Casey Stoner dominated the opening afternoon of the Red Bull USGP at Laguna Seca today, spending the majority of the first free practice at the top of the time sheets and finishing up 0.233 seconds clear of his closest rival Jorge Lorenzo.
Stoner‰Ûªs best effort came on his 24th lap of 26 and at 1‰Ûª21.699 it was just over two tenths shy of his own circuit record, set on his way to victory here in 2007.
‰ÛÏToday we tried a few different things with the setting because we still need to find a better feeling with the front and also we need to adapt the braking because there are a lot more bumps here in the braking zones than there were last year," Stoner explained.
"In general we have to be happy because we‰Ûªre setting the pace at the moment but we have to continue this tomorrow. In a lot of races this season we‰Ûªve been fast on a Friday but not able to improve and lost ground to the others so we want to make sure that doesn‰Ûªt happen here. I‰Ûªm not looking to be first in practice, I would like to be first at the end of the race on Sunday," the Australian said.
Italian Honda Repsol rider Andrea Dovizioso was third quickest.
Practice Times
1. Casey Stoner (Ducati: 1‰Ûª21.699):
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) +0.233:
3. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) +0.526:
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +0.860:
5. Ben Spies (Yamaha) +0.941:
