Championship series leader Valentino Rossi set the early pace in the first practice session of the Australian MotoGP round at Phillip Island. Marlboro Ducati’s Casey Stoner narrowly failed to overhaul the Italian finishing the session just 1/10th slower on the very last lap.

Stoner had struggled in the 3rd sector of the track but on his very last lap was fastest in the first two splits, set his personal fastest time in the 3rd sector but he finished the session with a best time of 1:31.167 to Rossi’s 1:31.032. Rossi set his fastest lap early but spent the most time on the bike of all the riders completing 31 laps.


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