Honda LCR rider Casey Stoner will start from ninth position on the third row of the grid in tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. After being as high as fourth and top Honda rider in free practice with impressive pace on race tyres, Stoner was disappointed to slip down the order in qualifying.

However both Stoner and LCR team boss Lucio Cecchinello are both positive about the potential for a strong performance in the 23 lap race, with qualifying not a true reflection of performance. In this morning’s final free practice session Stoner was the again the fastest rider on Mugello’s long front straight, clocking 334 kph through the speed trap.

Qualifying saw a continuation of the unseasonally cold and heavily overcast conditions, with rain threatening, as the LCR team worked to fine-tune race set-up. Track temperatures reached just 18 degrees during qualifying with Stoner one of nine riders within one second of pole position with a fastest lap of 1’49.915.

“Casey could not finish his final lap at maximum pace because he did not really have a set-up to get the best out of the soft qualifying tyre -- ninth position does not reflect Casey’s real potential. I’m very positive for the race because on race tyres Casey is fast and consistent, stronger than some of the riders ahead of him in qualifying.”

“Another average qualifying run although I’m feeling very good about our set-up, plus my race pace is faster than some of the guys who seem to be able to pull out just one fast lap in qualifying. I’ve got really good speed coming onto the straight and there are a lot of braking points and passing opportunities here, so I should be OK in the race. My race set-up didn’t seem to work perfectly for the soft qualifying tyre which was destroyed about halfway through my final lap, plus I lost some concentration when I was held up behind Randy de Puniet.”