MotoGP 2008

[JoaoM]

Stoner show continues at Phillip Island

Casey Stoner's total race-tyre domination of his home Phillip Island test continued on Thursday, when the reigning MotoGP world champion chopped a further 0.24secs from his best lap time - despite heavy morning rain.

That improvement put the young Ducati Marlboro star almost a full second inside Valentino Rossi's fastest race lap from last October's Australian Grand Prix- which Stoner won - and kept him comfortably clear of the competition.

And that competition was led by MotoGP rookie Alex de Angelis. The San Marinese had been an impressive third fastest on day one, behind Stoner and Colin Edwards (qualifying tyre), and the Honda Gresini rider matched Stoner's rate of progress to remain half-a-second behind the #1 after day two.

A further 0.6secs back was another former 250GP star riding a satellite Honda, in the form of Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Team Scot). Due to the rain, Dovizioso - like almost all the riders behind him - lapped slower on Thursday than on day one, making the achievements of the top two even more impressive.

de Angelis' veteran team-mate Shinya Nakano took fourth position on the second Bridgestone-shod RC212V while Nicky Hayden, the only factory Honda rider present following Dani Pedrosa's Sepang injury, moved from eighth to fifth after almost exactly matching his day one pace.

The third MotoGP rookie present, Yamaha Tech 3's James Toseland, slipped from fifth to sixth on day two - 1.5secs from Stoner - but outpaced team-mate Edwards by 0.1secs and four positions.

Sandwiched between the two Yamaha YZR-M1s were Marco Melandri (Ducati Marlboro), Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) and Randy de Puniet (Honda LCR). Melandri had also been a whisker slower than Toseland on day one, while Capirossi improved by two places as he and team-mate Chris Vermeulen (11th fastest) continued to try and crack one of Suzuki's worst tracks.

Anthony West was the top Kawasaki in twelfth place but team-mate John Hopkins was left at the tail of the timesheets after falling - and injuring his groin - while riding in the wet. Hopkins went to hospital to get the injury checked and it remains to be seen if the Anglo-American can return for Friday's third and final day of testing.

Between the two ZX-RRs were Alice Team riders Toni Elias and Sylvain Guintoli, who may have been left over two-seconds from Stoner - but at least joined the Australian in improving on their day one best.

Dia 2
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 29.938 secs
2. Alex de Angelis RSM Honda Gresini (B) 1min 30.449 secs
3. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot (M) 1min 31.074 secs
4. Shinya Nakano JPN Honda Gresini (B) 1min 31.316 secs
5. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 31.373 secs
6. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 1min 31.451 secs
7. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 31.478 secs
8. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 31.545 secs
9. Randy de Puniet FRA Honda LCR (M) 1min 31.575 secs
10. Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 1min 31.593 secs
11. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 31.774 secs
12. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 32.242 secs
13. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 32.246 secs
14. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 32.431 secs
15. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 42.130 secs


Melhores tempos dia 1
Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3 (M) 1min 29.566secs (Qualifying tyres)
Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro (B) 1min 30.178secs (Race tyres)