Motorcycling: Stoner shows Ducati are back on track

Casey Stoner, the reigning world champion, dominated yesterday's two, one-hour practice sessions here, and underlined Ducati's commitment to recover from thier early-season drift.

The 22-year-old Australian piloted his fire-red machine round in 1min 28.253sec – half a second clear of 2006 champion Nicky Hayden on the Repsol Honda.

The championship leader, Valentino Rossi, was third fastest on his Fiat Yamaha in his 200th grand prix appearance, from the American Colin Edwards on the Tech 3 Yamaha.

James Toseland was an unhurried eighth fastest, 1.088sec slower than Stoner. "It's a good position to be in after day one," his manager, Roger Burnett, said. "Stoner surprised everyone with how far ahead he is, but we're just working systematically. We don't want to rush and make mistakes. We have a lot more to come."

British GP practice times

British Grand Prix MotoGP second free practice session times (Donington Park): 1 C Stoner (Aus) Marlboro Ducati 1min28.253sec; 2 N Hayden (US) Repsol Honda 1:28.829; 3 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 1:28.909; 4 C Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:28.969; 5 A de Angelis (SMR) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:28.992; 6 D Pedrosa (Sp) Repsol Honda 1:29.207; 7 S Nakano (Japan) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:29.207; 8 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:29.341; 9 C Vermeulen (Aus) Rizla Suzuki 1:29.410; 10 R de Puniet (Fr) LCR Honda 1:29.433; 11 J Hopkins (US) Kawasaki Racing 1:29.441; 12 A West (Aus) Kawasaki Racing 1:29.666; 13 A Dovizioso (It) JiR Team Scot Honda 1:29.722; 14 M Melandri (It) Marlboro Ducati 1:29.856 ; 15 T Elias (Sp) Alice Team Ducati 1:30.268 ; 16 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 1:30.290; 17 B Spies (US) Rizla Suzuki 1:30.766; 18 S Guintoli (Fr) Alice Team Ducati 1:30.931.