Sepang Test

wow,Lorenzo is only 0.036s outside his fastest lap last season.

Final times:

1. = Jorge Lorenzo ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 59.580s [Lap 34/36]
2. = Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 2m 0.556s +0.976s [13/38]
3. = Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 2m 0.883s +1.303s [44/45]
4. ˄ Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.992s +1.412s [40/42]
5. ˅ Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Test Rider (Desmosedici GP15) 2m 1.070s +1.490s [30/30]
6. ˄ Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 2m 1.161s +1.581s [35/48]
7. ˄ Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15) 2m 1.217s +1.637s [15/18]
8. ˅ Andrea Iannone ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15/16) 2m 1.223s +1.643s [17/38]
9. ˄ Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15) 2m 1.229s +1.649s [40/42]
10. ˅ Maverick Viñales ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 2m 1.244s +1.664s [49/51]
11. ˅ Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 2m 1.434s +1.854s [11/30]
12. ˅ Aleix Espargaro ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 2m 1.623s +2.043s [7/44]
13. ˅ Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP15/16) 2m 1.675s +2.095s [18/34]
14. ˅ Yonny Hernandez COL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2) 2m 1.774s +2.194s [20/40]
15. ˅ Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 1.870s +2.290s [26/44]
16. ˅ Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 1.918s +2.338s [49/65]
17. = Loris Baz FRA Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2) 2m 2.541s +2.961s [14/33]
18. = Stefan Bradl GER Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 2m 2.792s +3.212s [8/44]
19. = Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 2.940s +3.360s [10/27]
20. = Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)* 2m 3.012s +3.432s [49/57]
21. = Alvaro Bautista ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 2m 3.183s +3.603s [16/46]
22. = Eugene Laverty IRL Aspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2) 2m 3.519s +3.939s [16/25]
Read more at MotoGP Results - Sepang MotoGP test times - Wednesday (Final)

Totally borrowed from elsewhere - with appreciation - some GIFs


Dylan Gray interviewing at the time of Loris Baz's moment - the face says it all - https://gfycat.com/BowedBrightHedgehog

A stream of the video at the time of the interview - full audio - https://streamable.com/s5c7

More GIFs

Stoner heads out - https://gfycat.com/CreepyBouncyAntlion

To do this kind of stuff - https://gfycat.com/EllipticalSilkyKomododragon


Lorenzo at the same point - https://gfycat.com/WhiteRespectfulAzurewingedmagpie

Rossi at the same point - man those Yamaha's look planted by comparison to the Ducati - https://gfycat.com/VeneratedClumsyBelugawhale


Pol - same point - https://gfycat.com/ImmaculateGrotesqueAmphiuma

Brief Dovi and Pedrosa - same spot - https://gfycat.com/LastWelloffAmericanbulldog



Nakasuga at 5/6 - https://gfycat.com/AssuredDangerousAnt

Smith at 5/6 - https://gfycat.com/AnyThornyGroundbeetle

Dovi at 5/6 - https://gfycat.com/UnacceptableOnlyBlackbird

Lorenzo at 5/6 - https://gfycat.com/BlueSourAngora

Marquez 5/6 - https://gfycat.com/CandidHeavenlyJaeger

Pol at 5/6 - https://gfycat.com/ComposedPessimisticAllosaurus

And more

Pol into the tyres at low speed (although he doesn't leave the track at low speed) - https://gfycat.com/RightAnnualJackrabbit


Marquez at what looks to be 3/4 again - https://gfycat.com/TornHandsomeDanishswedishfarmdog

More Marquez - https://gfycat.com/FrequentFrankCreature


An unhappy Pol gets a lift back to the pits - https://gfycat.com/UnhappyEarnestIrishwolfhound

Gaz said:

Dovi at 5/6 - https://gfycat.com/UnacceptableOnlyBlackbird

Click to expand...

Thanks Gaz,

Agreed that the Yam looks planted. I only noticed the bump through T3 when Stoner's Ducati went through.

Look at the GIF above, it seems as though the GP16 has some thing like a fairing below the front brake calipers? They looks like vertical wings.

Gaz said:

Looking at the results though, I get the impression that Ianonne is watching and learning as he is close enough to Stoner but I suspect that the issues may be elsewhere

Click to expand...

I guess these are early days for the GP 16 while the GP 15 is fully sorted and not by Stoner. I also guess it is publicity for Ducati and also a chance for them to get more handle on how good their 2015 bike was in somewhat competitive conditions. Iannone is young and is their future, close to Stoner's times as you say and I doubt would be dismayed anyway, and Dovi is gone in 2017 if perchance Stoner wants his ride and may be gone anyway.

I doubt Dorna would be worried about Stoner being fastest Ducati, but him being fastest rider at PI would be rather a publicity problem for the forthcoming season. I doubt even Stoner at PI can be faster riding a Ducati than Jorge on the current Yamaha though, particularly with only a few weeks preparation.

michaelm said:

I doubt Dorna would be worried about Stoner being fastest Ducati, but him being fastest rider at PI would be rather a problem for PR for the forthcoming . I doubt even Stoner at PI can be faster than Jorge on the current Yamaha riding a Ducati, particularly with only a few weeks preparation.

