"MOTOGP: Stoner Leads Hayden at Donington Park"

With the fastest time in both sessions on Friday MotoGP at Donington Park, Casey Stoner was undoubtedly the day's standout performer in preparation for the bwin.com British Grand Prix.

The pilot Ducati Marlboro completed a good day of practice with a lap 1'28 .253 blitz that Colin Edwards' 2007 pole position time, giving it a comfortable advantage of about half a second Repsol Honda of Nicky Hayden. Stoner was the winner of the last race of the year in the British circuit, and the chances of recidivism in the victory seem promising for the pilot currently fourth in the overall standings.

Hayden Honda returned faith to let him use the pneumatic valve engine of the RC212V, with a rapid pace and it takes the fastest rider of the day by the Japanese factory. The 2006 World Champion had tested the engine last week in Catalunya, and has always defended the use of starter its campaign of 2008. During the afternoon session also engaged in some light on the path of conversation with the rival Valentino Rossi, third fastest aboard the Fiat Yamaha M1.

2007 polemic Donington podium finisher and Edwards was fourth fastest with the satellite Yamaha machine, clocking a lap 1'28 .969, while his young son slept peacefully in the garage Tech3 Yamaha. Donington Park is one of the Texans better tracks, which is reflected in his race pace during the sessions.

Alex de Angelis was the largest satellite Honda rider put in fifth, ahead of the factory man Dani Pedrosa. The latter was using the same type of valve spring version of the RC212V engine, not having had enough time to test in Catalunya because of an accident. It also takes tumble on Friday afternoon, though not with obvious adverse effects on his injured back. Pedrosa returned to the track later in the session.

Shinya Nakano, James Toseland, Chris Vermeulen and Randy de Puniet completed the ten fastest in the combined classification, with Toseland to get in front of his home track on board the second Tech 3 Yamaha machine.