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MotoGP: Test Results & Photos from Day 1 at Sepang

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With rain the night before, MotoGP’s first day of testing in Sepang got off to a late start, with riders not taking to the Malaysian track until well into the day. Noticeably absent from the day’s test was reigning-World Champion Casey Stoner, as the Australian’s back seized during stretching before the first session. Casey is expected to ride Wednesday (Tuesday evening US time), though former-teammate Andrea Dovizioso is a question mark, as the Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider was too sick for a media debrief last night.

For the Ducati camp, initial results are looking positive, as the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP12 had its first shakedown from riders Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden. Still recovering from his broken shoulder, Hayden only put in 25 laps on the new GP12 “Phoenix” before calling it a day and letting test rider Franco Bataini finish the day’s testing for him. Rossi on the other hand had a full-day with the Ducati Corse’s GP12, and was already impressed with the bike and the progress Ducati had made with it.

“I’m happy because first impressions are important, and already in the first few laps, I could tell that I like the bike,” said the nine-time World Champion. “Ducati did a good job in a just a short time. The bike is beautiful, but more importantly, it’s nice to ride. The riding position has improved a lot, and it’s better on braking and corner entry. I can brake like I want to and take the lines that I like, and I feel comfortable in general.”

Test Results from Day 1 at Sepang, Malaysia:

Pos. Rider Team Time Diff. Diff. to Leader Laps
1 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing 2:01.657 30
2 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 2:02.003 +0.346 +0.346 48
3 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:02.221 +0.218 +0.564 32
4 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing 2:02.234 +0.013 +0.577 28
5 Valentino Rossi Ducati Team 2:02.392 +0.158 +0.735 43
6 Andrea Dovizioso Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:02.751 +0.359 +1.094 20
7 Hector Barbera Pramac Racing Team 2:02.773 +0.022 +1.116 41
8 Katsuyuki Nakasuga Yamaha Factory 2:02.829 +0.056 +1.172 32
9 Alvaro Bautista San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:02.869 +0.040 +1.212 45
10 Nicky Hayden Ducati Team 2:03.151 +0.282 +1.494 33
11 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda 2:03.668 +0.517 +2.011 44
12 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 2:03.781 +0.113 +2.124 45
13 Franco Bataini Ducati Team 2:04.986 +1.205 +3.329 35
14 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team 2:07.163 +2.177 +5.506 4
15 Colin Edwards NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2:08.240 +1.077 +6.583 21
16 Jordi Torres Avintia Racing 2:10.671 +2.431 +9.014 42
17 Ivan Silva Avintia Racing 2:11.267 +0.596 +9.610 12

Ducati Corse Testing at Sepang – Day 1

Yamaha Racing Testing at Sepang – Day 1

HRC Testing at Sepang – Day 1

Source: MotoGP; Photos: Ducati, HRC, & Yamaha

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