Stoner stands out with fastest Donington Friday times

With the fastest times in both MotoGP sessions on Friday in Donington Park, Casey Stoner was undoubtedly the day´s standout performer in preparation for the bwin.com British Grand Prix.

The Ducati Marlboro rider completed a successful day of practice with a 1´28.253 lap that blitzed Colin Edwards´ 2007 pole position time, giving him a comfortable advantage of half a second over Repsol Honda´s Nicky Hayden. Stoner was the winner of last year´s race at the British circuit, and the chances of a repeat victory look promising for the rider currently fourth in the overall standings.

Hayden repaid Honda´s faith in letting him use the pneumatic valve engine for the RC212V, showing a swift pace and making him the fastest rider of the day for the Japanese factory. The 2006 World Champion had tested the engine last week in Catalunya, and has long championed the use of the motor to kickstart his 2008 campaign. During the afternoon session he also engaged in some light on-track conversation with rival Valentino Rossi, third fastest onboard the Fiat Yamaha M1.

2007 Donington poleman and podium finisher Edwards showed was fourth quickest with the satellite Yamaha machine, clocking a 1´28.969 lap whilst his young son slept peacefully in the Tech3 Yamaha garage. Donington Park is one of the Texan´s better tracks, a fact reflected in his race pace during the sessions.

Alex de Angelis was the highest placing satellite Honda rider in fifth, ahead of factory man Dani Pedrosa. The latter was using the standard spring valve version of the RC212V engine, having not had sufficient testing time in Catalunya owing to a crash. He also took a tumble on Friday afternoon, although with no obvious ill effects to his injured back. Pedrosa returned to the track later in the session.

Shinya Nakano, James Toseland, Chris Vermeulen and Randy de Puniet completed the fastest ten riders in the combined standings, With Toseland getting to grips with his home track onboard the second Tech 3 Yamaha machine.