German MotoGP: Casey Stoner hammers rivals again at the Sachsenring

Casey Stoner’s unstoppable form at the Sachsenring continued this morning as he dominated the third and final free practice session ahead of tomorrow’s 30-lap German MotoGP race. 

Stoner was the only rider to break the 1.23 barrier as a best lap of 1.22.656 saw him finish 0.357s clear of Marlboro Ducati team-mate Loris Capirossi.

As he did yesterday, Casey Stoner was in complete control of today’s final free practice session, jumping to the top of the timesheets after 13 minutes with a lap of 1.23.047.

That put him 0.280s clear of factory Kawasaki rider Randy de Puniet, who eventually finished fourth quickest with a best lap of 1.23.202.

Casey Stoner was faster again on his next lap when he logged a 1.22.903 which moved him 0.424s ahead of Randy de Puniet, and with 28 minutes remaining a lap of 1.22.792 saw him jump 0.535s clear of the Frenchman.

Stoner’s best lap this morning was marginally faster than his best time set yesterday which was a 1.22.737 in the afternoon session.

Second place went to Loris Capirossi, who has struggled all season to adapt to the new Ducati GP7 800. The veteran Italian posted a 1.23.013 in the last two minutes as he slashed 0.6s off his best time from yesterday.

Marco Melandri was third quickest and fourth overall at the end of the three sessions as he clocked a best of 1.23.170.That still left him 0.514s adrift of Stoner. The Gresini Honda rider was as a high as second when he posted the 1.23.170 before Loris Capirossi’s late attack.

Valentino Rossi finished free practice with the third best overall time although he was only seventh quickest this morning and one of only four riders who failed to better their times from yesterday.

Others failing to improve their times included Dani Pedrosa on the official factory Honda and injured Alex Barros, who is struggling with a badly gashed right hand after a high-speed crash in yesterday morning’s opening session.

His 1.23.347 was 0.3s slower than his best yesterday afternoon as track and air temperatures increased dramatically.

Valentino Rossi had been as high as third when he clocked a 1.23.728 after 18 minutes but that was a massive 0.825s behind main title rival Stoner.
He ended the session trailing Stoner by 0.691s.

French Tech 3 Yamaha rider Sylvain Guintoli escaped injury in a crash this morning.

MotoGP free practice three results:
1. Casey STONER AUS DUCATI 1:22.656
2. Loris CAPIROSSI ITA DUCATI 1:23.013
3. Marco MELANDRI ITA HONDA 1:23.170
4. Randy DE PUNIET FRA KAWASAKI 1:23.202
5. Carlos CHECA SPA HONDA 1:23.220
6. John HOPKINS USA SUZUKI 1’23.339
7. Valentino ROSSI ITA YAMAHA 1’23.347
8. Colin EDWARDS USA YAMAHA 1’23.380
9. Chris VERMEULEN AUS SUZUKI 1’23.408
10. Nicky HAYDEN USA HONDA 1’23.454
11. Anthony WEST AUS KAWASAKI 1’23.585
12. Alex BARROS BRA DUCATI 1’23.590
13. Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA YAMAHA 1’23.617
14. Dani PEDROSA SPA HONDA 1’23.653
15. Michel FABRIZIO ITA HONDA 1’23.701
16. Alex HOFMANN GER DUCATI 1’23.764
17. Makoto TAMADA JPN YAMAHA 1’23.935
18. Kurtis ROBERTS USA KR212V 1’25.097