Stoner on top of weather in Germany

From motogp.com

He has been under the weather in recent weeks, but Casey Stoner proved to be on top of conditions at the Sachsenring on Friday afternoon.

A damp track following rainfall in the 125cc Free Practice session gave the riders plenty to think about in their first run for the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, but in the end it was the Ducati Marlboro man who proved most at ease.

Stoner was some three tenths of a second quicker than any other rider, with a time of 1:22.779. While he was the standout rider, behind him was a group of three separated by less than a tenth of a second. Laguna Seca racewinner Dani Pedrosa headed said pack, showing no fear in the face of a track that so viciously took him out of action on raceday last year.

World Championship leader Valentino Rossi and LCR Honda’s Randy de Puniet also made their presence felt, while Alex de Angelis and Colin Edwards showed their versatility in preparation for an important race for their respective MotoGP futures.

Still feeling the effects of his qualifying crash in the United States, Jorge Lorenzo was nearly two seconds down on Stoner’s initial time. The Fiat Yamaha rider has had little time to rest after receiving the big knock under two weeks ago.

The only faller in the Free Practice session was Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen, who fell with 15 minutes remaining in a highside that left him limping away, while James Toseland nearly came unstuck with a loss of rear grip early on.

MotoGP Practice Results
1. Casey STONER (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:22.779 (278.350 km/h)
2. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) Repsol Honda Team Honda 1:23.034
3. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:23.088
4. Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1:23.133
5. Alex DE ANGELIS (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:23.282
6. Colin EDWARDS (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:23.295
7. Toni ELIAS (SPA) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:23.351
8. Nicky HAYDEN (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:23.367
9. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Repsol Honda Team Honda 1:23.370
10. Marco MELANDRI (ITA) Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki 1:23.466
11. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:23.496
12. Loris CAPIROSSI (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:23.705
13. Mika KALLIO (FIN) Pramac Racing Ducati 1:24.090
14. James TOSELAND (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:24.317
15. Niccolo CANEPA (ITA) Pramac Racing Ducati 1:24.908
16. Chris VERMEULEN (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:25.161
17. Gabor TALMACSI (HUN) Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda 1:25.416