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MotoGP
MOTOGP: Three Days In Sepang
The first preseason MotoGP test of the year provided a few clues as to what's to come.
Yamaha Factory Racing's Ben Spies (Photo: Yamaha Racing)
The first official MotoGP test of 2012 in Sepang is in the books, with Casey Stoner topping the charts on his new Honda.
The Full Thou’ bikes have tested before last summer and ran on the track at the same time after the Valencia finale but this test was the one that actually tells observers more and answers some questions. Ducati’s new bike seems to have conquered their front-end evils. Casey Stoner isn’t going to miss a beat. The Yamahas seem to be closer. The CRTs have quite a ways to go to be competitive.
Stoner led the second day for Honda and ripped off a sub-2 minute lap in the morning on the final day after missing the first day of the test with back issues. He did not get as many laps in as some, but they all counted. The reigning king’s first flying lap on Thursday was 2:00.923 and he set his best lap (1:59.607) when conditions were ideal before the heat of the day set in.
Despite the quick times, both Repsol Hondas worked through chatter issues, a fairly common new bike drama.
The Yamahas of American Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo performed well. Lorenzo was second quickest around six tenths in arrears of Stoner, but the 2010 World Champ noted that his time was set later in the day when conditions weren’t as favorable.
Spies was also quick despite a crash.
It’s no secret Yamaha lacked power compared to the Honda for the last 18 months. It was evident numerous times on the track, including the last race of the year where it cost Spies and Yamaha a win in the final lunge to the stripe at Valencia in rather shocking fashion. The good news for the svelte new 1000cc M1 is it has plenty of beans. Lorenzo said the power is a little bit better than the electronics at this point. If you’re a Yamaha fan, things look up.
“I think we’re going to have a good season,” said Managing Director Lin Jarvis. “I think we’re going to have a good year.”
All eyes were on Ducati and their new conventional-framed Desmo. The lap times were not the true tale, as Valentino Rossi was 1.2 seconds off according to the timesheets but had his swagger back.
The Full Thou’ bikes have tested before last summer and ran on the track at the same time after the Valencia finale but this test was the one that actually tells observers more and answers some questions. Ducati’s new bike seems to have conquered their front-end evils. Casey Stoner isn’t going to miss a beat. The Yamahas seem to be closer. The CRTs have quite a ways to go to be competitive.
Stoner led the second day for Honda and ripped off a sub-2 minute lap in the morning on the final day after missing the first day of the test with back issues. He did not get as many laps in as some, but they all counted. The reigning king’s first flying lap on Thursday was 2:00.923 and he set his best lap (1:59.607) when conditions were ideal before the heat of the day set in.
Despite the quick times, both Repsol Hondas worked through chatter issues, a fairly common new bike drama.
The Yamahas of American Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo performed well. Lorenzo was second quickest around six tenths in arrears of Stoner, but the 2010 World Champ noted that his time was set later in the day when conditions weren’t as favorable.
Spies was also quick despite a crash.
It’s no secret Yamaha lacked power compared to the Honda for the last 18 months. It was evident numerous times on the track, including the last race of the year where it cost Spies and Yamaha a win in the final lunge to the stripe at Valencia in rather shocking fashion. The good news for the svelte new 1000cc M1 is it has plenty of beans. Lorenzo said the power is a little bit better than the electronics at this point. If you’re a Yamaha fan, things look up.
“I think we’re going to have a good season,” said Managing Director Lin Jarvis. “I think we’re going to have a good year.”
All eyes were on Ducati and their new conventional-framed Desmo. The lap times were not the true tale, as Valentino Rossi was 1.2 seconds off according to the timesheets but had his swagger back.
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