Lorenzo quickest in practice
Added on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Lorenzo quickest in practice
Jorge Lorenzo made sure that teammate Valentino Rossi knew that the title race was not over yet as he posted the fastest time of the day at Friday’s free practice in Sepang.
Lorenzo, who sits 38 points behind Rossi in the championship with a maximum of 50 points available, conceded that his title chances had gone following a crash in Australia last week but showed no signs of throwing in the towel just yet as he edged out Casey Stoner to top the time charts.
The Mallorcan was just 0.064 seconds ahead of the Ducati rider, clocking a time of 2:02.180 in humid conditions in Malaysia.
Rossi, who only needs a top four finish to wrap up the championship this weekend, was fourth fastest in practice but lapped 0.684 seconds slower than Lorenzo.
Dani Pedrosa was third fastest, with his teammate Andrea Dovizioso completing the top five.
Britain’s James Toseland was a lowly 15th, more than three seconds off the pace.
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Fiat Yamaha | 2:02.180 |
| 2 | Casey Stoner | AUS | Ducati | +0.064 |
| 3 | Dani Pedrosa | SPA | Repsol Honda | +0.578 |
| 4 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Fiat Yamaha | +0.684 |
| 5 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Repsol Honda | +0.962 |
| 6 | Loris Capirossi | ITA | Rizla Suzuki | +1.073 |
| 7 | Toni Elias | SPA | San Carlo Gresini Honda | +1.114 |
| 8 | Nicky Hayden | USA | Ducati | +1.246 |
| 9 | Colin Edwards | USA | Tech 3 Yamaha | +1.559 |
| 10 | Chris Vermeulen | AUS | Rizla Suzuki | +1.583 |
| 11 | Mika Kallio | FIN | Pramac Ducati | +1.605 |
| 12 | Alex de Angelis | RSM | San Carlo Gresini Honda | +1.862 |
| 13 | Marco Melandri | ITA | Hayate Kawasaki | +2.094 |
| 14 | Randy de Puniet | FRA | LCR Honda | +2.484 |
| 15 | James Toseland | GBR | Tech 3 Yamaha | +3.038 |
| 16 | Gabor Talmacsi | HUN | Scot Honda | +3.109 |
| 17 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Pramac Ducati | +3.156 |
