Valentino Rossi fastest on opening day of MotoGP testing at Sepang
Monday 23 February 2015 12:07, UK
Valentino Rossi set the pace at Malaysia's Sepang circuit on the first day of the second round of pre-season MotoGP winter testing.
The Italian, riding a Yamaha with changes made to the shift gearbox, clocked the fastest time of the day of two minutes and 0.414 seconds on his 25th lap.
Honda's Dani Pedrosa was second fastest as he trailed the nine-time champion by 0.129 seconds.
Pol Espargaro, riding the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, was third fastest on the time-sheets, 0.462 seconds behind Rossi, with the Spaniard's elder brother, Aleix Espargaro, fourth fastest on a Suzuki.
World champion Marc Marquez, who set a new unofficial track record in early February during round one of testing in Sepang, could only manage to come in sixth fastest.
The Spaniard, who became the youngest rider ever to take the world title in 2013 and the first rookie to win in 35 years, recorded a best time of two minutes and 1.190 seconds.
The riders were able to test their machines in sweltering tropical heat and in the wet following an afternoon downpour.
Testing will continue for another two days, with the new season kicking off in Qatar on March 29.
