The following shows the riders relative placing at each of the three two-day tests. Rossi and Stoner stand clear of the rest with Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo (on the basis of only four days of testing), and Colin Edwards taking the next three places.

American Ben Spies, sixth overall in average placing, tied with veteran Loris Capirossi on the factory Suzuki, was only 12th on the first day of the first Sepang tests, and dropped to tenth on Day 2 of the Qatar tests, but was fifth three times and third once at the other tests -- results probably more in line with the rookie Texan’s true potential.

So what can we conclude from six days of closely observed tests? We have the luxury now to speculate before the points start being taken. This is what it looks like to me less than three weeks from the start of the 2010 season -- which will be the 26th season I have covered. Back in 1974 I remember we were speculating on whether the two strokes (Agostini and Lansivuori on the Yamahas and Sheene and Findlay on the Suzukis) would finally beat the red MVs of Read and Bonera. (They didn't, but in '75 they did.)

So, here we go again.

Rider-Sepang 1/Sepang 2/ Qatar / (Total Placings) / Average Placing

1- Valentino Rossi /1,1/ 1,1/ 1,2/ (7) 1.17
2- Casey Stoner /2,2/2,2/2,1/ (11) 1.83
3- Andrea Dovizioso /6,6/3,7/6,3/ (31) 5.17
4- Jorge Lorenzo /5,3/X,X,/7,6/ (21) 5.25*
5- Colin Edwards /3,7/6,4/4,8/ (32) 5.33
6- Ben Spies /12,5/5,5/3,10/ (40) 6.67
6- Loris Capirossi /4,10/4,6/11,5/ (40) 6.67
8- Nicky Hayden /7,8/11,3/8,4/ (41) 6.83
9- Dani Pedrosa /8,4/7,8/10,13/ (50) 8.33
10- R. De Puniet /13,13/15,11/5,7/ (64) 10.67
11-Mika Kallio /9,17/8,14/9,9/ (66) 11.0
12. M. Melandri /X,11/10,12/12,14/ (59) 11.8*
13. A. Espargaró /11,9/13,16/16,11/ (76) 12.67
14. H. Barberá /10,12/14,13/13,15/ (77) 12.83
15. A. Bautista /14,16/9,10/17,12/ (78) 13.0
15-H. Aoyama /X,17/14,12/14,16/ (86) 14.33
17-M. Simoncelli /X,15/X,17/15,X/ (47) 15.67*

* The riders indicated with asterisks did not take part in all six pre-season sessions. Lorenzo missed the second two-day test in Sepang because of an injury to his right thumb in a training crash on a motocross bike. Melandri sat out the opening session on a drying track at the first Sepang tests, and Simoncelli also sat out the day of Sepang and missed the second day of Sepang 2 and the Qatar tests due to a crash on Day 1.