Click to expand...

I think DORNA would love it is CS was the fastest Ducati ............ seriously.

Not sure other riders of the bike would be as welcoming

Also, it's notable through T5 how they seem to be leaning a lot less than on the Bridgestones.

#22 said:

Thanks Gaz,

Agreed that the Yam looks planted. I only noticed the bump through T3 when Stoner's Ducati went through.

Look at the GIF above, it seems as though the GP16 has some thing like a fairing below the front brake calipers? They looks like vertical wings.

Click to expand...

Could be a vent to capture air and funnel onto the brakes as Sepang would have extremely high speed and likely brake tempts so more air, or more concentrated air may mean faster cooling.

Just a guess

Gaz said:

Looking at the results though, I get the impression that Ianonne is watching and learning as he is close enough to Stoner but I suspect that the issues may be elsewhere

Click to expand...

I guess these are early days for the GP 16 while the GP 15 is fully sorted and not by Stoner. I also guess it is publicity for Ducati and a chance for them to get more handle on how good their 2015 bike was in somewhat competitive conditions, and perhaps pique Stoner's further interest. Iannone is young and is their future, close to Stoner's times as you say and I doubt would be dismayed anyway, and Dovi is gone in 2017 if Stoner perchance wants his ride and may be gone anyway.

I doubt Dorna would be worried about Stoner being fastest Ducati, but him being fastest rider at PI would be rather a publicity problem for the forthcoming season. I doubt even Stoner at PI can be faster riding a Ducati than Jorge on the current Yamaha though, particularly with only a few weeks preparation.

I can't see Dovi staying at Ducati in 2017 even if Stoner didn't want to return. Short of him having a stellar year, I see him getting replaced by Petrucci. Wouldnt that be a good story?

MCN have head on shots of the Baz incident, including as the tyre lets go - MCN exclusive: See the full sequence of Loris Baz's 180mph crash! | MCN

michaelm said:

I guess these are early days for the GP 16 while the GP 15 is fully sorted and not by Stoner. I also guess it is publicity for Ducati and a chance for them to get more handle on how good their 2015 bike was in somewhat competitive conditions, and perhaps pique Stoner's further interest. Iannone is young and is their future, close to Stoner's times as you say and I doubt would be dismayed anyway, and Dovi is gone in 2017 if Stoner perchance wants his ride and may be gone anyway.

I doubt Dorna would be worried about Stoner being fastest Ducati, but him being fastest rider at PI would be rather a publicity problem for the forthcoming season. I doubt even Stoner at PI can be faster riding a Ducati than Jorge on the current Yamaha though, particularly with only a few weeks preparation.

Click to expand...

Stoner will not test at P.I., says Dall'Igna. He'll be back at the Qatar tests... then who knows.

Gaz said:

A stream of the video at the time of the interview - full audio - https://streamable.com/s5c7

Click to expand...

Jesus Christ, sounds like a plane crash......

#22 said:

I can't see Dovi staying at Ducati in 2017 even if Stoner didn't want to return. Short of him having a stellar year, I see him getting replaced by Petrucci. Wouldnt that be a good story?

Click to expand...

Dall'Igna has not been happy with the 2015 results, he felt the bike was capable to win. His move of sending Stoner in the mix directly is a clear wake up signal to the current riders. Some will remember when he sent in test rider Marcellino Lucchi at Mugello in 250, in 1998, -- Lucchi was a very fast test rider who (at 41) managed to beat a young Rossi, followed by Harada and Capirossi...! It will be interesting to see how riders react.

J4rn0 said:

Stoner will not test at P.I., says Dall'Igna. He'll be back at the Qatar tests... then who knows.

Click to expand...

Sure I knew he wasn't testing at PI, but fan that I am even I don't think Stoner could be faster there than Lorenzo at this time, although the track suits him and it would seem the Ducati given Iannone's showing last year.

I was interested by your following post.

Stoner certainly seemed to enjoy himself at Sepang. Maybe Ducati need to work on getting MM, VR , Honda, Yamaha or uncle Carmelo to publicly insult him to give him motivation to prove something again.

Jumkie said:

.

Click to expand...

Good call on Stoner Jumkie.

I realize it is only testing, and the first major test of new bikes, new ECU, new tires (that is how tire is spelled you EU punks) and tire issues on top of all that, but I have to believe that some of the Duc teams have to have a voice in the back of their heads about the fastest guy only being the test rider.

Don't see to many football teams, (American or EU), having their best player, only on the practice squad.

Like I said, first test. All could change in PI. But, if it doesn't, those voices are getting ....... loud.

My first impressions this morning were one, JL was fast and two, WTF is Cal doing 4th!?!?!?!!?!!

Also would have liked to see more out of Smith and Bradl.

Hey guys, I seem to recall saying that Stoner still has the speed while all the naysayers were claiming that it's been too long.