Qatar MotoGP: Casey Stoner dominates first practice

Casey Stoner carried his ominous pre-season form into the new MotoGP world championship season in Qatar tonight, the Aussie topping the timesheets at the end of opening free practice at the Losail International Circuit.

The Aussie, who dominated the final two winter tests in Malaysia and Qatar, finished with a best time of 1.55.752 to finish a massive 0.610s ahead of Spanish team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

The Repsol Honda rider, who is bidding for his fourth win in five years at the floodlit Losail International Circuit, needed just three laps to break into the 1.55s with a 1.55.920 putting him a massive 1.280s clear in the early stages.

He was the only rider to duck under the 1.56 barrier with Pedrosa’s best of 1.56.362 putting him second ahead of compatriot Hector Barbera on the Aspar Ducati.

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo was unhappy with the set-up of his YZR-M1 machine during the two-night test in Doha earlier this week.

And the Spaniard appeared to struggle again tonight as he spent the majority of the session in sixth place and behind the pace of Texan team-mate Ben Spies.

Lorenzo was only seventh fastest at the end of the session and his quickest time of 1.56.586 was 0.834s off Stoner.

Spies was sixth fastesti having been dropped out of the top five in the dying moments by Valentino Rossi.

Rossi, who was only 13th in the Qatar test earlier this week after two crashes, posted his best lap of 1.56.749 on his 19th and final lap to finish 0.727s adrift of Stoner. Compatriot Marco Simoncelli was fourth.

British rider Cal Crutchlow rode through the pain barrier to finish in a respectable 14th position.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider lost the tip of his left little finger only three days ago after trapping his hand under the handelbar of his YZR-M1 machine at Turn 10 during the recent test.

The 2009 World Supersport champion ended with a best time of 1.57.429 to finish ahead of fellow rookie Karel Abraham, factory Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista and reigning Moto2 world champion Toni Elias.

He was only 0.063s slower than Loris Capirossi and just over 0.5s from the team-mate Colin Edwards in 10th.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda Team 1m 55.752s
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 1m 56.362s
3. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar Team 1m 56.421s
4. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 56.441s
5. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 56.479s
6. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 56.493s
7. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 56.586s
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 56.592s
9. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing Team 1m 56.790s
10. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 56.879s
11. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 56.910s
12. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 56.987s
13. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing Team 1m 57.366s
14. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 57.429s
15. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 57.821s
16. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1m 58.528s
17. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda MotoGP 1m 59.087s