Assen MotoGP: Casey Stoner on the pace again in free practice two

Ducati’s Casey Stoner has continued his impressive run of form in this afternoon’s second free practice at Assen as he topped the timesheets once again.

The defending champion knocked half a second off his best time from this morning and was 0.8secs ahead of nearest rival Valentino Rossi on the Fiat Yamaha YZF-M1.

Stoner was always in control as he was first to the top once the proper times were being set with a 1:38.366 and from the on he cut vital time off his laps.

Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa did briefly become the top rider with a 1:37.280 after seven minutes of the session, but Stoner soon replaced him at the top of the timesheets.

Tech 3 Yamaha’s Colin Edwards once again put in the first day pace he’s known for as he finished the session third with a best lap of 1:36.931, half a second quicker than his morning pace.

Britain’s James Toseland finished the session in 13th place with a best lap of 1:37.838, which was 0.3secs quicker than this morning.

Rizla Suzuki bosses will have had their hearts in their mouths when Loris Capirossi high-sided after a quarter of the session. He was taken to the Clinica Mobile after he was left holding his right arm, which is still recovering from the break he sustained at Catalunya. But early medical reports show he’s suffered no further damage to the broken right hand but he has a cut to his forearm.

Assen MotoGP free practice two results:

1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1’36.087
2 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1’36.819
3 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1’36.931
4 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1’37.012
5 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1’37.126
6 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1’37.137
7 1Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA 1’37.187
8 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1’37.251
9 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1’37.280
10 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1’37.282
11 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP HONDA 1’37.326
12 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team DUCATI 1’37.357
13 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1’37.838
14 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1’37.960
15 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1’38.413
16 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team DUCATI 1’38.656
17 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1’38.667
18 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1’39.214