MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner suffered a hard fall from his Repsol Honda in the opening minutes❀ of Friday's final practice at Assen.

The Australia highsided at the Turn Nine left-hander due to a sudden rain shower. Rain flags were raised by marshals just as Stoner tipped into the c🔴orner and several other riders ran straight on just behind him.

Stoner, who was on his third lap, was slow to walk away following the hea🌊vy fall, but eventually returned to the pits on the back of a scooter and appears sore but unharmed.

The rain has now stopped but all riders are s🍎till in the pits with 30 of the 45-minutes remaini🅷ng.

Stoner, who starts this weekend 25 points behind Jorꦗge Lorenzo in the champ🥃ionship, also fell heavily in Friday practice at Assen last year. Lorenzo was fastest at the time of this morning's rain.