Hayden leads the way on Friday

Having been fastest in torrential conditions in the morning session, the 2006 world champion who switches to Ducati on Monday, was fastest again on the damp and tricky Spanish track in the afternoon.

The American moved to the top of the times halfway through the hour where he then remained for the rest of the session. Hayden even looked like he might improve late-on, before a mistake negated the lap in the final sector.

Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa was second fastest, a tenth slower on home soil riding the Bridgstone-shod RCV, while compatriot Jorge Lorenzo was third fastest on the factory Yamaha.

Valentino Rossi went fourth fastest on his spare works Yamaha, having ditched his other bike in the gravel at the final corner without injury, 20 minutes from the end of the session.

Casey Stoner, who paced the session early-on, ended the day fifth fastest for Ducati.

The Australian recovered well from his highside in the morning, and might even has stolen the top spot with his final flier, but for a poor middle sector that cost him 0.4secs.

Andrea Dovizioso made it three Michelin-shod bikes in the top six as the French manufacturer prepares to exit the premier class.

Frenchman Randy de Puniet deposed wet-weather master Sylvain Guintoli from seventh late-on, after his countryman hit the deck hard at the long left-hander in the final ten minutes of the session.

Guintoli, on his last ride for Alice Ducati before switching to the British Superbike Championship, appeared to injure his left knee in the shunt.

                                   
                                                     
Pos  Rider              Bike            Time        
 1.  Nicky Hayden       Honda     (M)   1'45.777        
 2.  Daniel Pedrosa     Honda     (B)   1'45.864 + 0.087
 3.  Jorge Lorenzo      Yamaha    (M)   1'45.959 + 0.182
 4.  Valentino Rossi    Yamaha    (B)   1'46.070 + 0.293
 5.  Casey Stoner       Ducati    (B)   1'46.260 + 0.483
 6.  Andrea Dovizioso   Honda     (M)   1'46.522 + 0.745
 7.  Randy de Puniet    Honda     (B)   1'46.807 + 1.030
 8.  Sylvain Guintoli   Ducati    (B)   1'47.055 + 1.278
 9.  Colin Edwards      Yamaha    (M)   1'47.314 + 1.537
10.  Shinya Nakano      Honda     (B)   1'47.483 + 1.706
11.  Chris Vermeulen    Suzuki    (B)   1'47.620 + 1.843
12.  Alex de Angelis    Honda     (B)   1'48.015 + 2.238
13.  Marco Melandri     Ducati    (B)   1'48.437 + 2.660
14.  John Hopkins       Kawasaki  (B)   1'48.469 + 2.692
15.  Anthony West       Kawasaki  (B)   1'48.504 + 2.727
16.  James Toseland     Yamaha    (M)   1'48.771 + 2.994
17.  Loris Capirossi    Suzuki    (B)   1'49.092 + 3.315
18.  Toni Elías         Ducati    (B)   1'51.871 + 6.094