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

The Australia highsided at the Turn Niꦉne 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 wal𝕴k away following the heavy fall, but eventually returne🥃d to the pits on the back of a scooter and appears sore but unharmed.

The rain has now stopped but a🦹ll riders are still in the pits with 30 o✃f the 45-minutes remaining.

Stoner, who starꦜts this weekend 25 points behind Jorge Lorenzo in the championship, also fell heavily in Friday prac♊tice at Assen last year. Lorenzo was fastest at the time of this morning's rain.