Stoner tops damp final practice

The world champion set a time of 2:09.609 on his Ducati early in the session, and then watched as the rain experts moved in behind him.

Chris Vermuelen, whose only MotoGP victory to date came in such conditions, was second fastest for Suzuki, though he was still more than half a second slower than his fellow Australian.

Alex de Angelis was third fastest for Gresini, ahead of teammate Shinya Nakano, despite the Japanese rider's access to superior Honda machinery.

Valentino Rossi, who won the US GP last time out and ran Stoner close in yesterday's dry free practice sessions, dropped to fifth in the order as he reset his Bridgestone-shod Yamaha for the wet conditions.

John Hopkins continued his strong return from injury with sixth for Kawasaki, ahead of Loris Capirossi on the second Suzuki.

The rain didn't seem to offer a respite for those using Michelin tyres.

The fastest man on French rubber was the injured Dani Pedrosa in eighth position. The Repsol Honda rider was 16th fastest in the dry as he struggled on with his damaged wrist, but the weather helped to make riding the bike less physical as he moved in to the top ten for the first time in the weekend.

Marco Melandri was second fastest for a while during the session, but eventually dropped to ninth, while Anthony West, another recognised rain-master, completed the top ten for Kawasaki.

Pos Rider                Bike       Tyre      Time     Gap
 1. Casey Stoner         Ducati     (B)   2:09.609
 2. Chris Vermeulen      Suzuki     (B)   2:10.168  +0.559
 3. Alex de Angelis      Honda      (B)   2:10.941  +1.332
 4. Shinya Nakano        Honda      (B)   2:11.117  +1.508
 5. Valentino Rossi      Yamaha     (B)   2:11.215  +1.606
 6. John Hopkins         Kawasaki   (B)   2:11.374  +1.765
 7. Loris Capirossi      Suzuki     (B)   2:11.389  +1.780
 8. Daniel Pedrosa       Honda      (M)   2:11.762  +2.153
 9. Marco Melandri       Ducati     (B)   2:11.879  +2.270
10. Anthony West         Kawasaki   (B)   2:11.950  +2.341
11. Andrea Dovizioso     Honda      (M)   2:12.069  +2.460
12. Toni Elias           Ducati     (B)   2:12.213  +2.604
13. Sylvain Guintoli     Ducati     (B)   2:12.276  +2.667
14. Randy de Puniet      Honda      (M)   2:13.885  +4.276
15. Jorge Lorenzo        Yamaha     (M)   2:14.384  +4.775
16. Colin Edwards        Yamaha     (M)   2:14.862  +5.253
17. James Toseland       Yamaha     (M)   2:15.613  +6.004