Pedrosa leads after Lorenzo crash

Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after crashing during second practice for the Catalan MotoGP on Friday.

Lorenzo, third in the championship, bruised his ankle and hurt a finger but should be back for Saturday qualifying at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

Compatriot Dani Pedrosa was quickest over the two sessions on his Honda at 1:43.017 just ahead of Loris Capirossi.

Championship leader Valentino Rossi was third, with Casey Stoner fourth.

Yamaha’s 21-year-old rookie Lorenzo has had a painful introduction to the top category, as the double 250cc world champion fractured both his ankles in China in May and crashed again in practice for the French Grand Prix.

The top four in practice were separated by less than a tenth of second.

Meanwhile, championship leader Rossi has decided to extend his contract with Yamaha until 2010.

“Yamaha told me you decide how long you want to extend it for, and I have decided it will be two years,” the Italian told Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo on Friday.

“I wanted to wait and see how much motivation I had left to continue, and there is my decision.”

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Catalan Moto GP free practice classification:

1. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1’43.017
2. Loris Capirossi (Suzuki) +0.006
3. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) +0.073
4. Casey Stoner (Ducati) +0.082
5. Alex de Angelis (Honda) +0.216
6. Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) +0.351