Stoner fastest in Mugello monsoon

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner ended a rain-lashed second free practice session quickest as monsoon conditions hit the Mugello circuit.

A best lap of 2.07.107 as the torrential rain abated in the closing stages lifted the Aussie to the top of the timesheets at the end of a second free practice session badly disrupted by atrocious weather conditions.

Conditions were so bad at the end of 125 qualifying race bosses decided to delay the start of the MotoGP session by 10 minutes as thunder, lightning, hail and heavy rain lashed the Mugello circuit.

The downpour continued throughout most of the session until the soaked riders were given some respite towards the end when the rain halted.

With the track still soaked and riders aquaplaning on the start/finish straight at over 175mph, Stoner took the spoils as Bridgestone again dominated in the wet.

Having claimed the top three in the recent French GP in Le Mans, the Japanese factory enjoyed more wet success this afternoon, with Suzuki duo John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen finishing second and third fastest respectively.

Kenny Roberts Junior was the first brave soul to emerge from under the grey and gloomy skies and it was nearly 15 minutes later before Carlos Checa joined him on track.

It was 29 minutes before a drenched but undeterred home crowd got to witness Valentino Rossi on track, but it was the Italian’s main title rival who took the honours.

Factory Ducati rider Stoner’s best time of 2.07.107 came on the last of only seven laps he completed in the appalling conditions.

That edged out American Hopkins by just 0.018s as the Rizla Suzuki rider spent his last few laps in the shadow of team-mate and wet-weather specialist Vermeulen.

Until Stoner’s late intervention the session had developed into a personal duel between Vermeulen and impressive LCR Honda rider Checa.

Checa went to the top of the timesheets on only his fifth lap with a best of 2.15.979. Vermeulen, who triumphed in the recent rain-soaked French GP to claim his first premier class victory, bettered that just a few minutes later with a 2.15.791 to edge 0.188s clear of Checa.

With just 12 minutes remaining Checa returned to the top of the leaderboard when he posted a 2.15.054, and then logged a 2.14.399 on his next lap to jump 1.392s clear of Vermeulen.

Checa continued his pace and a 2.12.876 moved him a massive 2.91s clear of Vermeulen.
Not to be outdone, Vermeulen then clocked a 2.13.805 to narrow the gap down to 0.929s, only for Checa to respond with a 2.10.943. That rocketed him nearly three seconds clear again only to see Vermeulen retaliate with a 2.08.761 to take top spot.

Rossi gave something for the home fans to cheer about when he emerged from nowhere to set the fastest time with a 2.08.453, only for Vermeulen to steal top spot back again with a 2.08.150.

Vermeulen eventually finished with a best time of 2.07.209 to finish just 0.084s behind Hopkins and 0.102s adrift of compatriot Stoner.

There was late drama too for Rossi, who crashed out when it looked like he might return to the top of the standings.

He was on course to register the fastest time through the first two timed sections of the long and technical Mugello track when he crashed out on his last lap.

He lost the front immediately after hitting the brakes to tip into a right-hander. He walked away unhurt and finished best Michelin rider with his 2.08.453 good enough to secure fourth.

First qualifying results:

1 Casey STONER AUS DUCATI 2’07.107
2 John HOPKINS USA SUZUKI 2’07.125
3 Chris VERMEULEN AUS SUZUKI 2’07.209
4 Valentino ROSSI ITA YAMAHA 2’08.453
5 Kenny ROBERTS JR USA KR212V 2’08.802
6 Marco MELANDRI ITA HONDA 2’09.195
7 Colin EDWARDS USA YAMAHA 2’10.039
8 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA DUCATI 2’10.220
9 Olivier JACQUE FRA KAWASAKI 2’10.228
10 Dani PEDROSA SPA HONDA 2’10.312
11 Toni ELIAS SPA HONDA 2’10.413
12 Carlos CHECA SPA HONDA 2’10.943
13 Randy DE PUNIET FRA KAWASAKI 2’12.279
14 Nicky HAYDEN USA HONDA 2’12.466
15 Shinya NAKANO JPN HONDA 2’14.479
16 Makoto TAMADA JPN YAMAHA 2’16.857
17 Alex HOFMANN GER DUCATI 2’17.161
18 Alex BARROS BRA DUCATI 2’19.873
19 Kurtis ROBERTS USA KR212V 2’23.432
20 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA YAMAHA 2’36.112