Retired MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner has topped the timesheets on day one of 2017 testing at Sepang, putting in a 1’59.681 to head works Ducati stablemate Andrea Dovizioso by a little over a tenth with Movistar Yamaha new-boy Maverick Vinales in third and three-tenths further back.
Stoner has been at the Malaysian track for a couple of days already for a private test but went out on the Desmosedici GP17 to set his time on the 26th lap of 33. Dovizioso, also on the GP17, also only did 33 laps but as usual with Sepang, rain came mid-afternoon which called a halt to most of the meaningful work. Michele Pirro will replace the Australian tomorrow before a decision is made as to who rides on the final day.
Vinales’ 2’00.128 was set on his 35th lap of 55 while Alvaro Bautista shot into fourth place on the Pull and Bear Ducati GP16 with a 2’00.134 to end six one-thousandths behind his compatriot. Andrea Iannone put the Ecstar Suzuki into fifth place, one ahead of Britain’s Cal Crutchlow in sixth.
Rookie Jonas Folger put his satellite Monster Yamaha in seventh, a little under a second off the pace, and ahead of nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi. Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez was ninth with a 2’00.737 with Hector Barbera tenth.
Scott Redding finished 0.002s behind Pramac Ducati team-mate Danilo Petrucci for 12th with Dani Pedrosa 13th, Johann Zarco 14th and Aleix Espargaro 15th on the Red Bull KTM. Jorge Lorenzo had a rough day, finishing 1.669s off the pace in 17th. Sam Lowes put his Aprilia in 26th, one ahead of Bradley Smith who was 27th and last with a 2’03.034.
