Australian rider Casey Stoner and his Ducati Marlboro colleagues are set to return to the scene of some of their most successful races this weekend, they will be beginning their charge for a second MotoGP world title at Qatar a track at which Ducati have won the past two Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar.

At the final preseason test of the year Casey Stoner  was given some extra confidence going to Qatar, Stoner captured victory in the BMW M Award competition held at Jerez. This test also provided the Aussie a chance to confirm his positive feeling with his new Ducati Desmosedici GP9, although he is taking nothing for granted in the run-up to the 2009 campaign.

Casey Stoner says “I’m leaving behind the end of the summer holidays in Australia but to tell you the truth I really can’t wait for the new season to start. I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made together with the Ducati engineers behind the scenes and with the tests we’ve done out on the track.”

Review of the 2009 Aprilia RSV4.

It has been five long months since the final race of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship, the 2009 season starts kicks into gear on April 12th with the Commercial bank Grand Prix of Qatar.

It is the first of seventeen races that will decide who shall be crowned the king of the premier class takes place at the Losail International Circuit in the Arab emirate, opening up the action for the third consecutive year.

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

The charismatic Italian and Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi has won races at every track used in 2009, but is still chasing a win after sunset. 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.

Tickets  are now available for the 2009 French Grand Prix round four MotoGP World Championship.

A general admission ticket includes access to parking and camping, non-reserved seating as well as entry to concerts, a mechanic show and a  free walkman as well..

The general admission ticket also comes with a coupon book giving discounts on products from the likes of Eurosport, AMV and Dunlop, and entry into a raffle with the chance to win an Aprilia Shiver with a year’s insurance from AMV.

As is traditional, admission is free for those under the age of sixteen, accompanied by an adult.