Casey Stoner picked up where he left off in Qatar by setting the fastest time during the first free practice session at the Istanbul Park circuit in Turkey this morning.
The LCR Honda rider set a best time of 1:54.276 to head Marco Melandri (2005 race winner) by 0.268 seconds with Valentino Rossi in third, 0.395 seconds back of the leading time on the Camel Yamaha YZR-M1.
Nick Hayden, Loris Capirossi and Colin Edwards completed the top six, with John Hopkins the fastest Suzuki in tenth, and Kenny Junior (Team Roberts) finished the session in 16th place, 3.205 seconds in arrears of Stoner.
Australian Stoner won the 250cc race in Turkey back in October of 2005 and was the pole sitter in the desert three weeks ago.
Relevant times:
2005 Fastest Lap: Marco Melandri - Movistar Honda MotoGP - 1:53.111
2005 Pole Position: Sete Gibernau - Movistar Honda MotoGP - 1:52.334