Thursday, February 5, 2009

Capirossi tops first day of Sepang test

Loris Capirossi was a surprise pace-setter for Suzuki as testing got underway for the 2009 MotoGP season at Sepang.

The veteran Italian lapped in 2:01.869 on the updated 2009 Suzuki to beat Casey Stoner by 0.169 seconds.

Ducati rider Stoner was quickly up to speed in his first appearance since his winter wrist injury, while Valentino Rossi also showed few ill-effects from his domestic incident as he went third-fastest for Yamaha.

The reigning champion was reportedly having some difficulty walking due to the lacerations he received when he fell through a glass table earlier this week, and also had a minor accident during the morning, but still lapped within half a second of Capirossi.

Chris Vermeulen was fourth on the second Suzuki, ahead of Gresini Honda returnee Toni Elias and new factory Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso.

Colin Edwards took seventh as he got to grips with Tech 3's upgraded Yamaha, but his teammate James Toseland crashed and was 14th.

Dani Pedrosa was eighth on the second Repsol Honda, Sete Gibernau ninth for Onde Ducati and Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo 10th.

Nicky Hayden was only 11th quickest on the second works Ducati, two seconds slower than teammate Stoner.

Leading testing times from Sepang:

Pos Rider Bike Time Laps 1. Loris Capirossi Suzuki 2:01.869 37 2. Casey Stoner Ducati 2:02.038 + 0.169 34 3. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 2:02.324 + 0.455 31 4. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 2:02.803 + 0.934 55 5. Toni Elias Honda 2:02.886 + 1.017 52 6. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 2:03.088 + 1.219 50 7. Colin Edwards Yamaha 2:03.254 + 1.385 34 8. Dani Pedrosa Honda 2:03.312 + 1.443 44 9. Sete Gibernau Ducati 2:03.750 + 1.881 54 10. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 2:03.894 + 2.025 61

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