Lorenzo sets testing pace
Jorge Lorenzo set the fastest time in the opening MotoGP pre-season testing session of the year at Sepang in Malaysia.
Last Updated: 31/01/12 2:48pm
Jorge Lorenzo set the fastest time in the opening MotoGP pre-season testing session of the year at Sepang in Malaysia.
The Spaniard, who missed the last three races of the 2011 campaign, showed no signs of rust as he set a fastest time of 2 minutes 1.657 seconds on Tuesday.
The lap, set on the new 1,000cc bikes that have been introduced for the 2012 season, was a shade slower that last season's pole position time.
Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa set the second fastest time of the day, almost three-and-a-half tenths down on the benchmark of his fellow Spaniard.
Britain's Cal Crutchlow was an impressive third on his Tech 3 Yamaha, ahead of Lorenzo's team-mate Ben Spies and Ducati rider Valentino Rossi.
Stoner sits out
Reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner did not take part in the session, however, after pulling a muscle in his back doing warm-up exercises.
"I was stretching this morning for a good 20 minutes preparing to go out on track for the first time and then all of a sudden my back just locked up on me," Stoner said.
"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.
"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."
He added: "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 tomorrow."
