French MotoGP, Le Mans
Date: 16-17 May
Saturday 16 May: Qualifying: 1200-1500, BBC Red Button/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1800. Not Freeview) Sunday 17 May: 125cc and 250cc races: 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1500-1130 Tuesday. Not Freeview) Race live: 1230-1400, BBC Two/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1500-1100 Tuesday. Not Freeview) ; MotoGP Extra, 1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online
 In the past, Stoner has struggled at the French circuit |
Ducati rider Casey Stoner says the increased practice time riders will have for Sunday's French MotoGP should make for a more competitive race. From this weekend onwards riders will get a total of an extra 45 minutes practice time across the weekend after a move to cut it was reversed. "This weekend we'll have more time in the garage to make those choices and go out with the setting we want," he said. "Hopefully there'll be a lot more people running at the front." The reduction in practice time was introduced as a cost-cutting measure at the start of the season, but was never popular with riders, who said it meant they were not getting enough time to fine-tune their bikes. "It's still not enough time but I think it'll give all of us more time to make changes during the session, something we've been pushing to the back of our mind and saying 'we'll do it in the next session'," said the 2007 world champion.  | 606: DEBATE |
"But because of the weather this year, those sessions have been cancelled so it's been very difficult to get the settings we wanted." Stoner goes into the race second in the championship standings behind defending world champion Valentino Rossi. Last time out in Jerez, Stoner finished third, his first-ever podium at the Spanish circuit and one he described as feeling as good as a victory. Le Mans is another circuit where the Australian has struggled in the past, and he said that having broken his jinx in Spain, he was also hoping for a change of fortune in France. "We seem to flow well here but when it comes to race day, something happens," he said. "Maybe it's something to do with myself, that I just can't get my head round the track but I think this year we'll be competitive. "I don't know why it is that we struggle so much, it seems really difficult. Every lap and corner is so hard to make the bike turn and exit - I'm not really sure why, we're still working on it and trying to come up with a solution."
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