The Bridgestone PR man just dropped off a document detailing which rider chose what tire compound for today's race. Currently Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner are locked in a fierce battle for the lead (Rossi's gap on lap 12: .072).

Both Bridgestone riders, Rossi and Stoner chose identical rubber--medium compound front, and a hard compound rear.

Rossi currently leads and is using a page out of Troy Corser's playbook for Laguna. He doesn't have the fastest bike, but he is maintaining a lead and beating Stoner to the apex whenever Stoner tries to outbrake him. Rossi is dead-on precise in his lines, making it very difficult for Stoner to get past him.