Lorenzo tops FP2 as Rossi crashes out

Jorge Lorenzo’s lap time of 1’49.282 was the best of the second practice session at Mugello, as the Spaniard upped his pace on Saturday morning. A major talking point in the session however was a crash experienced by his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi, who had a highside with 15 minutes of the session remaining.

Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso was second fastest at 0.338s behind Lorenzo as he made a noticeable advancement on his RC212V, with his team-mate Dani Pedrosa just eight-hundredths of a second behind.

Rossi ended the session fourth fastest, and was third when he had his crash with 15 minutes remaining at Turn 13. A highside threw the 31 year-old off his M1 prototype and he injured himself as he landed, appearing to be in some pain as he attempted to stand up. Rossi was stretchered off the track to the medical centre where a displaced and exposed fracture of his right tibia was diagnosed, and he will miss Sunday’s race.

Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) was the fifth fastest of the session, with Casey Stoner the sixth and final rider to get within a second of Lorenzo. The Ducati Marlboro rider had a run-off ten minutes in, but was able to return to the track immediately and continue his session.

Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech3), Ben Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech3), Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro) and Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) completed the top ten on the timesheet.