Stoner back on top in Valencia
11/05/2011 11:47:45 AM
Casey Stoner continued his impressive form at the Valencia MotoGP, going quickest during third practice on Saturday.
The Australian world champion topped the timesheets with a lap of one minute 32.619 seconds in the first dry session of the weekend.
Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa was again behind him, while Pramac Racing's Randy de Puniet was a surprise third ahead of qualifying in the final round of the season.
The Frenchman broke a Repsol Honda top-three as he led Andrea Dovizioso.
Greeted by sunny skies after a wet Friday, it was Pedrosa who edged to the top with 15 minutes remaining in the session.
But Stoner responded before bettering his effort with his final lap, eventually finishing 0.663 seconds clear of the Spaniard.
Yamaha's Ben Spies was fifth-quickest, ahead of Ducati's Valentino Rossi, who donned a helmet in honour of fallen rider Marco Simoncelli, who died at the Malaysian MotoGP last month.
The seven-time world champion had Simoncelli's red and white combined with his usual design.
Rizla Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista, who was quickest during a wet second practice, was seventh, ahead of Ducati's Nicky Hayden, Mapfre Aspar's Hector Barbera and lone San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Hiroshi Aoyama.