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Losail - Honda's Australian rider Casey Stoner set the fastest time in the final practice session for Sunday's Qatar MotoGP at the Losail circuit here on Friday.
The 2007 champion registered the best time of 1min 55.035s over the three sessions ahead of Saturday qualifying.
"Casey is often untouchable here," said Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis, who noted that the atmosphere for this season-opener was strange "because of the desert circuit, the absence of fans and the mourning of all the Japanese" following last week's earthquake and tsunami.
Sunday's race will be preceded by one minute's silence for the victims of the tragedy in Japan.
Honda filled the first three spots with Stoner followed home by Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who was only 0.158 adrift, and Andrea Dovizioso (at 0.705).
Defending champion Jorge Lorenzo got the better of his Yamaha teammate Ben Spies for the first time here to offer the Spaniard encouragement as he sets out on his title defence under the floodlights of Losail.
Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) suffered a nasty crash in the closing ten minutes of the practice and was carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be a thigh injury.
Valentino Rossi, now with Ducati, came in eighth quickest with the Italian's teammate Nicky Hayden trailing in 14th.
