Stoner says Donington's new surface is worse than the old one

MotoGP championship leader Casey Stoner has criticised conditions at Donington ahead of Sunday's British Grand Prix.

Stoner set the fastest time as rain hit Friday's practice session, with world champion Nicky Hayden second fastest and Randy de Puniet third.

"It's so slippery, it's like riding on grease," said the 21-year-old Australian Ducati rider.

"I think the wet conditions here are a little bit dangerous, maybe too much dangerous, especially in a race."

Reigning champion Hayden was less concerned about the conditions.

"It was a pretty wet, cold, slippery, nasty day out there," said the Honda rider.

I think this circuit really needs to do something about it because it's becoming a little bit too dangerous Championship leader Casey Stoner

"But that's probably as much fun as I've had on the bike since Valencia last year, so I'm not going to complain about cold fingers."

Donington was resurfaced three years ago but Stoner said that had only made matters worse with the new 800cc machines.

The engine capacity of MotoGP bikes was reduced from 990cc to 800cc for this season in an attempt to make the sport safer by reducing acceleration speed.

However, the 2007 bikes are already matching and even surpassing last year's times.

"The old surface was pretty bad but nowhere near this. And now they've brought on this new surface, every year it has consistently got worse," insisted Stoner.

"With these long corners, and fast corners, something bad is going to end up happening.

"I think this circuit really needs to do something about it because it's becoming a little bit too dangerous, especially with these bikes."

Donington Park is next to the fast-growing East Midlands airport and planes come in to land over the track.

"A lot more planes are coming into the airport and it has to be all the fuel and everything that they are dropping over the circuit," said Stoner.

"This is the only reason it can be so bad - there is just no traction.