Stoner, Rossi hope to be fit for long runs

Stoner had hoped to be completely fit in time for this test, having undergone surgery on a recurring wrist injury in November last year. But he was disappointed to find that his wrist remained very painful when he returned to action for Ducati yesterday.

Rossi required stitches to his left hand and foot after he fell onto a glass table while attempting to close a curtain at his house in Italy earlier this week.

Despite struggling with his physical situation, Stoner was still fastest today - but remained frustrated that he could only manage a handful of consecutive laps before his wrist became too painful to continue.

"The wrist is giving me a lot of problems and I can't manage more than two or three laps at a time, so it's difficult to work on set-up because I'm having to break off too often," he said.

"We've still managed to do some work on improving the feeling on the GP9, with some changes to the rear set-up that have improved the bike in the area we were suffering the most. Now it is much easier to ride.

"I still can't ride how I want though and we really need to string a run of consistent laps together, although I know that if I can get a little closer to 100 per cent fitness that problem will be resolved.

"Hopefully the wrist will feel a bit better tomorrow so that I can try and do a longer run and confirm the positive feedback we've had from the bike today."

Rossi was more confident about his condition, but he also said that he had to curtail his running due to discomfort today.

"This afternoon the stitches hurt me a bit, but my pace was still very good so I am happy," said the Yamaha rider, who was third fastest.

"Today I did not do the long run; I will do it tomorrow if my physical condition allows it.

"I may have to do it in two parts, so that it won't put too much stress on my stitches."