Rain falls on MotoGP testing at Sepang

After leading all three days in the first Sepang Test two weeks ago, Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa maintained his position at the top of the time sheets and Marc Marquez continued his good performance as the second Sepang Test got underway today.

Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo was again quick to get up to pace, managing to complete a total of 25 laps before retiring for the day in second position, 0.235 seconds from first. The Mallorcan spent the day focusing on bike set up in the search for better acceleration from his YZR-M1.

Italian rider Valentino Rossi suffered a technical issue with the 2013 YZR-M1 early in the session however was able to continue testing with the 2012 machine to gather valuable data. Rossi completed the day’s riding in fifth position, less than half a second from first.

Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith enjoyed a positive start to the second MotoGP test session, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team riders both finished inside the top 10.

Crutchlow was fast straight out of the box this morning and a time of 2.02.272 set on only his fifth lap put him in second position. But a slippery surface and track temperatures that soared to over 60 degrees in searing heat meant lap times were considerably slower than those posted at the first Sepang test earlier this month.

Smith quickly established himself inside the top 10 as the British rider continues to build up his experience on board the YZR-M1 machine.

Unfortunately heavy rainfall arrived again at 14h30 local time which ended the track action on this first day. Testing resumes tomorrow at 09h00 local time.

Testing Times – Sepang Day 1

1 – Dani Pedrosa – 2’01.580 – SPA – HONDA – Repsol Honda Team
2 – Jorge Lorenzo – 2’01.815 – SPA – YAMAHA – Yamaha Factory Racing
3 – Marc Marquez – 2’01.942 – ESP – HONDA – Repsol Honda Team
4 – Stefan Bradl – 2’01.959 – GER – HONDA – LCR Honda MotoGP
5 – Valentino Rossi – 2’02.028 – ITA – YAMAHA – Yamaha Factory Racing
6 – Cal Crutchlow – 2’02.272 – GBR – YAMAHA – Monster Yamaha Tech 3
7 – Alvaro Bautista – 2’02.362 – SPA – HONDA & FTR – Go & Fun Honda Gresini
8 – Andrea Dovizioso – 2’02.801 – ITA – DUCATI – Ducati Team
9 – Nicky Hayden – 2’03.143 – USA – DUCATI – Ducati Team
10 – Bradley Smith – 2’03.632 – GBR – YAMAHA – Monster Yamaha Tech 3
11 – Katsayuki Nakasuga – 2’03.734 – JPN – YAMAHA – Yamaha Factory
12 – Aleix Espargaro – 2’03.941 – ESP – ART – Power Electronics Aspar
13 – Ben Spies – 2’04.047 – USA – DUCATI – Ignite Pramac Racing Team
14 – Andrea Iannone – 2’04.050 – ITA – DUCATI – Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team
15 – Wataru Yoshikawa – 2’04.590 – JPN – YAMAHA – Yamaha Factory
16 – Michele Pirro – 2’04.626 – ITA – DUCATI – Ducati Test Team
17 – Hiroshi Aoyama – 2’04.743 – JAP – FTR – Avintia Blusens
18 – Randy De Puniet – 2’05.288 – FRA – ART – Power Electronics Aspar
19 – Takumi Takahashi – 2’05.510 – JPN – HONDA – HRC Test Team
20 – Colin Edwards – 2’05.518 – USA – FTR-KAWASAKI – NGM Mobile Forward Racing
21 – Danilo Petrucci – 2’05.827 – ITA – IODA-SUTER – Came IodaRacing Project
22 – Karel Abraham – 2’05.838 – CZE – ART – Cardion AB Motoracing
23 – Yonny Hernandez – 2’05.908 – COL – PBM – Paul Bird Motorsport
24 – Hector Barbera – 2’06.062 – SPA – FTR – Avintia Blusens
25 – Claudio Corti – 2’06.306 – ITA – FTR-KAWASAKI – NGM Mobile Forward Racing
26 – Bryan Staring – 2’06.730 – AUS – HONDA & FTR – Go & Fun Honda Gresini
27 – Lukas Pesek – 2’07.991 – CZE – IODA-SUTER – Came IodaRacing Project