Casey Stoner - Photo Credit: Repsol Honda Team
Casey Stoner took over at the top of the timesheets as testing ahead of the new MotoGP season continued in Malaysia. The reigning world champion strained a muscle in his back yesterday and completed just four laps but returned to action today, beating Yamaha duo Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo.
Stoner shaved three quarters of a second off Lorenzo's benchmark time from yesterday as he carried out a chassis comparison between his two RC213V machines. Spies and Lorenzo were both within two tenths of Stoner's time while Dani Pedrosa was fourth quickest after having chattering issues on his bike.
Cal Crutchlow's impressive start to 2012 continued, ending the day in fifth place and outpacing new teammate Andrea Dovizioso for the second day running. Hector Barbera was sixth fastest on the leading Ducati GP12 while Valentino Rossi improved on his Tuesday time by half a second to take seventh.
Alvaro Bautista also made improvements as he got to grips with the 1000cc Honda, ending the day in eighth, with Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden completing the top ten. MotoGP rookie Stefan Bradl outpaced Karel Abraham once again to take 11th with Yamaha and Ducati's test riders following them in the pecking order.
The Claiming Rules teams were well off the pace again although Colin Edwards did find over two and a half seconds on his Tuesday best. Avintia Racing continued to have a tough baptism, with pace and reliability continuing to desert them.
MotoGP Testing – Malaysia (Day Two Result)
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Bike | Team | Lap Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casey Stoner | AUS | Honda | Repsol Honda Team | 2:00.895 |
| 2 | Ben Spies | USA | Yamaha | Yamaha Factory Racing | 2:01.052 |
| 3 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Yamaha | Yamaha Factory Racing | 2:01.068 |
| 4 | Dani Pedrosa | SPA | Honda | Repsol Honda Team | 2:01.508 |
| 5 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Yamaha | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 2:01.565 |
| 6 | Hector Barbera | SPA | Ducati | Pramac Racing Team | 2:01.788 |
| 7 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Ducati | Ducati Team | 2:01.886 |
| 8 | Alvaro Bautista | SPA | Honda | San Carlo Honda Gresini | 2:01.933 |
| 9 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Yamaha | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 2:02.160 |
| 10 | Nicky Hayden | USA | Ducati | Ducati Team | 2:02.354 |
| 11 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Honda | LCR Honda | 2:02.414 |
| 12 | Karel Abraham | CZE | Ducati | Cardion AB Motoracing | 2:02.598 |
| 13 | Katsuyuki Nakasuga | JAP | Yamaha | Yamaha Factory Racing | 2:02.941 |
| 14 | Franco Battaini | ITA | Ducati | Ducati Team | 2:04.311 |
| 15 | Colin Edwards (CRT) | USA | Suter-BMW | NGM Mobile Forward Racing | 2:05.603 |
| 16 | Ivan Silva (CRT) | SPA | FTR-Kawasaki | Avintia Racing | 2:10.297 |
| 17 | Jordi Torres (CRT) | SPA | FTR-Kawasaki | Avintia Racing | 2:11.893 |
| 18 | Robertino Pietri (CRT) | VEN | FTR-Kawasaki | Avintia Racing | 2:12.546 |
