"MotoGP: Stoner continues on Thursday Roll Practice"

Casey Stoner continued his impressive form of last week on the first day of practice for the A-Style TT Assen. The reigning World Champion put in absolute master at both sessions Thursday MotoGP, particularly in the afternoon run at the historic Dutch track.

A 1'36 .087 lap and three tenths of a second faster than John Hopkins' pole position record, 2006, was the latest demonstration of Stoner and Ducati's potential to fight for victory at this crucial stage of the season. Even a brief Wobbler seemed not to faze the 22 years of age.

Doing his best to live up to its rival, Fiat Yamaha Valentino Rossi matching closer to Stoner's score. The winner at Assen last year's showdown a stunning battle between him and Stoner, current leader of the World Championships Rossi was seven-tenths of a second down on the fast lap of the day. "Curious" to see how their new Bridgestone tyres will fare in Assen, Rossi is pulling out all the stops to get the best of his package of 2008 in the morning qualifying session.

Colin
Edwards also managed to keep within a second of the time Stoner, on board the version of the Tech3 Yamaha M1 on a track where he has perhaps its best chance of victory this season. The rider who prevailed in their 2006 duel, Repsol Honda of Nicky Hayden, was just behind him in fourth place.

Alex de Angelis and Shinya Nakano Trail Hayden as the next fastest Honda riders, who compete for the San Carlo Honda Gresini satellite package. Honda LCR man Randy de Puniet of John Hopkins and Kawasaki also separated from Hayden and the team title contender Dani Pedrosa in the classification combined practice.

Tenth placed Chris Vermeulen had a small run-off during the afternoon session, but theirs was a small setback compared with that of Rizla Suzuki team of Loris Capirossi. The veteran returned - absent from Donington with a hand injury - suffered a brutal highside that ended with the Italian nursing a cut on the forearm Mobile Clinic. Played anywhere else in the meeting, and his replacement by Ben Spies Britain is partly in the Netherlands their services should be required.