Stoner fastest in opening Australia MotoGP practice

PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia (AFP) –

Australian Honda rider Casey Stoner (R) speaks during a press conference as Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo of Spain listens, at the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix at Phillip Island, on October 25. Stoner topped opening practice on Friday as he bids to win his sixth consecutive Australian MotoGP this weekend in his farewell season.

Home hero Casey Stoner topped opening practice on Friday as he bids to win his sixth consecutive Australian MotoGP this weekend in his farewell season.

The Repsol Honda rider, recovering from serious right leg injuries in a crash in August, was fastest by almost a second as the bikes took to the Phillip Island circuit for the first time.

Stoner posted a best lap time of one minute 30.374 seconds, ahead of Spanish world championship contenders Jorge Lorenzo (1:31.279) and Dani Pedrosa (1:31.533).

Lorenzo leads Pedrosa by 23 points heading into the penultimate round of the championship and can take his second MotoGP world title with victory in Sunday’s race.

Yamaha’s Andrea Dovizioso was fourth quickest in 1:31.968, followed by Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista (1:32.039).

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi was down the charts with the ninth-fastest time of 1:32.655 on his Ducati.

A second practice session was scheduled for later Friday, ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.