Stoner cracks the 2 minute barrier in testing at Sepang
Stoner cracks the 2 minute barrier in Sepang – Alpinestars Top 4
Casey Stoner has come out on the 3rd and final day of the official MotoGP test at Sepang to blow away the field by more than half a second. On his second lap of the day Stoner completed one of fastest laps to ever be recorded at the International circuit with a 1’59.607.
The MotoGP class has stepped up this year from the 800cc machines in 2011 to 1000cc machines in 2012. This has seen the lap record set by Valentino Rossi in 2009 smashed by the top four riders in the class to date, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Ben Spies.
After a slight back strain Stoner missed the first day of practise on Tuesday the 31st of January and could only begin his 2012 championship hunt on the 2nd day. Wednesday, however bought Casey good fortune as he laid down the law by posting a 2’00.256 and going to the top of the time sheet on his first official test on the new Repsol Honda. Dani Pedrosa was also on the pace posting the 3rd fastest time for the test with a 2’00.256.
Factory Yamaha riders Lorenzo and Spies also came out firing concentrating on initial bike setup, chassis set up and electronics to manage the 1000cc machine. Spies especially finding speed on the bigger bike due to his previous experience in WSBK. His day ending prematurely however finishing the test with a small crash with minor damage. Lorenzo concluded the test with a time of 2’00.198 a mere 0.591s behind the blistering lap set by Stoner.
Other teams including the factory Ducati Team, Pramac Racing Team, LCR Team Honda, Tech 3 Yamaha and Gresini Honda all testing well over the 3 days at Sepang.
2012 Official Time Sheet – Sepang International MotoGP test Results.
31/1/2012 > 2/2/2012.
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 1’59.607
2. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing 2’00.198
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2’00.256
4. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 2’00.495
5. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 2’00.824
6. Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Racing Team 2’00.929
7. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech3 2’01.108
8. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Yamaha Tech3 2’01.257
9. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini 2’01.384
10. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 2’01.729
11. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda 2’01.894
12. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 2’02.218
13. Katsuyuki Nakasuga (JPN) Yamaha Factory Racing 2’02.334
14. Franco Battaini (ITA) Ducati Team 2’03.033
15. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2’04.722
16. Ivan Silva (SPA) Avintia Racing 2’08.225
17. Robertino Pietri (VEN) Avintia Racing 2’09.640
18. Jordi Torres (SPA) Avintia Racing 2’10.184
