006, engaging in his first head-to-head battle with future title rival Stoner at the latter event. Last season Rossi finished fifth in Qatar, off the podium for the first of only two occasions.

Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider James Toseland is taking a rest following his Jerez highside, from which he was lucky to escape with only a sprained ankle, he has used his recuperation time to thank his fans.

The British rider acknowledged the support of those behind him in a message posted on his official website, in which he admits to not having the best and most enjoyable of preseasons.

‘The Grand Prix Motorcycle - The Official Technical History’ a book written by Kevin Cameron and with a foreword by MotoGP Legend Kenny Roberts Sr is now available ot the public.

The novel is an authoritative technical analysis of Grand Prix bikes, it looks at the motorcycles used right from the beginning of the FIM MotoGP World Championship in 1949 right up to the end of last season.

It is written by an expert on the subject, the book is jam packed with factual detail, insightful perspectives and thought provoking judgement, all which is supported with illustrations of each of the World Champion motorcycles from 60 years of the premier class.

The book also includes, a view at the technical developments in each of the 60 seasons. In depth coverage of 14 major eras, each with a special body-off illustration of the landmark motorcycle design of the period, it also includes data on each of the 60 champion bikes, from title-winning marques AJS, MV Agusta, Gilera, Ducati, Manx, Honda Norton, Yamaha and Suzuki.