Monday, February 9, 2009

Stoner still fastest as Sepang test ends

Stoner still fastest as Sepang test ends

Casey Stoner remained on top as the first MotoGP test of 2009 concluded at Sepang.

The former world champion has struggled with pain from his injured wrist all week, and had to limit his running again today.

But that didn't stop Stoner setting the pace with a lap of 2:01.043 on his Ducati.

As had been the case for the previous two days, Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) and Loris Capirossi (Suzuki) were Stoner's main rivals, taking second and third places - just 0.094 and 0.219 seconds off the pace respectively.

Tech 3 Yamaha's Colin Edwards continued his encouraging debut on Bridgestone rubber by breaking into the top four, ahead of Gresini Honda's Toni Elias, who has been a top six factor throughout the test.

Chris Vermeulen took sixth on the second Suzuki, with Jorge Lorenzo improving his form on the second factory Yamaha after a difficult start to 2009 and taking seventh.

With Dani Pedrosa returning home to rest his painful knee, having aggravated a 2008 injury, eighth-placed Andrea Dovizioso was the only works Honda rider present.

After struggling earlier in the test, Pramac Ducati's rookie Finn Mika Kallio made major gains to take ninth position, ahead of factory rider Nicky Hayden, who crashed at Turn 2.

James Toseland was again the slowest of the regular riders, the Tech 3 Yamaha rider having been hampered by severe bruising since a heavy accident on the first day of the test.

Pos Rider Bike Time Laps 1. Casey Stoner Ducati 2:01.043 38 2. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 2:01.137 + 0.094 43 3. Loris Capirossi Suzuki 2:01.262 + 0.219 60 4. Colin Edwards Yamaha 2:01.413 + 0.370 22 5. Toni Elias Honda 2:01.560 + 0.517 43 6. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 2:01.666 + 0.623 48 7. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 2:01.907 + 0.864 61 8. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 2:01.955 + 0.912 54 9. Mika Kallio Ducati 2:02.386 + 1.343 61 10. Nicky Hayden Ducati 2:02.497 + 1.454 62 11. Alex De Angelis Honda 2:02.523 + 1.480 32 12. Sete Gibernau Ducati 2:02.727 + 1.684 42 13. Randy De Puniet Honda 2:03.418 + 2.375 50 14. Yuki Takahashi Honda 2:03.474 + 2.431 58 15. Niccolo Canepa Ducati 2:03.901 + 2.858 41 16. James Toseland Yamaha 2:03.953 + 2.910 36 17. Norihiko Fujiwara Yamaha 2:04.328 + 3.285 38 18. Wataru Yoshikawa Yamaha 2:04.614 + 3.571 33

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