The penultimate round of the MotoGP season at the Sepang International Circuit kicked off with a devasting Dani Pedrosa taking the top of the charts in the first free practice and leading a Honda brigade, but interesting enough he was more that six tenths of second faster than newly crowned World Champion Casey Stoner who was second fastest.
Andrea Dovizioso on the third Repsol Honda took third and followed by Marco Simoncelli on the San Carlo Gresini Honda branded factory bike in fourth.
The surprise, or can we can no longer the surprise following his last few performances was Alvaro Bautista in fifth place, who is still waiting to hear what Suzuki’s plans are going to be for the 2012 season.
With Jorge Lorenzo out of action due to his finger surgery, a still sore Ben Spies placed his Yamaha in front of Randy De Puniet who grabbed 7th in the final minutes of the session and was the fastest Ducati rider.
Colin Edwards was 8th after announcing he’ll be on BMW-Suter in 2012, with soon-to-be ex MotoGP rider Hiroshi Aoyama in 9th.
Valentino Rossi finally broke into 10th, but he was 2″3s off pace with his GP11.
2 and only 0.
065s faster than Karel Abraham with the much older version of the GP11.
Hector Barbera returning to action following his collarbone surgery, was able only to ride for five laps before heading to the medical center and ended up last.
John Hopkins after losing the British Superbike crown by six thousanths of second and two points was 14th in what is his third appearance with Rizla Suzuki.
All Japan Superbike rider and Yamaha MotoGP tester and Lorenzo’s replacement rider, Katsuyuki Nakasuga took 17th and also logged in a small, but harmless crash.
MotoGP Sepang FP1 results:01- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 2’01.
91602- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 0.
64103- Andrea Doviziosos – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 0.
67404- Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 1.
39505- Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 1.
64206- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
67007- Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
84408- Colin Edwards – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
86209- Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 1.
99210- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11.
1 – + 2.
36411- Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 2.
42912- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11.
1 – + 2.
55813- Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 2.
60514- John Hopkins – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 2.
69315- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 2.
75016- Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – + 3.
47417- Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 4.
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