Lorenzo fastest, Stoner sidelined in MotoGP testing

Today the MotoGP teams officially kicked off the 2012 MotoGP season with the first of three days testing at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.

Due to early morning rain, the track conditions were not good enough to go out on track until midday.

Jorge Lorenzo turned the fastest lap for Yamaha and Dani Pedrosa set the second fastest laptime of the day with a 2'02.003.

Pedrosa was the only Repsol Honda rider on track with the new RC213V as current World Champion, Casey Stoner, pulled his back whilst warming up and preparing to go on track for the first time this season. The Australian rider received some treatment from a physiotherapist and after resting this evening he will hopefully feel better tomorrow and be able to begin his testing program.

CASEY STONER

"I was stretching this morning for a good twenty minutes preparing to go out on track for the first time and then all of a sudden my back just locked up on me, I couldn't move or do anything. I had to call someone to come and help me move into a position that was less painful! Then I had some physio on it straight away trying to get it better for this afternoon but it's wasn't feeling good. I had some more physio after lunch but it still wasn't easing up, I felt I could have gone out on the bike in the afternoon but we all agreed it would probably make it worse for tomorrow. We have two more days testing here in Sepang, we know the track well and we are getting to know the bike, we just need some time to test the new parts we have here to give feedback to HRC. I think tomorrow the track conditions will be better and as long as my back improves overnight we should get back on schedule with our testing program tomorrow".

Testing Results