7 Nov 2009

Stoner fastest in practice at Valencia Moto GP

3:51 pm on 7 November 2009

Australia's Casey Stoner set the pace in the first free practice session ahead of Sunday's season-ending Valencia MotoGP.

The Ducati rider clocked 1min 32.81 seconds to hold off Spaniards Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa with world champion Valentino Rossi fourth fastest on his Yamaha.

Stoner, who has won the last two races on his Ducati following a three-event absence due to fatigue, dominated the race weekend here in 2008.

He secured pole position, set a lap record and won the race.

Rossi, meanwhile, had the pleasure of riding as world champion after making sure of the 2009 championship by finishing third in the rain-hit Malaysian Grand Prix two weeks ago.