[Acidreign]

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Honda’s Dani Pedrosa dominated British Grand Prix free practice on Friday while MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi showed he remained a contender despite his broken hand.

The young Spaniard, second in the championship after eight races, lapped quickest in both sessions with a best time of 1:28.970 in the afternoon at Donington Park.

“I think today was good; good weather with sunshine and the tyres worked very well. There was a good grip on the ground and that was perfect for us,” said Pedrosa.

American John Hopkins was second fastest for Suzuki with Australian rookie Casey Stoner third on a Honda.

Rossi, who broke bones in his right hand and left ankle after being thrown off his Yamaha in practice for last weekend’s Dutch TT at Assen, completed a total of 43 laps with heavy strapping on his wrist.

He was still less than half a second off the pace with the seventh best time of the day and faster in both sessions than overall leader Nicky Hayden, who was only ninth fastest after taking his first victory of the season at Assen.

Kentucky-born Hayden leads the championship with 144 points to Pedrosa’s 102.

Ducati’s Italian Loris Capirossi, still recovering from a first-corner crash in Barcelona this month that sidelined team mate Sete Gibernau with a broken collarbone, is third on 100 with Rossi fourth on 98.

Rossi has always gone well at Donington, almost a home race for the London resident, and the 27-year-old showman has won at the Midlands track for the last two years.

“I’m happy to be riding again and enjoying myself on the bike,” he said. “Assen was a very tough weekend for me but my physiotherapist has done a good job and I feel better, although still not at 100 percent.

“I still have some pain, especially under braking, but the mobility is much better and this is important.

“There are three hard braking areas at this track where I am struggling and to be honest I don’t know how this will be in the race,” added the Italian.

Rossi’s team mate Colin Edwards, the Texan who fell at the final chicane at Assen just after he had grabbed back the lead from Hayden, was sixth fastest in the session.

Italian Michael Fabrizio returned to the MotoGP paddock as a replacement for injured Spaniard Toni Elias at the Fortuna Honda team. The 21-year-old lapped 15th fastest of the 18 riders.

Sunday’s race is the ninth of the 17-race championship and marks the start of the second half of the season.

Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo, chasing his fifth win of the season, took provisional pole in the 250cc category, lapping more than half a second quicker than Alex de Angelis.

Lorenzo’s Aprilia team mate and compatriot Hector Barbera clocked the third best time on his return after missing two races due to injury.

Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, leader of the 125cc standings, was on provisional pole in that class ahead of Finland’s Mika Kallio.

((Editing by Alison Wildey; Reuters Messaging; alan.baldwin.reuters.com@reuters.net: +44 20 7542 7933))