Casey Stoner not expecting new parts before first race

Aussie Casey Stoner reckons he is unlikely to get any major new parts for Ducati’s new GP9 before the seasons gets underway in Qatar on April 12.

The 2007 MotoGP world champion though hardly needs any help after he produced a stunning start to 2009 by topping the timesheets at the opening test in Sepang last weekend.

Despite his left wrist being less than 100 per cent fit because of his pre-Christmas bone graft operation, he still managed to narrowly beat reigning world champion Valentino Rossi to the best time.

The Malaysia test was only Stoner’s third outing on the new carbon fibre chassis GP9 and he said its potential was obvious for all to see.

And he thinks Ducati has already got a competitive package, without the need for any major changes to the bike in the remaining tests in Qatar and Jerez.

“We never really have new parts. Ducati test everything and you know it is going to be good reliable, they just don’t keep throwing in parts as the season goes on.

“Even last season when we struggled from the beginning, we basically had those options from the beginning of the season and when we finally found them the bike was great for part of the season.

“It is just a matter of experimenting with this bike, its all in there, just needs to be brought out. But we don’t need any new parts to show it is capable of.”