[motorcycle.com] - Results From Day 1 Of Second Sepang MotoGP Test

[Ninjette Newsbot]

With the absence of Marc Marquez from the second Sepang MotoGP test, due to a broken leg suffered in a training accident, another Honda rider took his place at the top of the time sheets, though it’s not who you might think. Alvaro Bautista on the Gresini Honda set the fastest time at the end of the first day with a 2:00.848.

The time is 1.3 second slower than the fastest time Marquez set at the last Sepang test. Recent weather conditions have left the track dirty and slippery, according to the riders. As track conditions improve, we can expect the times to improve again tomorrow. Bridgestone has a new rear tire compound for this year, and in this Bautista was working heavily with his engineers developing the correct shock, swingarm, and linkage configurations to work with the tire.

Aleix Espargaro is again impressing everyone in the paddock aboard the Open class Forward Yamaha. He sat at the top of the time sheets for much of the day, but ultimately his time of 2:00.900 was second best on the day. Having the benefit of a softer Bridgestone rear tire specifically for Open class machines helped Espargaro set the fast time, but the team is still looking to prolong that pace throughout a race.

Third fastest on the day was Pol Espargaro (2:00.999), younger brother of Aleix, the MotoGP rookie aboard his Tech 3 Yamaha. Pol’s time is also impressive considering his lack of experience on a premier class machine. He focused on testing different electronics and various small engine parts throughout the day.

Fourth fastest was Andrea Dovizioso aboard the Ducati GP14, with a 2:01.029. He and new teammate, Cal Crutchlow, worked on general bike setup while management decide whether the team will run as an Open class or MSMA. The former will allow 24 liters of fuel (vs. 20 for MSMA entires) and 12 engines per year (vs. five). As opposed to the MSMA machines, which are required to “seal” their five engines at the start of the season, Open entries will not have this requirement. The obvious benefit for the struggling Ducati team if it were to run as an Open entry would be the ability to constantly develop throughout the season. However, Open entries are forced to use the Dorna specified electronics package, whereas MSMA entries are free to use proprietary systems.

The Yamaha team were surprisingly absent from the top of the time sheets, Jorge Lorenzo fifth (2:01.158) and Valentino Rossi seventh (2:01.349). Both riders were working on proper setup with the new Bridgestone rear.

Nicky Hayden clocked the 10th quickest time, his 2:02.227 the best of the customer Honda teams.

Day 1 testing times:

PosRiderTeamFastest lap1Alvaro BautistaGO&FUN Honda Gresini2:00.8482Aleix EspargaroNGM Mobile Forward Racing2:00.9003Pol EspargaroMonster Yamaha Tech 32:00.9994Andrea DoviziosoDucati Team2:01.0295Jorge LorenzoYamaha Factory Racing2:01.1586Dani PedrosaRepsol Honda Team2:01.1607Valentino RossiYamaha Factory Racing2:01.3498Stefan BradlLCR Honda MotoGP2:01.4919Bradley SmithMonster Yamaha Tech 32:01.64410Nicky HaydenDrive M7 Aspar2:02.22711Cal CrutchlowDucati Team2:02.31912Andrea IannonePramac Racing2:02.33413Hiroshi AoyamaDrive M7 Aspar2:02.70914Colin EdwardsNGM Mobile Forward Racing2:02.74315Yonny HernandezEnergy T.I. Pramac Racing2:02.82316Hector BarberaAvintia Racing2:02.97517Randy De PunietTeam Suzuki MotoGP2:03.34118Scott ReddingGO&FUN Honda Gresini2:03.55319Michele PirroDucati Test Team2:03.99120Katsuyuki NakasugaYamaha Factory Test Team2:04.16521Mike Di MeglioAvintia Racing2:04.88522Karel AbrahamCardion AB Motoracing2:05.63823Nobuatsu AokiTeam Suzuki MotoGP2:07.302Results From Day 1 Of Second Sepang MotoGP Test appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.



Click here for full story...