The world champion, like several runners, went out on track early when the rain was at its lightest, and recorded a 2:11.657 on his third flying lap. The Australian then promptly returned to the pits and sat most of the rest of the session out.
Valentino Rossi got closest to Stoner, and again set his time early in the session. But the Yamaha man's best attempt, set just five minutes later, was a massive 1.189s slower than pole, such was the rate of grip deterioration as qualifying progressed.
Kawasaki's returning ace John Hopkins crowned a strong weekend by going third fastest, his first front row start for the green team, eclipsing recognised rain master Chris Vermuelen on the Suzuki.
Alex de Angelis was fifth fastest ahead of Anthony West, the Australian setting an extraordinary time in very wet conditions at the end of the session to go just 2.4s away from pole.
Randy de Puniet recorded the seventh best time, and his third crash of the weekend, to put his LCR Honda ahead of Shinya Nakano's Gresini-run factory version.
Loris Capirossi was another faller, ending up ninth after just six laps of running.
As the session went on the track became saturated with several riders commenting on the amount of standing water.
While some decided to preserve equipment, and appendages, for Sunday, others that were more comfortable with the conditions came out to play.
Sylvain Guintoli, who starred in the rain at Le Mans last year, engaged in a massive battle with West and Marco Melandri, when the track resembled a swimming pool at the end of the hour. The Frenchman eventually lined up tenth, Melandri 11th.
Dani Pedrosa was the fastest Michelin runnner in 11th ahead of Toni Elias and Andrea Dovizioso.
Tech 3 Yamaha riders Colin Edwards and James Toseland struggled massively on the Michelin wets, while Estoril winner Jorge Lorenzo was last.
Pos Rider Bike Time 1. Casey Stoner Ducati (B) 2:11.657 2. Valentino Rossi Yamaha (B) 2:12.846 + 1.189 3. John Hopkins Kawasaki (B) 2:12.959 + 1.302 4. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki (B) 2:13.002 + 1.345 5. Alex de Angelis Honda (B) 2:13.352 + 1.695 6. Anthony West Kawasaki (B) 2:14.064 + 2.407 7. Randy de Puniet Honda (M) 2:14.535 + 2.878 8. Shinya Nakano Honda (B) 2:14.718 + 3.061 9. Loris Capirossi Suzuki (B) 2:14.805 + 3.148 10. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati (B) 2:14.861 + 3.204 11. Marco Melandri Ducati (B) 2:15.880 + 4.223 12. Dani Pedrosa Honda (M) 2:16.032 + 4.375 13. Toni Elias Ducati (B) 2:16.510 + 4.853 14. Andrea Dovizioso Honda (M) 2:17.632 + 5.975 15. Colin Edwards Yamaha (M) 2:20.074 + 8.417 16. James Toseland Yamaha (M) 2:23.303 + 11.646 17. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha (M) 2:23.701 + 12.044
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