Yamaha Factory riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies were back in action today for the second official IRTA test of 2012 at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. Weather proved to be the biggest challenging factor for the day with rain sweeping in after lunch to wash out much of the afternoon’s testing.
Lorenzo and Spies made the most of the dry time they had to make a final shake down on differing YZR-M1 engine specifications to finalize a standard set-up for the start of the season. The focus is also on finding a solution to the chattering problem affecting all teams on the track.
Jorge Lorenzo
Position 3rd – Time 2.02.436- Laps 22
“We started with a different engine spec to the one we used in the last test. Today it was difficult to make any comparisons as the track was in much worse condition than last time and the lap times were much slower. The rain also meant we couldn’t finish everything we wanted to today on the track so we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”
Ben Spies
Position 4th – Time 2.02.819 – Laps 31
“Everything was good this morning; we were just waiting for the weather to improve in the afternoon. The Yamaha engineers delivered a lot for us to test again, it’s important we go the right way with the parts and not worry too much about what everyone else is doing. We have to focus on the task at hand which is what we’re doing and getting through all the updates methodically. We will keep working and hope for some good weather in the next two days.”
Test Times
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 2’01.761
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2’02.005
3. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing 2’02.436
4. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 2’02.819
5. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini 2’02.959
6. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 2’03.132
7. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech3 2’03.213
8. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 2’03.245
9. Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Racing Team 2’03.612
10. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda 2’03.820
11. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Yamaha Tech3 2’03.830
12. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2’05.563
13. Franco Battaini (ITA) Ducati Team 2’05.563
14. Ivan Silva (SPA) Avintia Racing 2’08.109
15. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Avintia Racing 2’08.767
Sepang Record Lap
C.Stoner (Ducati) 2007, 2’02.108
Sepang Best Lap
V.Rossi (Yamaha) 2009, 2’00.518
