7 Apr 2012

Lorenzo clocks fastest time for MotoGP opener

9:34 am on 7 April 2012

Spainish motorcycle racer Jorge Lorenzo halted world champion Casey Stoner's Grand Prix of Qatar surge when he clocked the fastest time in the second and final practice ahead of tomorrow's MotoGP season-opener.

The Yamaha rider, the world champion in 2010, had been second best to the Australian Honda star in Thursday's session and Friday's first stretch, but then clocked a lightning lap, just outside Stoner's 2008 circuit record.

Britain's Cal Crutchlow, on another Yamaha, was second quickest with Stoner relegated to third spot.

The best Ducati performance was a sixth place by Hector Barbera riding for the Pramac satellite team with the Spaniard putting factory riders Nicky Hayden and seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi in the shade.

They were seventh and eighth respectively.