Sepang test: Casey Stoner fastest on day two

Casey Stoner shrugged off the constant pain of his recovering left wrist to post the fastest time on the second day of MotoGP testing at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

The impressive Aussie, still seriously hampered by a bone graft operation he needed last November to repair an old scaphoid injury, posted the best time of 2.01.483. 

He managed to complete only 29 laps because of the pain from the wrist but was still 0.072s faster than factory Suzuki rider Loris Capirossi, who again impressed on the new 2009 GSV-R.

Stoner’s time was 0.4s quicker than Capirossi’s best from yesterday and 0.6s faster than his own personal best.

Capirossi shaved 0.3s off his fastest time on the first day with a 2.01.555 in his 45-lap stint continuing his stunning start to 2009.

He was 0.071s quicker than compatriot Valentino Rossi on the Fiat Yamaha, with the reigning world champion posting a best of 2.01.626.

Fourth fastest was Dani Pedrosa on the Repsol Honda as he continued to evaluate two different chassis on the 2009 RC212V, the Spaniard logging a 2.01.860.

Nicky Hayden was slightly happier to have broken into the top ten today as he continued to try and adapt to the Ducati GP9. A fastest lap of 2.03.034 though was still 0.951s slower than Stoner’s quickest pace, though he was second best Ducati rider today.

Sete Gibernau slipped to 11th while Mika Kallio was 13th and Niccolo Canepa down in 14th.

It was a gruelling day for British rider James Toseland, who didn’t take to the track until 1130am, two-and-a-half hours after the track was opened.

The Tech 3 rider was battered and bruised by his huge 125mph high-side yesterday and today he could only manage 36 laps and struggled to clock a best time of 2.04.597. That was 3.114s slower than Stoner as the double World Superbike champion tried to restore some of his shattered confidence.

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