The premier class teams and riders returned to Malaysia for the second MotoGP winter test at the 5.548km Sepang circuit, for a 3-day practices session. The 17 official riders were greeted by warm humid weather conditions with typical air temperature of 35 degrees with Australian racer Casey Stoner on the top of the time sheet (2’00.987).
LCR Honda MotoGP Team racer Toni Elias made the most of the hot, sunny weather at the Malaysian circuit to complete the first day in 13th position aboard his RC212V. The Spaniard was eager to find further development of his Honda machinery completing 63 laps with a best time of 2’02.779.
Elias: “Today I am really happy because we have found some directions and I could lap with more confidence. On these conditions it is not easy as the track surface reached 61 degrees today but I wanted to take the most of the bike despite the heat. Basically we have worked to develop the machine base set up using the data we gathered before and my pace is getting better lap by lap. We didn’t make an exciting lap-time today but we aimed to improve the bike working on chassis geometry and suspension regulations. Of course there is still work to do but I am more confident now because we took a first step forward”.