The second official 2011 pre-season MotoGP test rounded off its opening day at Sepang with Casey Stoner top of the timesheet, as the Australian set the only lap under 2:01 on Tuesday.

With an effort of 2:00.987 inside the final hour, Stoner was followed by teammate Dani Pedrosa for a Repsol Honda one-two at the top. Pedrosa was 0.373 off the pace of Stoner.

In typically sweltering conditions and with a general lack of grip being reported by the riders the duo of RC212Vs were followed on the timesheet by a brace of Yamaha M1s.

First up was the factory machine of world champion Jorge Lorenzo, who at 0.481 off Stoner had spent the day trying a modified chassis in a bid to deal with a chatter problem encountered last time out at this track.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Colin Edwards was just over two-tenths further back in fourth.

Third Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso rounded out the day fifth fastest with a time of 2:01.747, with Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Spies less than a tenth behind as the American concentrated on his M1 setting.

Two more RC212Vs made it five inside the top eight as San Carlo Honda Gresini pair Hiroshi Aoyama and Marco Simoncelli finished within six-hundredths of one another.

The Japanese rider was looking to define his suspension and rear grip and was the final rider within a second of Stoner, whilst Simoncelli worked towards better grip and braking performance having set the best time at the previous test.

The highest placing Ducati on day one was the factory GP11 of Valentino Rossi, notably without the ‘wings’ that had featured on the fairing of the Desmosedici at its official presentation in January.

Appearing to enjoy an improved comfort in his shoulder in comparison to three weeks ago the Italian worked on his set-up and on fixing his anti-wheelie setting, posting a best lap of 2:01.999 which was 1.012 off Stoner.

Álvaro Bautista, the Rizla Suzuki rider, completed the top 10 as he set about adjusting the electronics on his GSV-R – accompanied on track by Suzuki test rider Nobu Aoki.

Mapfre Aspar rider Héctor Barberá and Ducati Team’s Nicky Hayden both experienced crashes during the earlier half of the day and escaped uninjured, finally placing their respective Desmosedicis 11th and 12th, whilst Toni Elías enjoyed a step forward with his LCR Honda in 13th.

Randy de Puniet avoided injury when he crashed, whilst British rookie Cal Crutchlow also fell at the end of the day. The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider was still suffering from the lingering effects of a bout of food poisoning he picked up en route to Malaysia.

The Ducatis of Loris Capirossi (Pramac Racing) and Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) completed the time sheet, the rookie experiencing a non-consequential fall around midday.

2011 MotoGP World Championship
Pre-Season Test – Sepang, Malaysia

1. Casey Stoner 2.00.987 – Repsol Honda Team
2. Dani Pedrosa 2.01.360 – Repsol Honda Team
3. Jorge Lorenzo 2.01.468 – Yamaha Factory Racing Team
4. Colin Edwards 2.01.654 – Monster Yamaha Tech 3
5. Andrea Dovizioso 2.01.747 – Repsol Honda Team
6. Ben Spies 2.01.808 – Yamaha Factory Racing Team
7. Hiroshi Aoyama 2.01.939 – San Carlo Honda Gresini
8. Marco Simoncelli 2.01.996 – San Carlo Honda Gresini
9. Valentino Rossi 2.01.999 – Ducati Marlboro Team
10. Alvaro Bautista 2.02.224 – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
11. Hector Barbera 2.02.645 – Paginas Amarillas Aspar
12. Nicky Hayden 2.02.680 – Ducati Marlboro Team
13. Toni Eias 2.02.779 – LCR Honda MotoGP
14. Randy De Puniet 2.02.920 – Pramac Racing
15. Cal Crutchlow 2.02.936 – Monster Yamaha Tech 3
16. Loris Capirossi 2.03.082 – Pramac Racing
17. Karel Abraham 2.03.167 – Cardion AB Motoracing