Le Mans MotoGP: Casey Stoner fined after de Puniet punch

Casey Stoner has been hit with a 5000 Euro fine (£4350) fine after he punched French rider Randy de Puniet following an incident in the MotoGP Warm-up session at Le Mans this morning.

Stoner was on a fast lap when he had to slow dramatically having encountered de Puniet’s Ducati GP11 on the approach to the second chicane.

TV replays clearly showed de Puniet looking back as he saw Stoner approaching at full speed, but he claimed he was adjusting his front brake and had not intentionally impeded the 2007 world champion.

Stoner was forced to brake hard and as he drew alongside de Puniet, he punched the Pramac Ducati rider just below the left shoulder.

Both were summonsed for a meeting with Race Direction and Stoner was booed by French fans as he walked down pitlane with HRC boss Livio Suppo.

Former LCR Honda rider de Puniet escaped punishment, but he was understood to be against the fine imposed on Stoner.

For more on the incident and full coverage of the French MotoGP round, see the May 18 issue of MCN.