MotoGP Sepang Test: Rossi fastest as rain interrupts Day 1

Author: Oli Rushby Pics: Bonnie Lane Posted: 23 Feb 2015

Valentino Rossi lead the way as MotoGP testing resumed in Sepang today, the Italian leading the timesheets throughout the day until rain stopped play with just under two hours to go.

Temperatures were much higher than in the first test meaning reduced grip saw lap times some two seconds off the record pace set by Marquez two weeks ago. Riders were preparing to head out for lap times as the temperature fell towards the end of the day but a heavy rainstorm ended play early.  

Rossi’s fastest lap of 2’00.414 came not long before lunch placing the Italian comfortably ahead of rivals. By close of play, only Dani Pedrosa (2’00.543) and Pol Espargaro had come within half a second of the 10 time world champion by the end of the day.

Aleix Espargaro impressed on the Suzuki, setting the fourth fastest time just 0.748 off the pace and faster than double world champions Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez in fifth and sixth respectively.

Having said he was a bit ‘rusty’ after the first test, Cal Crutchlow got into the groove of things a bit better this time round, his time of 2’01.222 was just 0.032 off Marquez placing him seventh fastest.

Bradley Smith followed in eighth, with Maverick Vinales putting the second Suzuki in the top ten ninth fastest. Andrea Dovizioso’s first run on the Desmosedici GP15 placed him tenth fastest, just 0.948 off the pace after around half the amount of laps as other riders.

Scott Redding showed clear improvement in eleventh, just over a second off the pace ahead of Alvaro Bautista on the Aprilia. Hector Barbera, Nicky Hayden and Andrea Iannone rounded out the top fifteen.

Some riders did venture out in the wet for the final hour, including championship rookies Maverick Vinales and Jack Miller who used the time to familiarise themselves with Bridgestone’s wet rubber.