KEY POINTS:
MOTEGI - Closing in on his first MotoGP world title in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, Australian Casey Stoner could finish only fifth quickest in practice.
However, the Ducati rider's only real challenger for the title, Italian Valentino Rossi, suffered engine failure and recorded just the 14th fastest time in Motegi.
Honda's Dani Pedrosa led the way in both morning and afternoon free practices, clocking the best combined time of one minute, 47.865 seconds.
But the Spaniard is 99 points behind Stoner in the standings with just three races to go this season after Sunday's race and would need a miracle to pinch the title.
Italy's Valentino Rossi kept his mathematical hopes alive with victory in Portugal last week but still trails Stoner by 76 points.
Rossi needs to beat Stoner again this weekend but the four-times MotoGP world champion got off to a bad start when he pulled into the pit lane with smoke billowing from his Yamaha.
The omens are not good for Rossi. He has never won a four-stroke race at Motegi, while Ducati have dominated at the "Twin Ring" circuit the past two years.
Frenchman Randy de Puniet posted the second fastest combined time behind Pedrosa on his Kawasaki in 1.48.254 with Italian Marco Melandri third quickest for Honda in 1.48.351.
