SACHSENRING (Ger): Reigning world champion Casey Stoner smashed the lap record during practice here on Friday ahead of tomorrow's German Grand Prix.

The 22-year-old Australian, on a Ducati, was dominant over the two sessions setting the new circuit record of 1min 21.582sec, with his nearest rival Alex de Angelis, on a Honda, trailing 0.411s behind.

Stoner will be full of confidence going into yesterday's qualifying, where he will be hoping for a repeat of last year's pole position start.

The Aussie flyer is chasing his third consecutive win to bounce back into contention in the championship, after a poor first half of the season -- one win out of six -- left him adrift of Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa.

Yamaha's Colin Edwards was the only other rider within a second of Stoner's time with the Italian Rossi posting the fourth-fastest time of 1:214s.
Last year's race winner Dani Pedrosa, on a Honda, suffered a crash in the morning session and had to settle for fifth.

Loris Capirossi, returning from a two-race absence due to injury, will be happy with his outing on a Suzuki, sitting on 12th.

But Briton's James Toseland suffered yet more disappointment after he crashed in the first session, ending the day in 17th. -- AFP