MOTOGP VALENCIA TEST: STONER ENDS DAY THREE ON TOP

By David Miller

Picture by: Paul Sturman

Marlboro Ducati's Casey Stoner ended the third dat of MotoGP testing on top of the timesheets, going marginally faster than Jorge Lorenzo's time from yesterday - but the Yamaha teams had packed up and gone home.

Stoner was half a tenth faster than the Spaniard but managed to improve his own laptime by three-tenths by improving corner exit grip. Team-mate Nicky Hayden was third fastest, just under a second off the pace.

“We were able to understand the bike a little better today and the fantastic weather conditions certainly helped. It was a pleasant surprise when we got up this morning and it allowed us to work well," said Stoner.

"I’m satisfied with this three day test and with the new characteristics of the bike, in particular the extra traction in corner exit. It is still difficult to figure out exactly the best time to open the throttle but we’re getting there and it is a case of more practice and improving the set-up.

"It is nice to be going into the break in good physical shape, without any injuries to get over like in the past two years, so that we can formulate a physical training programme to be in the best possible shape for next season."

Valencia MotoGP test day three - conditions dry

1    Casey Stoner    Ducati Marlboro Team    1:31.900    -    -    35
2    Dani Pedrosa    Repsol Honda Team    1:31.944    +0.044    +0.044    38
3    Nicky Hayden    Ducati Marlboro Team    1:32.805    +0.861    +0.905    40
4    Andrea Dovizioso    Repsol Honda Team    1:32.825    +0.020    +0.925    51
5    Marco Melandri    San Carlo Honda Gresini    1:32.936    +0.111    +1.036    36
6    Mika Kallio    Pramac Racing    1:32.988    +0.052    +1.088    39
7    Aleix Espargaro    Pramac Racing    1:33.275    +0.287    +1.375    55
8    Loris Capirossi    Rizla Suzuki MotoGP    1:33.464    +0.189    +1.564    43
9    Hector Barbera    Aspar Team    1:33.787    +0.323    +1.887    57
10    Marco Simoncelli    San Carlo Honda Gresini    1:33.856    +0.069    +1.956    35
11    Alvaro Bautista    Rizla Suzuki MotoGP    1:34.163    +0.307    +2.263    45
12    Hiroshi Aoyama    Scot Racing Team    1:34.821    +0.658    +2.921    47
  MOTOGP VALENCIA TEST: SPIES MAKES HIS MARK WITH FOURTH