There is a big change in MotoGP 2011 line up. Many riders has make advance to new team such as Valentino Rossi to Ducati (previously Yamaha), Stoner to Repsol Honda (previously Ducati), Toni Elias return to MotoGP class as a Moto2 champion, Ben Spies move from Yamaha Tech 3 to Yamaha Factory team...
All these changes guaranteed an excited and unpredictable new season, especially how good are these riders adapt to their new machine. Hence the pre-season test in Sepang is the most anticipating event, not just an ordinary testing. Will Valentino Rossi who suffer injury in late 2010 come back strong with Ducati in this testing?
The 3 days testing began from 1st to 3rd Feb 2011. All riders are working hard to find the best settings and experiment various combinations. The competition is not done at the finish line instead time factor is everyone biggest challenge. Most of them ride more than 50 laps in a day from 8am till 6pm. Afterwards most mechanics still work late to find the answer for tomorrow. Clearly most team achieve their best lap time in the final day with lot of improvements.
Here is the best lap time sorted by rider.
Marco Simoncelli brought a shocker in final day by 0:02:0.757 on San Carlo Honda Gresini (Honda). The best conclusion for satellite teams, even ahead of the Repsol Honda factory team. He is also the only satellite rider make it to Top 10 fastest lap time. The Top 10 fastest chart is dominate by Honda bikes. And Top 15 lap time is very encourage because all are faster than Lorenzo's pole position in 2010 at Sepang (0:02:1.537).
Most riders improve their best time day by day. Everyone scored their best in day 3 except Dani Pedrosa who made his best on day 2 testing (0:02:0.770). This result also the 2nd place of Top 10 fastest lap time. All three new comers Karel Abraham, Cal Crutchlow and Toni Elias has improved more than 1.5 second since day 1. Same aggressive progression from 'The Doctor' Valentino Rossi which is gaining his physical fitness and lap time simultaneous.
The 2nd pre-season testing will be in Sepang as well from 22nd till 24th Feb 2011. Entry to Grand Stand is free for all.
