Stoner smashes lap record in German Grand Prix

SACHSENRING, Germany (AFP) — Reigning world champion Casey Stoner smashed the lap record during practice here Friday ahead of this weekend'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 0.411sec behind.

Stoner will be full of confidence going into Saturday'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 ...