The third
MotoGP rookie present, Yamaha Tech 3's
James Toseland, slipped from fifth to sixth on day two - 1.5secs from Stoner - but outpaced team-mate Edwards by 0.1secs and four positions.
Sandwiched between the two Yamaha YZR-M1s were
Marco Melandri (Ducati Marlboro),
Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) and
Randy de Puniet (Honda LCR). Melandri had also been a whisker slower than Toseland on day one, while Capirossi improved by two places as he and team-mate
Chris Vermeulen (11th fastest) continued to try and crack one of Suzuki's worst tracks.
Anthony West was the top Kawasaki in twelfth place but team-mate
John Hopkins was left at the tail of the timesheets after falling - and injuring his groin - while riding in the wet. Hopkins went to hospital to get the injury checked and it remains to be seen if the Anglo-American can return for Friday's third and final day of testing.
Between the two ZX-RRs were Alice Team riders
Toni Elias and
Sylvain Guintoli, who may have been left over two-seconds from Stoner - but at least joined the Australian in improving on their day one best.
