Stoner optimistic about arm pump

Having been hampered by the condition at the last two races, Stoner tried acupuncture during the break between Assen and this weekend's event.

But he said the main contribution to solving the problem appeared to have been adjustments to the handlebar and lever positions on his Ducati for practice today, plus the bike's more compliant handling at Catalunya.

"The arms felt perfect," Stoner told reporters afterwards. "For the first 15-20 minutes of the session I started feeling not arm pump, but something there, and then at the end of the session I felt nothing, so hopefully we found something with the position or maybe the bike was working easier and it was easier to tide and I didn't have to put the same effort in."

He said the Ducati was much easier to ride at the Spanish venue than it had been in recent years, particularly in the fast corners at the end of the lap.

"The last sector of this track is normally the worst for us, and it seemed to be our best sector today," said Stoner.

"Normally in the past we're terrible here with our bike, it doesn't turn. But in the last session we got the bike turning a lot better and feeling a lot better, and I'm quite happy with the way everything's going at the moment."