Lorenzo, Rossi Top In MotoGP Test In Sepang

With most of his rivals skipping the second test in Sepang, five-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi and his Fiat Yamaha Racing Team continued with their preparation of the Yamaha M1 machine in their quest to match the powerful Ducati machines for the new season.

Joined by team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, the Fiat Yamaha duo dominated the time sheets in their contest with three other MotoGP riders - 2006 champion Nicky Hayden of Repsol Honda and the partnership of Honda Gresini - Alex de Angelis and Shinya Nakano.

As at 2pm , Lorenzo clocked the fastest time of 2 minutes 2.654 seconds and Rossi, who was fastest in the morning session, clocked 2 minutes 2.665 seconds.

Kawasaki participated in the three-day pre-season test with test riders Olivier Jacque and Tamaki Serizawa in a virtually incident-free session on Day 1.

Opening today, the three-day test was a third session arranged by theInternational Racing Team Association (IRTA) for 2008 and after the two tests, defending champion Casey Stoner remained as the rider to beat as he clocked the fastest time in Phillip Island.

Stoner and his Ducati Marlboro Racing Team are skipping the on-going Sepang test but would be around in the upcoming tests in Jerez and Qatar before the new season starts in Qatar.

Both Rossi and Lorenzo skipped the test in Phillip Island and at the first test in Sepang, Rossi acknowledged that the team would need to work further on reducing the gap in top speed with the other bikes to be competitive in the new season.

Sepang MotoGP Tests - Lap Times Day 1
Sepang Circuit - 5.542km

1.Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2:02.654s
2.Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2:02.665s
3.Nicky Hayden (Honda)2:02.758s
4.Shinya Nakano (Honda)2:03.388s
5.Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki)2:03.973s
6.Alex de Angelis (Honda) 2:05.072s
7.Tamaki Serizawa (Kawasaki) 2:06.874s

(Note : Today's session will finish at 6.45pm. Log on to www.motogp.com for final timings).

For details, call SIC Media Relations Executive Irwan A. Rahman at 017-3725777.