Stoner leads Honda 1-2-3 in first practice

Casey Stoner was the man in charge during first practice for the French Grand Prix this weekend, setting a time of 1:34.133 to lead team-mates Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso. The Repsol Honda trio were the only riders to make it under the 1:35.000 barrier, with Marco Simoncelli the best of the rest for his Gresini squad.

Reigning Champion Jorge Lorenzo had a steady start to the weekend in fifth, just over a second behind the pace-setting Honda RC212V of Stoner. Valentino Rossi was the highest placed Ducati rider in sixth place, while home favorite Randy de Puniet recorded the seventh fastest time for Pramac Racing.

Nicky Hayden was next up in the second works Ducati, only ten thousandths ahead of Cal Crutchlow who continues to show promise in his first season of MotoGP. The top ten was completed by Ben Spies, edging out compatriot Colin Edwards who trailed by little more than a tenth of a second.

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