Right. Due to some technical problems of the Ducati Desmosedici GP7, Casey Stoner has concluded the practice race for the 2007 Japanese GP in the 5th place. Anyway, here is the full story about the practice race in Montegi circuit in Japan.

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa dominated the morning and afternoon practice race at Twin Ring Motegi aboard his Honda RC212V with Honda spark plug wire. The Spanish rider set the fastest lap time and clocked in at 1:47.865.
    
Pedrosa commented after the practice race: "I am happy so far. It was hot in the morning session and then it got even hotter in the afternoon, but still the balance of the bike felt good. We must continue to improve the set-up tomorrow because this is only the first day and for sure our rivals will be working hard to overtake us. As a first day today went quite well and the pace I could maintain was pretty fast and consistent, so I am happy so far. It was hot in the morning session and then it got even hotter in the afternoon, but still the balance of the bike felt good. I like this track and we must continue to improve the set-up tomorrow because this is only the first day and for sure our rivals will be working hard to overtake us. I am very happy to have signed for Honda again today and I hope we can continue this weekend in the positive way we have started."

Below is the practice result.
 
1.     Dani Pedrosa      Repsol Honda Team     
2.     Randy De Puniet     Kawasaki Racing Team     
3.     Marco Melandri     Gresini Honda     
4.     John Hopkins     Rizla Suzuki MotoGP     
5.     Casey Stoner     Ducati Marlboro Team     
6.     Kousuke Akiyoshi     Rizla Suzuki MotoGP     
7.     Loris Capirossi     Ducati Marlboro Team     
8.     Anthony West     Kawasaki Racing Team     
9.     Nicky Hayden     Repsol Honda Team     
10.     Makoto Tamada     Tech 3 Yamaha     
11.     Colin Edwards     Fiat Yamaha Team     
12.     Shinya Nakano     Konica Minolta Honda     
13.     Carlos Checa     Honda LCR     
14.     Valentino Rossi     Fiat Yamaha Team     
15.     Toni Elias     Gresini Honda     
16.     Sylvain Guintoli     Tech 3 Yamaha     
17.     Alex Barros     Pramac D’Antin MotoGP     1:49.392     
18.     Chris Vermeulen     AUS     Rizla Suzuki MotoGP     
19.     Akira Yanagawa     Kawasaki Racing Team     
20.     Shinichi Ito     Pramac D’Antin MotoGP     
21.     Kurtis Roberts     Team Roberts     

Although this practice race is quite frustrating for my fave rider Casey Stoner, he said that he will get back on track on the next practice race all the way to the actual Japanese GP race.

Going back to Dani Pedrosa, during the practice race, Repsol Honda once again signed the 21-year old Spanish rider to the team. Pedrosa will be racing for Repsol Honda next year until the 2009 season. he commented: "I am very happy to have signed for Honda again today. I hope we can continue this weekend in the positive way we have started. Although this year things have not turned out to be quite as we wanted, Honda and I have the spirit to come back with renewed motivation, stronger than ever."