Stoner takes early advantage at Misano

Casey Stoner was once again the early man to beat in the first MotoGP practice session at Misano, this time staving off a late surprise from Colin Edwards. The Australian had been heading the timesheets for almost the entire session, but finally had to pull a late 1´35.422 lap to edge out `The Texas Tornado´ by just 0.002.

Home rider Alex de Angelis started well in San Marino, showing potential for a crowd-pleasing result with the third fastest time of the morning. San Carlo Honda Gresini´s local hero was a further seven-tenths of a second back on Stoner´s time. Last year´s 250cc racewinner Jorge Lorenzo was the third and final rider separating title contenders Stoner and Valentino Rossi in the opening session, with the latter a second down on his rival.

Nicky Hayden, Andrea Dovizioso, Chris Vermeulen, James Toseland and Shinya Nakano completed the top ten, with Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa appearing equally as uncomfortable as he did in Brno with the fourteenth time on the board.

Kawasaki´s John Hopkins did not appear for the session, resting up his rib injury incurred during practice for the last round in the Czech Repuiblic.