Casey Stoner outpaced his rivals in official practice yesterday for the Japanese Grand Prix, boosting his last-ditch bid to overtake points leader Valentino Rossi and retain his world title.
The Australian Ducati rider clocked 1 minute, 48.121 seconds in time trials with Dani Pedrosa second at 1:48.194 on a Honda and Rossi third at 1:48.510 on a Yamaha.
Italian Rossi is on the brink of winning his sixth premier-class title with an 87-point lead over Stoner and four races to go.
PHOTO: AP
Stoner, hampered in recent races by pain from an old injury to his left wrist, must win here to keep his title hopes alive.
But if the 22-year-old secures victory for 25 points, Rossi need only finish third to assure himself of his first MotoGP crown in three years.
Spaniard Pedrosa trails Stoner by seven points.
“My wrist is feeling pretty good here, much better than it has for the last two races,” said Stoner, who finished sixth here last year to wrap up his first MotoGP title ahead of second-placed Rossi.
“I didn’t use any bandage. I preferred not to because I don’t have the same movement. If I can, I won’t use it,” said the Ducati ace, who has won four races so far this season but missed the podium in the last three Grands Prix.
The first session was run in light morning rain, but as the weather cleared in the afternoon, all 19 riders improved their times in a dry second session on the 4.8km stop-and-go Motegi Twin Ring track.
Stoner posted the fastest time with 20 minutes to go in the hour-long session.
“Basically we tried a new tyre but it was spinning a lot on the rear and forcing me wide on the brakes,” Stoner said. “We need to make up for that tomorrow and a dry day would certainly help.”
With two minutes left, 29-year-old Rossi gunned his Yamaha to the limit. He was faster than Stoner up to a hairpin curve after two thirds of the course but lost time after lifting his front wheel going into a downhill straight.
Rossi, who won his fourth straight win, and seventh of the season, in a storm-shortened inaugural Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Speedway two weeks ago, said his third spot in free practice was “not a big problem.”
“I’m sure we will be able to improve tomorrow,” he said.
Fine weather was forecast for today, when the starting grid for the season’s 15th GP is decided in qualifying practice.
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