Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner continues dominant form

Casey Stoner continued his unrivalled domination of the Qatar MotoGP weekend into a second night this evening, the Aussie comfortably heading the timesheets at the end of second practice at a windswept Losail International Circuit.

The Australian was typically fast immediately out of the garage, his second lap putting him under the 1.56 barrier, which only Repsol team-mate Dani Pedrosa managed to achieve in the 45-minute session.

Stoner’s third lap of the Doha circuit was a 1.55.457 that remained unchallenged for the remainder of the session. The 2007 world champion ended 0.397s clear of Spaniard Pedrosa with his best time 0.3s quicker than the 1.55.752 he managed on the opening night.

Under the spectacular Losail International Circuit floodlights, Pedrosa was in the shadow of his team-mate yet again and like last night he had to settle for second place. He clocked a best time of 1.55.854.

Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies stopped it being a complete HRC romp by edging out Andrea Dovizioso for fourth spot.

The Texan set a best time of 1.56.116 to finish a further 0.262s behind Pedrosa in third.

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo was fifth quickest, the Spaniard finishing just 0.039s clear of Colin Edwards.

Cal Crutchlow had a morale-boosting second session, the British rider claiming his best result to date on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine.

He was as high as seventh at one stage and finished eighth with a best time of 1.56.518 – the first time he’s finished inside the top ten in official practice or testing.

His time was nearly a second quicker than last night, as he continues to ride in considerable pain having lost the top of his left little finger in a crash during the two-night test session in Qatar earlier this week.

The 2009 World Supersport champion edged out Valentino Rossi by 0.014s, with the Italian only able to clock a best time of 1.56.532.

That was 1.075s behind Stoner and marginally slower than the time that secured him fifth spot last night.

Toni Elias continues to be the surprise straggler in the field, the LCR Honda looking horribly out-of-sorts to finish with a best time of 1.58.801.

That was nearly 3.5s behind Stoner and 1.118s behind rookie Karel Abraham in 16th.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda Team 1m 55.457s
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 1m 55.854s
3. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 56.116s
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 56.172s
5. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 56.220s
6. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 56.259s
7. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 56.378s
8. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 56.518s
9. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 56.532s
10. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 56.626s
11. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing Team 1m 56.688s
12. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar Team 1m 56.735s
13. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 56.790s
14. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m 56.833s
15. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing Team 1m 57.304s
16. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 57.683s
17. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda MotoGP 1m 58.801s