Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner leads second practice

Casey Stoner shrugged off blustery conditions at the floodlight Losail International Circuit in Qatar tonight to top the timesheets in the second MotoGP practice session.

The Australian, who was quickest last night, set a best time of 1.55.960, despite a fierce wind blowing in off the surrounding desert landscape in Doha.

The reigning world champion’s best time in a 13-lap stint put him 0.214s clear of Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, who had led the majority of the 45-minute session on board Yamaha’s new YZR-M1 1000cc machine.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Andrea Dovizioso was third fastest with a best time of 1.56.648 leaving him 0.474s further back of Lorenzo, though Yamaha had three bikes in the top four.

Ben Spies was fourth fastest with a best lap of 1.56.671 that put him 0.007s clear of Pramac Ducati rider Hector Barbera.

Barbera was the top Ducati but his best time of 1.56.678 came with the help of a tow from fellow GP12 Desmosedici rider Karel Abraham.

Dani Pedrosa bounced back from an earlier crash on his Repsol Honda RC213V to secure the sixth spot with a quickest lap of 1.56.697. That still left the Spaniard over 0.7s behind Stoner.

Nicky Hayden took seventh place ahead of British rider Cal Crutchlow. The Coventry rider was as high as second in the earlier stages of the session but he slipped back to eighth with a best time of 1.56.814.

Rookie Stefan Bradl was an impressive ninth on the LCR Honda with Valentino Rossi once again ending the session in 10th place.

The Italian ended with a best time of 1.57.274 to finish 1.314s behind Stoner and almost 0.5s behind American team-mate Hayden.

Best CRT rider was Colin Edwards on the Forward Racing BMW-Suter. The American delivered another brilliant performance to finish ahead of Randy de Puniet on the Aspar Aprilia machine.

The Frenchman has been the dominant CRT rider throughout winter testing but Edwards set a best time of 1.58.801 to finish 0.144s clear of de Puniet.

It was a tough session for Paul Bird Motorsport rider James Ellison who was last in 21st and over six seconds off the best pace.

He clocked a best time of 2.02.112 and was 1.325s behind Ivan Silva in 20th position.

1 1 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda 332.6 1’55.960 
2 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 328.8 1’56.174 0.214 / 0.214
3 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 332.2 1’56.648 0.688 / 0.474
4 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 328.2 1’56.671 0.711 / 0.023
5 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 339.0 1’56.678 0.718 / 0.007
6 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 331.6 1’56.697 0.737 / 0.019
7 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati 336.9 1’56.782 0.822 / 0.085
8 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 330.5 1’56.814 0.854 / 0.032
9 6 Stefan BRADL GER LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 332.4 1’57.197 1.237 / 0.383
10 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 337.0 1’57.274 1.314 / 0.077
11 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati 334.0 1’57.523 1.563 / 0.249
12 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 334.1 1’57.668 1.708 / 0.145
13 5 Colin EDWARDS USA NGM Mobile Forward Racing Suter 317.1 1’58.801 2.841 / 1.133
14 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Power Electronics Aspar ART 310.9 1’58.945 2.985 / 0.144
15 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Avintia Blusens BQR-FTR 307.5 1’59.698 3.738 / 0.753
16 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Power Electronics Aspar ART 313.9 1’59.997 4.037 / 0.299
17 51 Michele PIRRO ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini FTR 309.9 2’00.231 4.271 / 0.234
18 54 Mattia PASINI ITA Speed Master ART 314.4 2’00.373 4.413 / 0.142
19 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Came IodaRacing Project Ioda 292.4 2’00.404 4.444 / 0.031
20 22 Ivan SILVA SPA Avintia Blusens BQR-FTR 305.9 2’00.787 4.827 / 0.383
21 77 James ELLISON GBR Paul Bird Motorsport ART 303.1 2’02.112 6.152 / 1.325