Football
Reuters 17y

Stoner fastest in Portuguese Grand Prix practice

ESTORIL, Portugal -- Australian Casey Stoner, riding a Honda, set the pace in practice for the Portuguese Grand Prix on Friday.

The 20-year-old, last year's 250cc winner at Estoril,
clocked the fastest lap of the day in the second MotoGP session
after scorching around the 4,182 meter track in one minute
38.218 seconds.

American Nicky Hayden, the overall leader who can wrap up
the title this weekend if he wins and reigning champion
Valentino Rossi fails to finish in the top five, trailed him by
just 0.50 seconds on the Repsol Honda.

Compatriot Kenny Roberts Jr. was third fastest.

Yamaha's Rossi, 12 points behind Hayden with two races
remaining including Sunday's, was eighth fastest with a time of
1:38.826. However, the 27-year-old led the first session in the
morning.

Honda's Italian Marco Melandri, 27 points adrift of Hayden
in the championship and still in with a mathematical chance of
taking the title, crashed in the afternoon and was taken to the
circuit clinic with a bruised left knee.

However, officials said he should be fit to ride on
Saturday.

Friday also featured the competitive debut of the Ilmor
team, brainchild of ex-Formula One engine designer Mario Illien
and former rider Eskil Suter.

Australian Garry McCoy, a winner at Estoril on a Red Bull
Yamaha six years ago, was 18th of the 20 riders on a bike
designed with next year in mind and the reduction in engine
capacity from 990cc to 800.

In the first qualifying session in the 250cc category,
Japan's Hiroshi Aoyama took provisional pole position in
1:42.282 on a KTM, pipping Spain's Jorge Lorenzo who raced round
in 1:42.357 on a Aprilia.

The session was halted for 15 minutes when a metal grille on
the curb was exposed, with Aoyama making contact but keeping his bike upright.

In 125cc category, Spain's Alvaro Bautista, who already
clinched this season's title, was the fastest with his Aprilia
in a time of 1:46.493.

^ Back to Top ^