Fast start for Capirossi

From motogp.com

In sunny conditions and without any of the tropical rain which occasionally hits Sepang at this time of year, the MotoGP grid was out in full force on day one of this week’s three-day test visit to South East Asia on Thursday, with Italian veteran Loris Capirossi topping the timesheet with a 2:01.869 effort on the last of his 37 laps.

As the premier class riders returned to action following the winter break Capirossi demonstrated the potential of the new Rizla Suzuki GSV-R800, putting in a lap 0.38 secs. quicker than Valentino Rossi’s race lap record set last October.

The 2009 Suzuki features a new engine, a new chassis and new carbon fibre fairing and judging by the early evidence Capirossi already appears to be highly satisfied with the progress the factory has made over the winter months.

“The first impression is not too bad after two months of no riding," he said. "We have started testing several new things because Suzuki have been working very hard over the winter. We had a good test in the wind tunnel in Japan last November, I asked for a lot of things and they have come back with everything.

"The whole base of the bike is different; new seat, new fuel tank, new fairing, new engine and we have a couple of chassis to test. We have a lot of work to do.”

Capirossi’s hot lap time was 0.169 secs. quicker than that of the day’s second fastest rider Casey Stoner, the Australian former World Champion demonstrating that his wrist injury – the scaphoid problem which required surgery in November at the end of the 2008 season – appears not to be affecting him adversely.

Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi was third fastest, lapping within half a second of his compatriot and friend Capirossi. The Italian is riding with stitches in his left hand and foot after falling on a glass table at his home in Italy this week. But, despite those distractions and a light crash at the Malaysian circuit on Thursday morning, the king of the premier class still looked comfortable on his evolving 800cc Yamaha prototype.

Behind the leading trio on the timing screens was Capirossi’s Rizla Suzuki colleague Chris Vermeulen, who went round within a second of his teammate.

The day’s top five was completed by Toni Elias (on his factory spec San Carlo Honda Gresini machine), while Repsol Honda newcomer Andrea Dovizioso and experienced American Colin Edwards, running the updated 2009 Tech 3 Yamaha M1 for the first time, were just behind the Spaniard.

The additional Spanish trio of Dani Pedrosa, Sete Gibernau and Jorge Lorenzo - on the fully updated 2009 M1 for the first time - completed the top 10.

Meanwhile, the likes of Marlboro Ducati’s Nicky Hayden, who was 11th fastest and Tech 3 Yamaha’s James Toseland, who crashed without serious consequence in turn five and finished the day 14th, will both be looking for improvements on day two.

Day One Results
1. Loris CAPIROSSI (ITA) Rizla Suzuki 2:01.869
2. Casey STONER (AUS) Marlboro Ducati 2:02.038
3. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Fiat Yamaha 2:02.324
4. Chris VERMEULEN (AUS) Rizla Suzuki 2:02.803
5. Toni ELIAS (SPA) San Carlo Gresini Honda 2:02.886
6. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Repsol Honda 2:03.088
7. Colin EDWARDS (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 2:03.254
8. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) Repsol Honda 2:03.312
9. Sete GIBERNAU (SPA) Onde 2000 Ducati 2:03.750
10. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Fiat Yamaha 2:03.894
11. Nicky HAYDEN (USA) Marlboro Ducati 2:04.002
12. Alex DE ANGELIS (RSM) San Carlo Gresini Honda 2:04.396
13. Mika KALLIO (FIN) Pramac Ducati 2:04.405
14. James TOSELAND (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 2:04.502
15. Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) LCR Honda 2:04.882
16. Yamaha Test (JPN) 2:05.024
17. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) Scot Honda 2:05.098
18. Yamaha Test (JPN) 2:05.140
19. Niccolo CANEPA (ITA) Pramac Ducati 2:05.270