Rossi and Hayden drop off pace

Italy's Loris Capirossi clocked the fastest time in second free practice for the season-ending Valencia MotoGP yesterday while title rivals Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden dropped off the pace.

Ducati's Capirossi recorded the best time of the day as he sped round the tight and twisty 4-km Ricardo Tormo circuit in one minute 32.220. Frenchman Randy de Puniet was second quickest on his Kawasaki, with Australian Chris Vermeulen third on a Suzuki.

Hayden posted the fourth fastest time while Rossi, fastest in the morning session, had to settle for seventh place in the afternoon behind Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa.

Rossi snatched the lead in the title race for the first time this season by finishing second in Portugal earlier this month. He leads the championship by eight points from Hayden, who crashed out in Portugal after his Honda team-mate Pedrosa ploughed into him on a corner.

Italian Rossi will wrap up his sixth premier class crown if he finishes ahead of the American in tomorrow's race. But Hayden can turn the tables if he wins and the Yamaha rider fails to finish second. The riders will compete for grid positions in official qualifying today.