Stoner stars as MotoGP testing begins in Sepang

Casey Stoner once again showed his class as he topped the times on the opening day of the MotoGP pre-season three-day test at Sepang.

The two-time MotoGP world champion continued his testing duties for the factory Ducati squad after conducting a private test for the marque at the venue last week.

Aboard the new GP17, Stoner clocked a session best 1:59.68s early in the afternoon which proved to be 0.11s faster than Ducati’s race rider Andrea Dovizioso.

The pair outclassed Ducati’s new signing Jorge Lorenzo, who was left to settle for 17th, a full 1.6s slower than Stoner.

New Yamaha recruit Maverick Vinales emerged as Ducati’s nearest rival in third just 0.4s adrift of the outright pace.

Aspar Ducati’s Alvaro Bautista was fourth using a 2016 specification bike, while Andrea Iannone was fifth as he continues his transition from Ducati to Suzuki.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow emerged as the top Honda rider in sixth ahead of Moto2 graduate Jonas Folger on the Tech3 Yamaha.

Valentino Rossi was eighth ahead of world champion Marc Marquez (Honda) and Hector Barbera (Avintia Ducati).

Factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa could only manage the 13th fastest time as Australian Jack Miller ended the day in 22nd on the Marc VDS Honda.

Pol Espargaro was the quickest on the new KTM MotoGP machines in 16th spot.

Testing continues tomorrow with Ducati test rider Michele Pirro set to take over from Stoner.

Result: MotoGP pre-season testing Day 1, Sepang 

Position	Rider	Bike	Time	Gap
1	Casey Stoner	Ducati	1:59.681
2	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	1:59.796	+0.115s
3	Maverick Vinales	Yamaha	2:00.128	+0.447s
4	Alvaro Bautista	Ducati	2:00.134	+0.453s
5	Andrea Iannone	Suzuki	2:00.490	+0.809s
6	Cal Crutchlow	Honda	2:00.570	+0.889s
7	Jonas Folger	Yamaha	2:00.643	+0.962s
8	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	2:00.695	+1.014s
9	Marc Marquez	Honda	2:00.737	+1.056s
10	Hector Barbera	Ducati	2:00.744	+1.063s
11	Danilo Petrucci	Ducati	2:00.850	+1.169s
12	Scott Redding	Ducati	2:00.852	+1.171s
13	Dani Pedrosa	Honda	2:00.970	+1.289s
14	Johann Zarco	Yamaha	2:01.224	+1.543s
15	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	2:01.271	+1.590s
16	Pol Espargaro	KTM	2:01.338	+1.657s
17	Jorge Lorenzo	Ducati	2:01.350	+1.669s
18	Loris Baz	Ducati	2:01.351	+1.670s
19	Takuya Tsuda	Suzuki	2:01.812	+2.131s
20	Alex Rins	Suzuki	2:01.889	+2.208s
21	Karel Abraham	Ducati	2:01.926	+2.245s
22	Jack Miller	Honda	2:01.942	+2.261s
23	Kohta Nozane	Yamaha	2:02.187	+2.506s
24	Katsuyuki Nakasuga	Yamaha	2:02.290	+2.609s
25	Tito Rabat	Honda	2:02.316	+2.634s
26	Sam Lowes	Aprilia	2:02.942	+3.261s
27	Bradley Smith	KTM	2:03.034	+3.353s