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Stoner pips Simoncelli in final session

Casey Stoner came out on top in a late battle with Marco Simoncelli to set the fastest time in final practice at Le Mans, as Hondas continued to dominate the French Grand Prix weekend

Friday pacesetter Stoner had been on top for most of this morning's session too, until Gresini Honda rider Simoncelli produced a 1m34.075s on his last run to edge ahead.

But Stoner had more speed to come, and reclaimed first place on his next lap with a 1m33.815s.

The four factory-spec Hondas filled the top four positions, with the works-run bikes of Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa next up.

The best non-Honda was 1.1s off the pace in fifth, with Nicky Hayden taking that honour for Ducati right at the end.

Jorge Lorenzo's bid for a third straight French GP continues to look tough, with the Yamaha rider only sixth and his team-mate Ben Spies ninth in this session.

They were split by Ducati's Valentino Rossi and Tech 3 Yamaha's Colin Edwards, while the latter's team-mate Cal Crutchlow completed the top 10.

Pos  Rider             Team/Bike      Time       Gap
 1.  Casey Stoner      Honda          1m33.815s
 2.  Marco Simoncelli  Gresini Honda  1m34.075s  + 0.260s
 3.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda          1m34.244s  + 0.429s
 4.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda          1m34.545s  + 0.730s
 5.  Nicky Hayden      Ducati         1m34.954s  + 1.139s
 6.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha         1m35.051s  + 1.236s
 7.  Valentino Rossi   Ducati         1m35.280s  + 1.465s
 8.  Colin Edwards     Tech 3 Yamaha  1m35.281s  + 1.466s
 9.  Ben Spies         Yamaha         1m35.302s  + 1.487s
10.  Cal Crutchlow     Tech 3 Yamaha  1m35.442s  + 1.627s
11.  Hiroshi Aoyama    Gresini Honda  1m35.645s  + 1.830s
12.  Karel Abraham     Cardion Ducati 1m35.799s  + 1.984s
13.  Alvaro Bautista   Suzuki         1m35.979s  + 2.164s
14.  Randy de Puniet   Pramac Ducati  1m36.091s  + 2.276s
15.  Hector Barbera    Aspar Ducati   1m36.268s  + 2.453s
16.  Loris Capirossi   Pramac Ducati  1m36.370s  + 2.555s
17.  Toni Elias        LCR Honda      1m36.467s  + 2.652s

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