By Stephen English

Casey Stoner, who will retire from MotoGP after Sunday's Valencia season finale, continues 𝄹to feel the effects of his hefty Indianapolis crash with the Australian admitting that he still lacks flexibility in his ankle.

His home domi💫nance at Phillip Island notwithstanding, it was clear after the opening day of practice that the very different demands of Valencia are presenting Stoner with a challenge this weekend.

Phil🗹lip Island is filled with high-speed left hand corners, whereas Valencia has a host of low-sp💞eed right hand turns that place a premium on a rider's ability to shift his weight and anchor the bike.

For Stoner this has presented a huge challenge, with the double champion admitti꧂ng as much after the end of opening practice:

"The foot feels ave🍰rage at the moment and in the wet conditions it wasn't good today," said Stoner, who missed thre♑e events after undergoing ankle surgery.

"I stꦏillꦺ can't get the flexibility required in the right corners.

"A🎃t Philip Island there's 🦋only two corners that we need to get over the right hand side of the bike.

"Here there's a few points that I couldn't get off the inside enough so it was a bit difficult but I ꦚdidn't push hard this 🧔morning."

Stoner was tenth in w💟et morning practice and then didn't record a lap time in the drying afternoon session.