2010 MotoGP - Sepang, Malaysia Test Feb 3-5

[DesmoDiva]

 

Going to be an interesting season.   [moto]

[Jester]

Vale and Jorge won't be sharing any information or data this year.  Might spice things up a bit.

[Speeddog]

As of 2pm Friday, last day of testing.... but they're going to run 'til 6pm.

Jorge at 2:01.68
Rossi at 2:01.78
Stoner  at 2:02.22
Spies at 2:02.27
Hayden at 2:02.49
Edwards at 2:02.72

[moto]

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/156578/1/sepang_motogp_test_times_-_friday_2pm.html

[Speeddog]

[Jester]

End of day three.  Spies looking solid.

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 0.925 sec (32 laps)
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.320 sec (36 laps)
3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 1.680 sec (60 laps)
4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.822 sec (50 laps)
5. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.266 sec (31 laps)
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.272 sec (56 laps)
7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.479 sec (42 laps)
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.493 sec (55 laps)
9. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 2min 2.647 sec (33 laps)
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.763 sec (48 laps)
11. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 2.810 sec (55 laps)
12. Hector Barbera SPA Aspar Ducati 2min 3.032 sec (51 laps)
13. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 2min 3.043 sec (48 laps)
14. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 2min 3.195 sec (56 laps)
15. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.245 sec (49 laps)
16. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.274 sec (37 laps)
17. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 2min 3.359 sec (53 laps)

[zooom]

notice the similarity of Spies and Edwards helmets?....I kinda like it...I also like the one that Nicky is wearing there.

[derby]

notice the similarity of Spies and Edwards helmets?....I kinda like it...I also like the one that Nicky is wearing there.

that's because spies is wearing an edwards replica with the arai logos covered up. there were "logistical issues" with his helmets.

here's ben's (supposed) 2010 helmet:

NEW BEN SPIES 2010 MOTO GP HELMET UNVEILED!!!

[EvilSteve]

I'm surprised that Spies' performance didn't get more attention (read: drooling and rubbing).

It's pretty impressive.

[Spidey]

I'm surprised that Spies' performance didn't get more attention (read: drooling and rubbing).

It's pretty impressive.

I've been too busy drooling and rubbing to post up.   

It's hard to make anything of testing.  Ben's performance bodes well, but I think most people (at least around here) thought he'd be one of the fastest--if not the fastest--satellite riders and would be faster than some of the factory guys.  He's still well off the pace from up front and not that far ahead of being outside the top 10.  And it's testing.  That said, at least he's on pace to do well this year.  Fifth alien?  We'll see.  He's not there yet. 

Anyone else get the sense that Rossi is out for blood this year?  Even more than usual?

[EvilSteve]

I guess everyone else is still drooling and rubbing then.

There are people below him who have a lot more to prove than him I think and coming 5th is pretty cool. I think the season will show for sure but with people claiming he was the second coming, I would have expected the moist adulation to be more pronounced.

I think the difference this year is that Rossi has started out with a good bike. He also knows that he's got (at least) 2 serious competitors for his crown so he's really going to have to work hard to win.

[Speeddog]

Rossi is definitely on form, and he's got more pressure for sure.

Jorge and Casey will push him hard.
Pedrosa is starting the season off healthy, so he's a threat, but I think he'll hurt himself before the season gets too far.

Ben's doing well, never been to Sepang, *and* he said the track was hard to learn (alligator? pelican?).
He's still adapting his style to the bike, so more improvement yet to come.

[Speeddog]

Are the engines they're using for preseason testing part of their season allotment of 6?

[Jester]

Are the engines they're using for preseason testing part of their season allotment of 6?

I don't think so.

[gm2]

Are the engines they're using for preseason testing part of their season allotment of 6?

no.

but i don't know what the rules are for the test re number of engines, etc

[gm2]

4th in valencia, 5th in sepang.

yes, it's just testing, and i'm not gonna bet on a podium before [miller] this time, but still.... make the beast with two backsYEAHTHEBEN