The wait is over. The Repsol Honda Team was back in action at Sepang today following MotoGP’s traditional winter break. Riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso got to grips with the latest version of the Honda’s RC212V, a bike improved in balance, chassis and engine for a smoother driveability and better matching of the machine with Bridgestone tyres.
The first MotoGP test of 2009 season got underway at the 5.542 km Sepang circuit in typically tropical conditions.
Andrea Dovizioso spent the day getting a feel for the RC212V, working on his position on the bike and machine set up. Lap by lap he improved his feeling, setting the 6th fastest lap, 2m 03.088s was his best time.
Dani Pedrosa set the 8th fastest lap, 2m 03.312s was his best time. The Spaniard focused on the bike set up to adapt the machine to the Bridgestone tyres.
Andrea Dovisioso, 2m 03.088s (44 of 55 laps)
“I’m very happy to be back in action. I was looking forward to ride my bike, and I particularly enjoy this place, I love the Sepang circuit and the hot temperatures that we find here.
This morning we worked a lot on my position on the bike, testing different solutions, as I was still not comfortable enough. Finally we found a good solution and a good feeling with the bike, so in the afternoon we could continue to work on the chassis and concentrate more on the set up to adapt the machine to the Bridgestone tyres. This is a very important element at the moment, in fact the tyres are consistent and have a lot of potential but we aren’t using all the potential at the moment. This is a good feeling because we know that there is space for improvement”.
Dani Pedrosa 2m 03.312s (33 of 44 laps)
“Today we came back on track after two months break since the last test in Jerez. It was important to get back the feeling with the bike and resume the rhythm. After such a long time, I really looked forward to go back riding my bike.
The priority at the moment is to adapt the bike to Bridgestone tyres, so we worked on the setting in order to get the best match between machine and tyres.
Our target during these three days of testing is also to improve every single aspect of the bike in preparation of the season.”
Official lap times
1. L.Capirossi (Suzuki) 2:01.869
2. C.Stoner (Ducati) 2:02.038
3. V.Rossi (Yamaha) 2:02.324
4. C. Vermeulen (Suzuki) 2:02.803
5. T.Elias (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 2:02.886
6. ANDREA DOVIZIOSO (REPSOL HONDA TEAM) 2:03.088
7.C.Edwards (Yamaha) 2:03.254
8. DANI PEDROSA (REPSOL HONDA TEAM) 2:03.312
9. S.Gibernau (Ducati) 2:03.750
10. J.Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2:03.894
11. N.Hayden (Ducati) 2:04.002
12. A.De Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 2:04.396
13.M.Kallio (Ducati) 2:04.405
14 J.Toseland (Yamaha) 2:04.502
15. R.De Puniet (LCR Honda) 2:04.882
16. Y.Takahashi (Scot Honda) 2:05.098
17. N.Canepa (Ducati) 2:05.270.
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