Australia MotoGP: Valentino Rossi thrilled at fast start

Valentino Rossi declared himself delighted with his opening practice performance in Phillip Island today after the Italian struck a crucial early blow against Jorge Lorenzo.

A best lap of 1.31.032 saw Rossi top the timesheets this afternoon with home favourite Casey Stoner just 0.135s adrift in second place.

But Rossi’s main world title adversary Lorenzo had a nightmare start in Australia and ended up over one second slower than the 30-year-old Italian in sixth place.

And Rossi said: “This practice is so important because when you have to fight for a world championship in the last three races with only 18-points of advantage I think every practice is important and not just Sunday.

“We have to find some rear grip that is very important for this track but I feel confident with the bike and I hope to continue in this way.”

Rossi admitted on today’s evidence that Stoner would pose the biggest threat to his hopes of notching a sixth premier class victory, but he refused to rule out Lorenzo.

The eight-times world champion told MCN: “Casey is already on the pace and for sure he is the man to beat on Sunday.

“But at the same time I know Lorenzo, and today he was not very fast, for sure will be on the front row.

“With my experience I know in MotoGP that sometimes you arrive and it is all perfect and the next week it is a big, big problem and you don’t know why. This is the secret of motorcycle racing. For sure JL will come closer tomorrow.