Casey Stoner measured himself against MotoGP’s current crop for the first time since 2012 as he took part in the second day of the pre-season test at Sepang.
The former two-time MotoGP champion completed 45 timed laps aboard a 2015 specification Ducati in his role as development rider for the Italian manufacturer.
Stoner ended the session recording the ninth quickest time which was just 1.008s shy of the day’s best set by Pramac Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci.
He was just fractionally slower than team-mate Andrea Iannone, riding the 2016 machine, while fellow factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso was 14th fastest.
The session was Stoner’s first official timed MotoGP outing since he announced his retirement from the sport at the end of 2012.
Petrucci’s session best 2:00.095s was half a second quicker than the benchmark set by reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo on Monday.
The test was brought to halt in the morning when Avintia Ducati rider Loris Baz escaped a frightening 290km/h crash.
Officials red flagged the session for more than hour to determine the cause of the accident.
Michelin withdrew its soft compound tyre which was being utilised by Baz at the time of the crash as a precaution.
Baz rejoined the action once the session resumed.
Despite suffering a fall, Lorenzo emerged in second spot just 0.060s adrift of Petrucci with the sister Avintia Ducati of Hector Barbera in third.
Honda’s Marc Marquez chalked up 52 laps to finish the day in fourth just 0.7s shy of Petrucci.
The satellite LCR Honda of Cal Crutchlow continued his impressive display in fifth ahead of Valentino Rossi in sixth.
The Sepang pre-season test concludes on Wednesday.
Result: MotoGP Sepang Test Day 2
Position | Rider | Team/Bike | Time | Gap | Laps | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Danilo Petrucci | Pramac Racing Ducait | 2:00.095s | 46 | ||
2 | Jorge Lorenzo | Yamaha | 2:00.155s | +0.060s | 32 | |
3 | Hector Barbera | Avintia Racing Ducati | 2:00.387s | +0.292s | 32 | |
4 | Marc Marquez | Honda | 2:00.843s | +0.748s | 52 | |
5 | Cal Crutchlow | LCR Honda | 2:00.899s | +0.804s | 55 | |
6 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha | 2:01.021s | +0.926s | 54 | |
7 | Scott Redding | Pramac Racing Ducati | 2:01.049s | +0.954s | 42 | |
8 | Andrea Iannone | Ducati | 2:01.052s | +0.957s | 39 | |
9 | Casey Stoner | Ducati | 2:01.103s | +1.008s | 45 | |
10 | Bradley Smith | Tech 3 Yamaha | 2:01.107s | +1.012s | 59 | |
11 | Maverick Vinales | Suzuki | 2:01.421s | +1.326s | 59 | |
12 | Dani Pedrosa | Honda | 2:01.475s | +1.380s | 36 | |
13 | Yonny Hernandez | Aspar Ducati | 2:01.644s | +1.549s | 41 | |
14 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 2:01.723s | +1.628s | 35 | |
15 | Pol Espargaro | Tech 3 Yamaha | 2:01.992s | +1.897s | 32 | |
16 | Aleix Espargaro | Suzuki | 2:02.092s | +1.997s | 39 | |
17 | Esteve Rabat | Marc VDS Honda | 2:02.328s | +2.233s | 54 | |
18 | Stefan Bradl | Aprilia Gresini | 2:02.372s | +2.277s | 45 | |
19 | Loris Baz | Avintia Racing Ducati | 2:02.611s | +2.516s | 26 | |
20 | Katsuyuki Nakasuga | Yamaha | 2:02.691s | +2.596s | 43 | |
21 | Alvaro Bautista | Aprilia Gresini | 2:02.876s | +2.781s | 52 |