Ducati's Casey Stoner topped both opening practice sessions today at Misano for this weekend's MotoGP round in San Marino. The Australian even succeeded in widening the gap between him and the runner-up in the afternoon practice.

In the morning, Stoner was barely able to distance himself from Colin Edwards until his last lap when he lowered Edward's time by a mere two thousandths of a second. In the afternoon though, the current champion was able the take a comfortable lead of over 0.8 second until Valentino Rossi closed the gap to 0.4 seconds right at the end.

John Hopkins was absent from the timesheets, the Kawasaki rider not taking to the track for problems believed to be related to his rib injury.

Morning practice

Pos Rider Team Time Laps
1. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1:35.422 24
2. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1:35.424 + 0.002 24
3. Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1:36.145 + 0.723 26
4. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1:36.375 + 0.953 29
5. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1:36.464 + 1.042 27
6. Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team (M) 1:36.518 + 1.096 27
7. Andrea Dovizioso JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1:36.602 + 1.180 26
8. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1:36.608 + 1.186 24
9. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1:36.740 + 1.318 22
10. Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1:36.883 + 1.461 25
11. Toni Elias Alice Team (B) 1:37.099 + 1.677 26
12. Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1:37.196 + 1.774 25
13. Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1:37.355 + 1.933 27
14. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team (M) 1:37.380 + 1.958 27
15. Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team (M) 1:37.534 + 2.112 28
16. Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1:37.669 + 2.247 22
17. Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1:37.929 + 2.507 26

Afternoon practice

Pos Rider Team Time Laps
1. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1:34.806 21
2. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1:35.224 + 0.418 27
3. Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1:35.377 + 0.571 29
4. Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1:35.620 + 0.814 27
5. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1:35.743 + 0.937 27
6. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1:35.766 + 0.960 27
7. Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1:35.861 + 1.055 23
8. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1:35.913 + 1.107 24
9. Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1:36.100 + 1.294 27
10. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1:36.105 + 1.299 23
11. Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team (M) 1:36.189 + 1.383 24
12. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team (M) 1:36.219 + 1.413 29
13. Andrea Dovizioso JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1:36.356 + 1.550 27
14. Toni Elias Alice Team (B) 1:36.425 + 1.619 24
15. Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team (B) 1:36.619 + 1.813 25
16. Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1:37.096 + 2.290 22
17. Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1:38.239 + 3.433 25