Stoner quickest

The test started out in wet conditions with intermittent light showers continuing until lunch but the sunshine dried the track in the afternoon and Stoner broke the 1'30 mark on race tyres.

He was some four tenths inside the circuit record set in 2005 by a 990cc machine despite the cold and imperfect track conditions.

Stoner said: "The track conditions were never perfect but with some changes to the rear suspension we were able to set some fast times, all of them on race tyres.

"I think it will be possible to repeat those times in the race here too because the new Bridgestones are even better than the ones we used last year.

"Hopefully the weather is good tomorrow so that we can complete a race simulation."

MotoGP newcomers Alex de Angelis (Honda Gresini) and Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Team Scot) followed on the timesheets with James Toseland sixth.

But Kawasaki's John Hopkins will head home to California from Australia earlier than expected after crashing heavily during the morning rain.

1. STONER, DUCATI MARLBORO - 1'29.938 (45)

2. DE ANGELIS, HONDA GRESINI - 1'30.449 (54)

3. DOVIZIOSO, JiR TEAM SCOT - 1'31.074 (60)

4. NAKANO, HONDA GRESINI - 1'31.316 (74)

5. HAYDEN, REPSOL HONDA TEAM - 1'31.373 (72)

6. TOSELAND, YAMAHA TECH3 - 1'31.451 (55)

7. MELANDRI, DUCATI MARLBORO - 1'31.478 (80)

8. CAPIROSSI, RIZLA SUZUKI - 1'31.545 (62)

9. DE PUNIET, LCR HONDA - 1'31.575 (72)

10. EDWARDS, YAMAHA TECH3 - 1'31.593 (44)

11. VERMEULEN, RIZLA SUZUKI - 1'31.774 (50)

12. WEST, KAWASAKI RACING - 1'32.242 (75)

13. ELIAS, ALICE TEAM - 1'32.246 (59)

14. GUINTOLI, ALICE TEAM - 1'32.431 (64)

15. HOPKINS, KAWASAKI RACING - 1'42.130 (27)