Repsol Honda´s Casey Stoner was fastest again in the second practice session of the Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya, after also topping the FP1. The Australian beat out Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) while Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) nicked a last minute third place from Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing).

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner set the early fast lap in the rainy practice conditions, with most riders lapping close to 8 seconds slower than the FP1 times. As the rain continued, many riders retreated to the garages, while some, including Jorge Lorenzo, never ventured out until the last quarter of the practice session.

The rain allowed those who did venture into the slick conditions to see their names at the top of the timesheet throughout the session. Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) battled with Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) for the lead time, both bettering each others fastest laps until the last fourteen minutes, when the weather let up slightly and the time pressed the other riders into action.

The last twelve minutes saw Stoner retop the top chart with a blistering 1’42.940, followed by the Italian Simoncelli, who caught and held the second spot in the last five minutes with a time of 1’43.468 and held onto it until the end. Both riders were nearly one second faster than their FP1 times.


Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) grabbed third position from Jorge Lorenzo in the last seconds of practice, with a time of 1’43.603, 0.870s faster than the reigning world champion. Fellow Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing) followed his team mate in fifth, with a time of 1’44.859.

Colin Edwards landed the sixth spot with his time battling with Bautista earlier in the wet session, but later crashed and sustained a broken right collarbone. Fellow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow finished behind Edwards in seventh.

Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) was again the quickest Ducati, finishing once again in eighth with a time just under 1s slower than his FP1 time. Teammate Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) finished 0.045s behind the American. Both Ducati´s were behind the fastest lap set by Stoner by 1.904s and 2.392s respectively.

Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) again finished in tenth place, though he was unable to better his previous time, landing a 1’45.666, just under three tenths of a second under his FP1 time.

Randy de Puniet (Pramac Racing), who had seen his name at the top of the timing during the mid session rain, finished thirteenth with a time of 1’46.126.


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