from ... Yamaha Factory Racing in Sepang

Yamaha Factory riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies took their first ride on the 1000cc YZR-M1 since last year. Both riders blew the cobwebs off quickly and settled down to an impressive pace, Lorenzo proving to be the fastest man on track with his team mate always close behind him.


The focus for the first day was to get back into the swing of riding and also to establish a good base set up. Today and tomorrow Lorenzo and Spies will compare various new settings to provide valuable data for the second Sepang test in one month’s time.

Jorge Lorenzo: "I’m very happy with today. For the first ride on the bike in some time, it’s been very positive. Yamaha has worked very hard over the winter for this M1. I can see very easily where I have to adapt my riding style for the bike and I can see a lot of potential. We have many areas where we can improve so I’m looking forward to beginning again tomorrow. I’m also very happy that my finger is fine and doesn’t affect my riding at all!”

Ben Spies:  "I’m happy, it was fun to get back on the bike today, I haven’t ridden any type of motorcycle since Valencia. It didn’t take too long to knock the rust off, we tried a few things in set up and every step we did made small improvements. We have a lot to do in the next couple of days and a lot more in the second test. It’s been a confidence inspiring start, Yamaha have put in a lot of effort for this season so we’ll work day by day to be even better.”

1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing 2'01.657
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2'02.003
3. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech3 2'02.221
4. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 2'02.234
5. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 2'02.392
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Yamaha Tech3 2'02.751
7. Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Racing Team 2'02.773
8. Katsuyuki Nakasuga (JPN) Yamaha Factory Racing 2'02.829
9. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini 2'02.869
10. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 2'03.151
11. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda 2'03.668
12. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 2'03.781
13. Franco Battaini (ITA) Ducati Team 2'04.986
14. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 2'07.163
15. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2'08.240
16. Jordi Torres (SPA) Avintia Racing 2'10.671
17. Ivan Silva (SPA) Avintia Racing 2'11.267

Sepang Record Lap
C.Stoner (Ducati) 2007, 2'02.108

Sepang Best Lap
V.Rossi (Yamaha) 2009, 2'00.518


Copy and image courtesy of Yamaha Motor Europe N.V.

---

Comment:  Where was Casey Stoner from the Repsol Honda Team?  Quote courtesy of Honda Pro Racing: 

"I was stretching this morning for a good twenty minutes preparing to go out on track for the first time and then all of a sudden my back just locked up on me, I couldn't move or do anything. I had to call someone to come and help me move into a position that was less painful! Then I had some physio on it straight away trying to get it better for this afternoon but it's wasn't feeling good. I had some more physio after lunch but it still wasn't easing up, I felt I could have gone out on the bike in the afternoon but we all agreed it would probably make it worse for tomorrow. We have two more days testing here in Sepang, we know the track well and we are getting to know the bike, we just need some time to test the new parts we have here to give feedback to HRC. I think tomorrow the track conditions will be better and as long as my back improves overnight we should get back on schedule with our testing programme tomorrow".