2009 World Superbike champion Ben Spies makes his Yamaha MotoGP debut, while Aleix Espargaro once again replaces the still-injured Nicolo Canepa. Casey Stoner put himself on top of the time sheets with just minutes to go in the weekend's first session.

Some eyebrows were raised when Spies, ranked 15th fastest during the session, managed to set a joint 7th fastest top speed equal to speeds set by factory riders Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.

1. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 32.813 sec
2. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 33.195 sec
3. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1min 33.241 sec
4. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 33.499 sec
5. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1min 33.910 sec
6. Alex de Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 34.106 sec
7. Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 34.123 sec
8. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 1min 34.382 sec
9. Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 34.427 sec
10. Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 34.462 sec
11. Mika Kallio Pramac Racing 1min 34.696 sec
12. Marco Melandri Hayate Racing Team 1min 34.859 sec
13. James Toseland Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 34.865 sec
14. Toni Elias San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 34.873 sec
15. Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing 1min 35.052 sec
16. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 35.131 sec
17. Gabor Talmacsi Scot Racing Team MotoGP 1min 35.258 sec
18. Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing 1min 35.458 sec

Labels: MotoGP