Reigning MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner heads the timesheets in Shangai this morning by just 0.052s from Fiat Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi with Britain’s James Toseland in 13th.
Rossi´s morning lap of 1´59.906 was enough to take the early advantage in the MotoGP combined free practice standings, with not even the Italian himself able to beat his hot lap in the second session. The Fiat Yamaha rider finished second in the afternoon runout, behind 2007 Shanghai racewinner and reigning World Champion Casey Stoner. However, Stoner´s 2´00.186 lap was not sufficient to better Rossi´s marker, falling just over two tenths of a second short. Both riders had grip problems on their final outing of the day, avoiding highsides on the sun-heated asphalt but losing time making corrections. Rossi ran off track, a fate that also befell Alice Team´s Toni Elias and Rizla Suzuki´s Loris Capirossi.
Rossi’s team-mate Jorge Lorenzo did not come out for the afternoon session, having been taken to hospital for examination. The Spaniard suffered a highside in his first premier class Shanghai session, picking up a chipped bone in his left ankle and some damage to that of his right hand side. It is not yet known if the Fiat Yamaha rider will return to action on Saturday as he looks to maintain his 100% pole position record.
MotoGP free practice two - conditions dry
1 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2’00.163
2 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.052
3 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 0.198
4 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.390
5 J. HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team + 0.428
6 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team + 0.444
7 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.768
8 L. CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 0.801
9 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 0.864
10 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha + 0.901
11 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team + 1.163
12 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1.341
13 J. TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha + 1.635
14 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team + 1.750
15 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team + 1.839
16 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team + 2.185
17 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 2.244
