Stoner starts fastest, Hofmann injured and out.

By Lynne Huntting

Honda Gresini's Marco Melandri was second fastest, followed by Americans Colin Edwards (Fiat Yamaha) and John Hopkins of Rizla Suzuki MotoGP.

Hofmann, German MotoGP 2007
Hofmann, German MotoGP 2007
© Gold and Goose

By Lynne Huntting

Honda Gresini's Marco Melandri was second fastest, followed by Americans Colin Edwards (Fiat Yamaha) and John Hopkins of Rizla Suzuki MotoGP.

Italian Valentino Rossi, Edwards' team-mate, led the early part of the hour-long session, but eventually finished fifth overall.

Last year's MotoGP Champion, 2006 USGP winner and local favourite, American Nicky Hayden, ran as high as fifth but was left eighth overall at the chequered flag.

The session was red flagged when Sylvain Guintoli rode into Alex Hoffman coming over the top of the famed Corkscrew in Turn Eight, and both went tumbling off. Hoffman was transported by ambulance to the medical centre.

The German suffered a fractured left second metacarpal (ring finger) and will have surgery this afternoon. Hoffman won't race this weekend. Two weeks ago he injured his right hand when someone shut a car boot on it while he was on a mountain bike trip.

American riders number five for this weekend, more than any other country. Australia, Italy and Spain have three riders each, France and Japan have two riders, and there is one each for Brazil, Canada and Germany.

Nicky Hayden's younger brother Roger Lee is racing as a wild-card this weekend for Kawasaki and finished FP1 in an impressive tenth place. Roger is also racing in the AMA Supersport race, along with his brother Tommy. The well-known Roberts family is represented only by Kurtis Roberts - Kenny Roberts Jr isn't racing this weekend.

Laguna Seca has been resurfaced since last year and the track is smoother and grippier than last year, which is pleasing to the teams. Last year the track was bumpy and broke up.

MotoGP has a second hour-long practice on Friday afternoon.

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