Casey Stoner quickest, Valentino Rossi 15th in Valencia test

Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi could not have enjoyed more differing fortunes on the second day of MotoGP testing in Valencia today.

Aussie Stoner enjoyed a sensational second day for Honda while Italian Rossi performed well below expectations as he tried to evaluate two new engines for the Bologna factory.

Stoner logged a best time of 1.32.066 on the final day of testing at the Valencia circuit, but his late effort was still marginally slower than the best time of 1.32.012 clocked by 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo yesterday.

Stoner, who has instantly gelled with Honda’s factory RC212V machine, finished 0.113s clear of the Spaniard today, though Lorenzo only completed 30-laps on the new 2011 Yamaha YZR-M1 before he packed up at 1pm.

Most of the attention though was on Ducati’s factory garage and the debut of Italian hero Rossi.

Tenth fastest yesterday, the 31-year-old completed 70-laps in sunny but breezy conditions today and could only post the 15th best time. The nine-times world champion ended with a best time of 1.33.761 to finish 1.695s adrift of Stoner.

Rossi was only a tenth faster than he managed yesterday when he made his long-awaited GP11 debut.

Ben Spies was third fastest today as he continued his impressive factory Yamaha debut. The Texan set a best of 1.32.322 and he too packed up at lunchtime with his test of a new chassis and Ohlins suspension completed early.

Cal Crutchlow moved one place further up the rankings today when he finished in 13th place on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine.

He set a best time of 1.33.483 to finish 0.9s faster than he managed yesterday.