MotoReview

Casey lost the front of his RC211V at the sharp left-hander which at the end of the fast section of the circuit and was back on track on his number two bike just a few minutes later. The tarmac run-off area on this corner was also tested by Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa during FP2, although both simply straight lined the corner after carrying in too much speed.

Elsewhere in the timesheets Colin Edwards was 6th fastest and 5 places ahead of his team-mate Rossi. It's only free practice, but let's face it - it's usually the other way around.

A little further down the order in 17th and 18th respectively, the Tech 3 riders Carlos Checa and James Ellison are closer than ever, with Ellison just a tenth off his more experienced team-mate's time.

Free Practice 2 Times

1) Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1'53.623
2) Casey Stoner Honda LCR 1'53.861
3) Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda 1'53.971
4) Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1'54.001
5) Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 1'54.022
6) Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team 1'54.042
7) Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team 1'54.055
8) John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'54.227
9) Sete Gibernau Ducati Marlboro Team 1'54.279
10) Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda 1'54.422
11) Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team 1'54.662
12) Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'54.722
13) Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team 1'54.967
14) Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts 1'55.179
15) Randy De Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team 1'55.700
16) Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha 1'56.838
17) James Ellison Tech 3 Yamaha 1'56.943
18) Alex Hofmann Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 1'57.467
19) Jose Luis Cardoso Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 1'58.007

Free Practice 1 Times 

1) Casey Stoner Honda LCR 1'54.276
2) Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda 1'54.544
3) Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team 1'54.671
4) Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1'55.126
5) Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team 1'55.394
6) Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team 1'55.445
7) Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 1'55.453
8) Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1'55.512
9) Sete Gibernau Ducati Marlboro Team 1'55.656
10) John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'55.716
11) Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda 1'55.759
12) Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team 1'55.803
13) Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'56.131
14) Randy De Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team 1'56.959
15) Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha 1'57.323
16) Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts 1'57.481
17) Jose Luis Cardoso Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 1'58.399
18) James Ellison Tech 3 Yamaha 1'58.797
19) Alex Hofmann Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 1'58.801