Phillip Island, 5 October: In hard fought race LCR Honda MotoGP racer Randy de Puniet finished ninth in today’s Australian Grand Prix at a sunny Phillip Island ahead 50.541 MotoGP fans. Today’s ambience temperature rose up to 18°C and the 27-year-old was again a strong performer in this morning warm up session gaining the third quickest lap time (1’30.862).

Started from the 4th position for the 27-lap race at the 4.448 Km race track, De Puniet was 8th at the end of the first lap and started a close battle with Edwards. The Frenchman aboard the Michelin-shod Honda RC212V expected a better result but he feels satisfied about the overall package and is boosting his confidence ahead Malaysian GP.
The race was won by home hero Casey Stoner.

De Puniet – 9th: “We could finish in a better position but after 5 laps I got stocked behind Colin and could not pass him for 8 laps. Then, when I caught him, the gap to the front was to wide and tried to keep my rhythm. At the end Colin overtook me in the straight at 2 laps to go. Anyway I am pretty satisfied about the job we made during the whole week end because the overall package was good and we had the chance to fight for the top five positions”.

Race:

1 Stoner
2 Rossi
3 Hayden
4 Lorenzo
5 Nakano
6 Toseland
7 Dovizioso
8 Edwards
9 De Puniet
10 Capirossi
11 Elias
12 West
13 Hopkins
14 Guintoli
15 Vermeulen
16 Melandri

OUT: De Angelis, Pedrosa