German MotoGP: Casey Stoner fastest in mixed conditions

Casey Stoner cast aside lingering doubts about his fitness to top the timesheets in the opening practice session for Sunday’s German MotoGP race at the Sachsenring today.

The Aussie’s best lap of 1.22.779 on the 16th of his 20th laps gave him the top spot in a session run in mixed conditions. Starting on a wet track after storms had lashed the Sachsenring during the earlier 125GP session, the circuit gradually dried out and the field were able to switch to full slick tyres shortly after the halfway stage. Conditions continued to improve save for a few wet lines scattered around the circuit and Stoner’s best lap secured him the fastest time by 0.255s from American GP winner Dani Pedrosa.

The 23-year-old, who denied his recent chronic fatigue issues were a result of anaemia, which was diagnosed following lengthy medical checks in California last week, moved to the top of the timesheets with just eight minutes remaining.

Earlier Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso, Randy de Puniet, Nicky Hayden, Valentino Rossi, Marco Melandri all took it in turns to share the top spot. World championship leader Rossi was third quickest behind Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa with the Italian logging a best time of 1.23.088.

That was 0.309s adrift of Stoner with Frenchman Randy de Puniet in fourth and Alex de Angelis springing a surprise in fifth. American Hayden looked like he was going to continue his recent resurgence as he led for much of the session in damp conditions.

The 2006 world champion, who has scored four podium finishes in Germany, eventually had to settle for eighth place with a best lap of 1.23.367. That left him just 0.588s off Stoner’s best pace. Jorge Lorenzo was in a lowly 11th place but his best time of 1.23.496 left him only 0.717s off Stoner.

It was another tough session though for British rider James Toseland, who could only log a fastest time of 1.24.317 to finish 1.538s off the leading pace in 14th. Former World Superbike rival Chris Vermeulen also had another punishing opening day. Having suffered two big crashes during the recent American GP, the Aussie was the victim of another massive high-side in the closing stages today.

Vermeulen lost control of his factory Suzuki GSV-R on one of the few remaining damp patches as he rode through the downhill Turn Two. As he lost the front-end, the rear suddenly gained grip and flicked Vermeulen high over the handlebars.

He hobbled away having landed heavily on the left side of his body, which was still undergoing treatment from his double Laguna Seca crash. He ended up only 16th fastest on a track he scored a podium on just a year ago.

 

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