Stoner fastest on Friday

From motogp.com

Last year's Donington race winner Casey Stoner was back on the pace in Friday´s MotoGP practice sessions. With the fastest times in both sessions at Donington Park, Stoner was undoubtedly the day´s standout performer in preparation for the bwin.com British Grand Prix.

The Ducati Marlboro rider completed a successful day of practice with a 1:28.253 lap that blitzed Colin Edwards´ 2007 pole position time, giving him a comfortable advantage of half a second over Repsol Honda´s Nicky Hayden.

Stoner was the winner of last year´s race at the British circuit, and the chances of a repeat victory look promising for the rider currently fourth in the overall standings.

Hayden repaid Honda´s faith in letting him use the pneumatic valve engine for the RC212V, showing a swift pace and making him the fastest rider of the day for the Japanese factory. The 2006 World Champion had tested the engine last week in Catalunya, and has long championed the use of the motor to kickstart his 2008 campaign. During the afternoon session he also engaged in some light on-track conversation with rival Valentino Rossi, third fastest onboard the Fiat Yamaha M1.

Last year's Donington poleman and podium finisher Edwards showed was fourth quickest with the satellite Yamaha machine, clocking a 1:28.969 lap whilst his young son slept peacefully in the Tech3 Yamaha garage. Donington Park is one of the Texan´s better tracks, a fact reflected in his race pace during the sessions.

Alex de Angelis was the highest placing satellite Honda rider in fifth, ahead of factory man Dani Pedrosa. The latter was using the standard spring valve version of the RC212V engine, having not had sufficient testing time in Catalunya owing to a crash. He also took a tumble on Friday afternoon, although with no obvious ill effects to his injured back. Pedrosa returned to the track later in the session.

Shinya Nakano, James Toseland, Chris Vermeulen and Randy de Puniet completed the fastest 10 riders in the combined standings, with Toseland getting to grips with his home track on board the second Tech 3 Yamaha machine.

Practice 2 Times
1. C. STONER AUS (Ducati Marlboro Team) 1:28.253
2. N. HAYDEN USA (Repsol Honda Team) +0.576
3. V. ROSSI ITA (Fiat Yamaha Team) +0.656
4. C. EDWARDS USA (Tech 3 Yamaha) +0.716
5. A. DE ANGELIS RSM (San Carlo Honda Gresini) +0.739
6. D. PEDROSA SPA (Repsol Honda Team) +0.954
7. S. NAKANO JPN (San Carlo Honda Gresini) +0.954
8. J. TOSELAND GBR (Tech 3 Yamaha) +1.088
9. C. VERMEULEN AUS (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) +1.157
10. R. DE PUNIET FRA (LCR Honda MotoGP) +1.180
11. J. HOPKINS USA (Kawasaki Racing Team) +1.188
12. A. WEST AUS (Kawasaki Racing Team) +1.413
13. A. DOVIZIOSO ITA (JiR Team Scot MotoGP) +1.469
14. M. MELANDRI ITA (Ducati Marlboro Team) +1.603
15. T. ELIAS SPA (Alice Team) +2.015
16. J. LORENZO SPA (Fiat Yamaha Team) +2.037
17. B. SPIES USA (Rizla Suzuki MotoGP) +2.513
18. S. GUINTOLI FRA (Alice Team) +2.678