Final day of the first test at Sepang International Circuit came to a close with Marco Simoncelli (Gresini Honda) clocking an impressive 2:00.757s. He set the fastest pace of overall three days on his new 2011 RC212V.
"I'm really happy. In the Valencia test I realized that the new bike had good potential and I had a good feeling. If we consider that this is not my favorite track I have to be more than happy. I was very consistent yesterday and also I managed to make this
extraordinary time. Then I did the race simulation, during which I have been constant and in the end I got exhausted, as in the race," he said.
"Well, I'm glad to have gone 360 degrees. The team worked perfectly with the new team members. Everything has turned to perfection. We all improved, I, for one, and the guys working on the bike and I am convinced that this year we will be there. Of course,
this is the first test and I don't want to get too hyped up, so we must continue to work with our feet firmly on the ground."
Alvaro Bautista could not continue due to his poor health conditions, with Rizla Suzuki’s test driver Noburu Aoki filling in for his teammate. Bautista after being unable to sleep, returned to the team garage and did not practice. He will however reappear
in the second test on Feb 21-24 at same circuit.
Stepping on second and third place were Casey Stoner Repsol Honda and world champion Jorge Lorenzo, respectively. Rookie of 2010 Ben Spies (Factory Yamaha Racing) charged his M1 to hang on to the fifth place.
Valentino Rossi, still recovering from his last season’s injury, managed to finish tenth, whereas his teammate Nicky Haden switched up to eighth place from 11th on the second day. Yamaha team is on a steady pace as Rossi believes he will be able
to give a hundred per cent by the first race at Losail, Qatar on 20 March.
Second day’s fastest Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda slipped to sixth place, while Casey Stoner sustained his performance on the time chart, hanging to second position and third-fastest overall.
1. Marco Simoncelli Gresini Honda 2:00.757
2. Casey Stoner Honda 2:00.811 0.054 0.054
3. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 2:00.845 0.034 0.088
4. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 2:00.945 0.100 0.188
5. Ben Spies Yamaha 2:01.002 0.057 0.245
6. Dani Pedrosa Honda 2:01.241 0.239 0.484
7. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda 2:01.353 0.112 0.596
8. Nicky Hayden Ducati 2:01.534 0.181 0.777
9. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 2:01.651 0.117 0.894
10. Valentino Rossi Ducati 2:01.842 0.191 1.085
11. Hector Barbera Aspar Ducati 2:02.030 0.188 1.273
12. Loris Capirossi Pramac Ducat 2:02.057 0.027 1.300
13. Randy De Puniet Pramac Ducati 2:02.159 0.102 1.402
14. Karel Abraham Cardion Ducati 2:02.645 0.486 1.888
15. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 2:02.717 0.072 1.960
16. Toni Elias LCR Honda 2:02.916 0.199 2.159
17. Kousuke Akiyoshi Honda 2:03.452 0.536 2.695
18. Noburu Aoki Suzuki 2:04.700 1.248 3.943
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