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Stoner sets lap record on bigger bikes
Source: Agencies |
February 3, 2012, Friday
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DEFENDING MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner set a lap record yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit on the third and final day of testing of this season's new, bigger 1,000cc race bikes.
The Australian clocked 1 minute, 59.607 seconds on his Honda to become the first rider to get under the two-minute mark around the 5.548-kilometer Malaysian circuit outside Kuala Lumpur. The previous best time of 2:00.518 was set by Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha in 2009.
Stoner missed the first day of testing when his shoulder and back locked up while preparing to go out onto the track.
"It's been a good test in general," Stoner said. "I'm still not feeling great with my back but the bike is OK, so we've made progress in reducing the chatter a little more and trying a few different things. So far it's been pretty positive."
The 1,000cc bikes replace the 800cc engines of previous seasons, which many complained promoted boring, one-line racing, lower television ratings and ever-increasing budgets for complex, pricey electronics.
Rossi looked confident of turning around a disappointing 2011 season.
"I'm happy because first impressions are important, and already in the first few laps, I could tell that I like the bike," the Italian said. "Ducati did a good job in just a short time. The bike is beautiful, but more importantly, it's nice to ride."
Last season started with some upheaval as nine-time world champion Rossi signed to ride for Ducati in what was billed as an all-Italian dream team. It was not to be.
Rossi failed to win a race in 2011, the first time he went a season without a victory since he started racing in 1996.
The Australian clocked 1 minute, 59.607 seconds on his Honda to become the first rider to get under the two-minute mark around the 5.548-kilometer Malaysian circuit outside Kuala Lumpur. The previous best time of 2:00.518 was set by Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha in 2009.
Stoner missed the first day of testing when his shoulder and back locked up while preparing to go out onto the track.
"It's been a good test in general," Stoner said. "I'm still not feeling great with my back but the bike is OK, so we've made progress in reducing the chatter a little more and trying a few different things. So far it's been pretty positive."
The 1,000cc bikes replace the 800cc engines of previous seasons, which many complained promoted boring, one-line racing, lower television ratings and ever-increasing budgets for complex, pricey electronics.
Rossi looked confident of turning around a disappointing 2011 season.
"I'm happy because first impressions are important, and already in the first few laps, I could tell that I like the bike," the Italian said. "Ducati did a good job in just a short time. The bike is beautiful, but more importantly, it's nice to ride."
Last season started with some upheaval as nine-time world champion Rossi signed to ride for Ducati in what was billed as an all-Italian dream team. It was not to be.
Rossi failed to win a race in 2011, the first time he went a season without a victory since he started racing in 1996.
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