If Stoner wins his ninth grand prix of the season on Sunday, Rossi must finish fifth or above to prevent the Australian capturing the title with four rounds still remaining. But, after his Misano disaster, Rossi was in determined mood on the Michelin-shod Fiat Yamaha and finished third fastest - indicating that Stoner and Ducati could well be made to wait.
Second place went to Japanese Tech 3 Yamaha rider Tamada who used a Dunlop qualifying tyre toward the finish of the second session, but set a best time on race tyres good enough for seventh. Former 125 and 250cc world champion
Dani Pedrosa was fourth with
Randy de Puniet fifth for Kawasaki. Two weeks ago at Misano in Italy de Puniet brought down Pedrosa on the second bend of the race and angry words were exchanged.
John Hopkins, riding the Rizla Suzuki, was sixth still just over half a second slower than Stoner while his team-mate
Chris Vermeulen was 11th - but still only seventh tenths of a second behind his fellow Australian at the front.
Spaniard Carlos Checa crashed his LCR Honda both in the morning and afternoon sessions. He was unhurt in both incidents.
Qualifying should be equally close tomorrow while the 28-lap race on Sunday should provide Stoner with one of his toughest races of the season as he strives to become the second youngest rider to win the premier class of grand prix Motorcycle racing.
Friday practice:
1. Stoner
2. Tamada
3. Rossi
4. Pedrosa
5. de Puniet
6. Hopkins
7. Capirossi
8. Hayden
9. Barros
10. Guintoli
11. Vermeulen
12. Checa
13. Edwards
14. West
15. Nakano
16. Elias
17. Melandri
18. Hofmann
19. Roberts
