Rossi happy with second in practice

Valentino Rossi was pleased with second place in the first practice session at Laguna Seca today, despite being nearly a second slower than Casey Stoner. Rossi lies 20 points ahead of Stoner in the championship, but Stoner is in a rich vein of form coming into the US GP on a three race winning streak. The Italian is hoping to close the 0.9-second gap between his Yamaha and the Ducati in first practice to allow him to fight for victory on Sunday. "It was a good first practice for us, I did a good time and I think we have the potential to do better," said Rossi. "Second place is a good start, but of course we have work to do to catch Stoner who is faster than us. "On some parts of the track we are good, but on others we lose our advantage so we have to improve the setting to be closer. "In the Corkscrew I'm quite fast, but... [read full story]