MotoGP - Sepang test

[The Phantom]

Honda are doing very well (as expected), but Spies third fastest after two days is certainly big news.

Ducati have not made progress with all their re-designing of the bike for Rossi. In fact they may have shot themselves in the foot - if Rossi truly won't be strong until mid season, and Hayden has to re-learn the bike all over again, there goes the 2011 campaign... perhaps Hayden should go straight back to the 2010 bike!

[CaptainRaiden]

Day 1 times:

1. Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team 02:01.574 52
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing Team 02:01.977 44
3. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 02:02.024 53
4. Marco Simoncelli Honda Gresini 02:02.295 42
5. Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing Team 02:02.332 24
6. Álvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 02:02.422 38
7. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda Gresini 02:02.483 22
8. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 02:02.507 44
9. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 02:02.514 53
10. Randy de Puniet Pramac Racing 02:03.152 46
11. Kousuke Akiyoshi Repsol Honda Team 02:03.224 26
12. Valentino Rossi Ducati Marlboro Team 02:03.365 23
13. Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 02:03.508 58
14. Loris Capirossi Pramac Racing 02:03.695 60
15. Hector Barbera Aspar Team 02:03.767 36
16. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 02:04.009 36
17. Toni Elias Honda LCR 02:04.238 41
18. Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 02:04.470 52

[CaptainRaiden]

Day 2 Times:

1. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 02:00.770 39
2. Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team 02:01.434 44
3. Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing Team 02:01.508 60
4. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 02:01.512 48
5. Marco Simoncelli Honda Gresini 02:01.522 42
6. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda Gresini 02:01.534 58
7. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing Team 02:01.563 35
8. Álvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 02:01.687 63
9. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 02:01.722 33
10. Hector Barbera Aspar Team 02:02.093 45
11. Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 02:02.379 62
12. Randy de Puniet Pramac Racing 02:02.426 50
13. Valentino Rossi Ducati Marlboro Team 02:02.597 42
14. Kousuke Akiyoshi Repsol Honda Team 02:02.619 47
15. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 02:03.032 38
16. Loris Capirossi Pramac Racing 02:03.047 56
17. Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 02:03.466 47
18. Toni Elias Honda LCR 02:04.026 58

[CaptainRaiden]

Day 3 times:

1. Marco Simoncelli Honda Gresini 02:00.757 42
2. Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team 02:00.811 42
3. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing Team 02:00.845 46
4. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 02:00.945 51
5. Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing Team 02:01.002 60
6. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 02:01.241 44
7. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda Gresini 02:01.353 63
8. Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 02:01.534 60
9. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 02:01.661 32
10. Valentino Rossi Ducati Marlboro Team 02:01.842 52
11. Hector Barbera Aspar Team 02:02.030 42
12. Loris Capirossi Pramac Racing 02:02.057 48
13. Randy de Puniet Pramac Racing 02:02.159 57
14. Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 02:02.645 29
15. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 02:02.717 44
16. Toni Elias Honda LCR 02:02.916 55
17. Kousuke Akiyoshi Repsol Honda Team 02:03.452 3


Simoncelli a surprise on day 3. Both Hayden and Rossi also improving their times from before. However, this is still testing, so can't read too much into the times, although it's clear so far that Stoner, Lorenzo, Spies and Pedrosa have been consistently at the top, and I expect this year's title fight to go down between these four. Rossi and Ducati will probably see this as a learning year, because there is no way that Rossi can perform with a fragile recovering shoulder. Even little things affect how much his shoulder pains. I read that on the second day he ran the Ducati without those little winglets on the side, and it was easier for him, because there was less pressure exerted on his shoulders on corners.

As for Nicky, he should be happy that Ducati are listening to Rossi's and JB's input because they usually develop the bike to have better and easier handling, example Honda and Yamaha when Rossi rode for them. So, if anything, this should help Nicky ride better.

[TheFamousEccles]

Wouldn't that be funny, if ducati were forced to remove the wings to accommodate Rossi's riding style?

[CaptainRaiden]

Wouldn't that be funny, if ducati were forced to remove the wings to accommodate Rossi's riding style?

I am guessing they would have to, at least on Rossi's bike, until his shoulder recovers. A pity really that we won't be able to see what a completely fit Rossi would have been able to do on the Duc. Probably they'd just wait this year out and prepare for next season with the new 990 CC bikes coming. Also, it would be interesting to see how Lorenzo and Spies would setup next year's new Yamaha without Rossi and Jeremy Burgess' expertise. This year's M1 is pretty much an evolution of last year's title winning machine.

[Rod Richardson]

I'm looking forward to this mgp season more so than in the past couple of seasons due to the new rider and team arrangements and the inclusion of Spies and Simoncelli in the ranks.

[NinjaMaster]

I'm looking forward to this mgp season more so than in the past couple of seasons due to the new rider and team arrangements and the inclusion of Spies and Simoncelli in the ranks.

I'm right with ya Rod. Nothing like a bit of change to spice things up a bit. Whilst testing traditionally means little, I think Pedrosa has sounded a warning that he is a forgotten/overlooked force to be reckoned with. Stoner is unsurprisingly fast and looks ominous. Simo, Doviand even Aoyama within a second of the pace on a privateer bike are proving that the Honda is a very fast bike. The Yamaha boys are going about their business without any fanfare but maximum output and will be ready to fight when the season kicks off. The Suzuki was typically competitive in hot conditions, but can that convert to cold conditions as well? And finally, the Ducati was predictably slow, though improving as the test went along. Can they make significant strides by the next test? Only time will tell but it's exciting trying to guess!

[SeaN77]

I really think Spies will be the surprise package of this season. I dont think he'll win the championship but a consistent podium finisher now he knows the tracks and is in the main factory team.

For the title though, i'll say Stoner. If the honda works for him(i think it will) he'll be unstoppable. roll on the first round! almost cant wait, but until then wsb in 2 weeks will be awesome.