MotoGP Phillip Island test: Day two roundup

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner produced a masterful exhibition of wet and dry weather riding to dominate the second day of testing in Phillip Island.

In persistent rain showers that fell until shortly after midday, Stoner blew away his rivals with a lap of 1.39.800 that came on his last and 11th lap in tricky conditions as he finished a massive 0.697s clear of Italian rookie Andrea Dovizioso.

• Get all the latest from the Phillip Island test here

Former world 125 champion Dovizioso was the only rider to lap within a second of Stoner in the rain.

Chris Vermeulen – wet weather specialist and winner of the rain-soaked French GP last season – was a massive 2.554s slower than fellow Aussie Stoner.

Stoner continued his domination on a dry but slippery track in the afternoon, with nobody able to get within 0.5s of the factory Ducati on race tyres.

Despite low track temperatures, greasy surface and blustery conditions, Stoner posted a best lap of 1.29.938 in the final few minutes while using a new chassis setting on his GP8.

That was only 0.4s slower than Colin Edwards’ fastest lap yesterday that the American clocked on a Michelin qualifying tyre. Alex de Angelis was 0.511s behind Stoner and he needed to use a soft Bridgestone qualifying tyre to get that close.

British rider James Toseland was sixth fastest today as he got his first taste of MotoGP in the rain. He was 11th fastest in the rain.

Dovizioso escaped injury in a crash shortly before the rain stopped while fellow Italian Loris Capirossi was lucky to escape serious injury in a crash right at the end of today’s session.

Trying a Bridgestone qualifying tyre on the Rizla Suzuki, Capirossi was high-sided at high-speed at the fast left-hand Turn 4.

Less fortunate was John Hopkins. He suffered a big high-side in the wet at the first corner and has been ruled out for the rest of the test with muscle damage in his left hip.

More reaction and news to follow later from day two.