Motegi MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest after day one

Casey Stoner has showed no sign of slowing down in Motegi as he set the fastest lap in free practice on the factory Ducati.

Stoner set a fastest lap of 1.48.121 with Dani Pedrosa only seven hundredths of a second behind him. Current championship leader Valentino Rossi set the third fastest time, keeping his main rivals in sight.

Valentino Rossi could become the 2009 MotoGP champion this weekend in Motegi as he is currently leading reigning champion Casey Stoner by 87 points.

Andrea Dovizioso continued his impressive rookie season by setting the fourth fastest time after he has been confirmed for Repsol Honda in 2009. Dovizioso will replace Nicky Hayden who will move to Ducati to partner Casey Stoner.

MotoGP veteran Loris Capirossi continued his impressive return from injury to set the fifth fastest time, almost one second faster than team-mate Chris Vermeulen.

Brit James Toseland set the 14th fastest time round a Motegi track with which he is unfamiliar.

Top 10 riders:

1. Casey Stoner
2, Dani Pedrosa
3. Valentino Rossi
4. Andrea Dovizioso
5. Loris Capirossi
6. Sylvain Guintoli
7. Nicky Hayden
8. Marco Melandri
9. Toni Elias
10. Randy De Puniet

• Click here for the full results