Just four days after his Donington Park triumph Casey Stoner was back in action on the Marlboro Ducati to set the fastest lap ever recorded by a motorcycle round the 2.830 mile Assen circuit in the North of Holland this afternoon. The 22 year old World Champion was in stunning form both in the morning and afternoon practice sessions held in bright sunshine, to lead Championship leader Valentino Rossi by over seven tenths of one second.
The Australian revealed after his British Grand Prix win on Sunday that the Ducati team had developed some improved electronics which he hoped would continue to be as successful in Assen and that certainly proved the case. Third fastest was American Colin Edwards riding the Tech 3 Yamaha in front of 2006 Assen winner Nicky Hayden on the pneumatic valve Repsol Honda.
Alex De Angelis and Shinya Nakano gave the San Carlo Honda Gresini team a big boost by finishing fifth and sixth respectively with former fastest ever Assen lap rider John Hopkins eighth in front of Dani Pedrosa with last year’s pole setter Chris Vermeulen completing the top ten that were separated by just under 1.2 seconds
It was not a happy return to the track for Italian Loris Capirossi. The Italian missed Donington with a damaged hand following a crash in Barcelona a couple of weeks earlier. This afternoon he crashed at high speed from the Rizla Suzuki and cut his right forearm which will requires stitching. He did no more damaged to his injured right hand.
Toseland Back in Business After his Donington disaster James Toseland was just happy to get back on the Tech 3 Yamaha and look forward instead of backwards in the first two MotoGP practice sessions. The 27 year old Yorkshireman was 13th fastest after the first day and happy with his efforts.
“The support I’ve received from the fans and the team has been amazing and I really appreciate it,” said Toseland.” I’m feeling my way back to form and preparing for the race . We still have a lot of work to do to find the best setting because although I have experience of Assen on a Superbike we are starting with a clean slate. I’m just so pleased to be back on a bike after the Donington disappointment.”
Smith & Redding on The Pace – Webb Out of Action British Grand Prix winning sensation 15 year old Scott Redding and 17 year old Bradley Smith were straight on the pace in the first 125 cc qualifying session. On his first visit to Assen just four days after winning at Donington, Redding continued where he left off and was sixth fastest less than half a second behind the leader Italian Simone Corsi.
Smith, riding the Polaris World Aprilia, was even quicker and qualified second quickest although Kent-based Danny Webb has been forced to sit it out. He broke his right collarbone when he crashed in the British Grand Prix but hopes to be back in action at the German Grand Prix in two weeks time.
In the first 250 cc qualifying session Ulsterman Eugene Laverty was 20th, riding the Blusens Aprilia.
