Sepang ready for the second MotoGP pre-season test – MotoGP news
On Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at Sepang, fans will see another day when their stars of MotoGP will practice for their 2011 season.
This will be the second test hosted by Sepang International Circuit in this month, the third final pre-season test will be held at Losail Qatar, just before the first season race.
The MotoGP enthusiasts will see defending World Champion Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies riding on their YZR-M1 machines in new livery revealed at the same day in a press release held moments before the test starts.
17 riders will form the panorama at SIC when tackling the humidity and heat conditions, which strongly relate to the geographic climate conditions.
Marco Simoncelli of San Carlo Gresini Honda, came out of nowhere and topped the time chart until the last day of first three-day test at Sepang, earlier this month. He is entering his second season in premier class of MotoGP. Simoncelli hit the fastest
time of 2.00:757 seconds on final day, just 0.239 seconds slower than Valentino Rossi’s fastest lap time record at the circuit in 2009. He led the five Honda machines’ group in top seven rankings.
Dani Pedrosa has proved that that his collarbone injury has not left him lame in pre-season testing. Whereas Casey Stoner has worked smooth to get his factory RC212V in hands as he debuts this season with Repsol Honda, as their third teammate Andrea
Dovizioso improves. Simoncelli is paired with Hiroshi Aoyama in San Carlo Gresini Honda. Toni Elias World Champion Moto2 class will also reappear with LCR Honda in premier class of MotoGP.
Jorge Lorenzo clocked second fastest just 0.088 seconds slower than Simoncelli’s run. Lorenzo will practice further to improve his 2011 M1 further. Rookie of the year 2010, Ben Spies will run hard to work his prototype to advance the machine settings,
beneficial for season ahead. Both teammates will also be present at the official livery launching of Factory Yamaha.
Second test at Sepang will also be another moment for Valentino Rossi to check-on his shoulder recovery and adapt the Desmosedici GP11 further. Rossi finished outside the top-ten at time chart but seemed humble at his pace. He will maintain the steady
progress and to improve at the third test at Qatar.
Nicky Hayden was proving to be the best Ducati performing at the test earlier this month. His effort to push the envelope of GP11 performance will lead him to a step forward. Pramac pairs Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet, rookie Karel Abraham of
Cardion AB Motoracing and Mapfre Aspar’s Hector Barbera will run to obtain further benefits from their team’s Ducatis.
Alvaro Bautista will carry his testing on the GSV-R for his Rizla Suzuki team. John Hopkins is also set as a backup driver for Rizla Suzuki but team officials doubt his appearance in test sessions. Monster Yamaha Tech3 with rookie Cal Crutchlow and
teammate Colin Edwards will re-continue their practices.
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