Italian MotoGP: Rossi rides high on home turf as Lorenzo looks to keep lead

Valentino Rossi takes a curve during the opening practice session of the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello (Reuters)

Home favourite Valentino Rossi takes a curve during the opening practice session of the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello yesterday. Jorge Lorenzo, the championship leader, clocked the fastest time in both of yesterday's practice sessions.

The Yamaha rider, who leads the standings thanks to Casey Stoner's dramatic last-lap fall in Germany last weekend, was dominant throughout the two sessions, setting his best time of one minute 48.076 seconds early in the afternoon running. That was enough to edge out compatriot Dani Pedrosa by just three hundredths of a second.