Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) topped the timesheets today at Sepang, Malaysia during the first day of MotoGP testing for the 2012 season. Fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) finished the day in second, just 0.346 seconds behind, while Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) trailed in third, another 0.218 seconds back. All eyes were of course on Valentino Rossi and his newly minted Ducati Desmosedici GP12 Phoenix. The nine-time world champion, who had the fifth fastest lap behind Ben Spies (Yamaha), seemed pleased after his first day on this year’s machine, saying that riding position, corner entry, and braking are improved. He added that he can now get the tires up to temperature faster and with the wider range of set-ups is convinced that Ducati has taken the right direction.
Sepang marks the first official test of the new 1000 cc MotoGP machines and the majority of teams, including two CRT squads, are in attendance — though Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaro of Aspar’s ART and newly signed Mattia Pasini of the CRT Speed Master team are testing at Valencia instead. Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden, who finished the first day in 6th and 10th respectively, are both still recovering from off-season training injuries, and Casey Stoner had to opt out of riding today after aggravating an old back injury during pre-ride calisthenics. Instead, Honda test-rider Kousuke Akiyoshi took Stoner’s bike out for a few laps (accounting for Stoner being listed in 14th spot on today’s timesheet). The 2011 champion is expected back on the track tomorrow after a day of physiotherapy and muscle relaxants.
2012 Sepang MotoGP Test Times – Day 1
1 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing 2:01.657 – – 30 laps
2 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 2:02.003 +0.346 +0.346 48 laps
3 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:02.221 +0.218 +0.564 32 laps
4 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing 2:02.234 +0.013 +0.577 28 laps
5 Valentino Rossi Ducati Team 2:02.392 +0.158 +0.735 43 laps
6 Andrea Dovizioso Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:02.751 +0.359 +1.094 20 laps
7 Hector Barbera Pramac Racing Team 2:02.773 +0.022 +1.116 41 laps
8 Katsuyuki Nakasuga Yamaha Factory 2:02.829 +0.056 +1.172 32 laps
9 Alvaro Bautista San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:02.869 +0.040 +1.212 45 laps
10 Nicky Hayden Ducati Team 2:03.151 +0.282 +1.494 33 laps
11 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda 2:03.668 +0.517 +2.011 44 laps
12 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 2:03.781 +0.113 +2.124 45 laps
13 Franco Bataini Ducati Team 2:04.986 +1.205 +3.329 35 laps
14 Casey Stoner (Kousuke Akiyoshi) Repsol Honda Team 2:07.163 +2.177 +5.506 4 laps
15 Colin Edwards NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2:08.240 +1.077 +6.583 21 laps
16 Jordi Torres Avintia Racing 2:10.671 +2.431 +9.014 42 laps
17 Ivan Silva Avintia Racing 2:11.267 +0.596 +9.610 12 laps
