Sachsenring MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest after massive crash

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner walked away unhurt from a massive fifth gear crash in this afternoon’s second free practice session to dominate the opening day at the Sachsenring.

Stoner ended the first day with the fatest time as he looks to continue his recent resurgence after successive wins in Donington Park and Assen.

The Aussie though counted himself fortunate to escape a massive crash when he lost the front of his factory Ducati GP8 going into the fast, downhill right-hander.

Stoner had just flicked right to take the blind entry when he started to lose the front, and he was sent careering through the gravel.

“We got reasonably lucky today with the crash – my right ankle is a little sore but it’s nothing major. I hadn’t had any warnings from the front end that it was going to try and flick me off down there so I really wasn’t ready for it.

“At that point of the circuit the bike isn’t at maximum lean and you don’t normally expect to lose the front, so I certainly didn’t see it coming and I didn’t even have chance to dig my knee in and try to save it. It was a bit strange but anyway sometimes it goes like that and there are plenty of positives to take from today.

“This morning we were struggling with front tyre life but we completely changed the bike around for the afternoon, fixed that particular problem before then focusing on making the bike faster and more comfortable to ride. We managed to do that and the bike was working really well, “said Stoner.

His Ducati was completely destroyed though the conseuquences were less severe than his last crash at the same corner in his rookie campaign back in 2006.

When he was riding the LCR Honda, Stoner crashed during the warm-up session and was banned from riding because of a concussion. It is a decision that Stoner still disputes to this day.