Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo fastest in practice

New MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo continued his love affair with the Estoril track in Portugal today after he topped a rain-hit practice session. 

The Fiat Yamaha rider logged a best time of 1.48.522 to finish just 0.135s clear of American Nicky Hayden on board Ducati’s factory GP10.

Lorenzo’s best time came on his penultimate lap and saw him make the perfect start to his quest to extend his unbeaten record in the MotoGP class at Estoril.

The winner in 2008 and ’09 finished over 0.3s ahead of team-mate Valentino Rossi, the Italian setting a best time of 1.48.883 to claim third.

The nine-times world champion was 0.226s behind Hayden.

Aussie Casey Stoner was a further 0.178s back of Rossi in fourth position, the factory Ducati rider setting a best time of 1.49.061 as he looks for a fourth win in the last five races.

Texan Ben Spies was fight quickest with a time of 1.49.721 that put him just over a second away from 2011 team-mate Lorenzo.

Marco Melandri completed the top six with a best lap of 1.49.784.

Colin Edwards, Andrea Dovizioso, Alvaro Bautista and Hector Barbera all walked away unhurt from crashes as the session was run on a full wet track.

There was no repeat of the heavy rain though that hit the circuit this morning, which saw only four riders complete laps.