Stoner fastest in Malaysia test

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Australia rider Casey Stoner finishes on top of the MotoGP testing timesheet, as Honda riders dominated the opening day of a three-day test at Malaysia's Sepang circuit.

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The Repsol Honda rider led his teammate Dani Pedrosa and reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo of Spain after clocking two minutes 0.987 seconds on his only lap at the first day of the second pre-season MotoGP test.

Pedrosa was the second quickest with 0.373 seconds behind Stoner, while fellow Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso was in fifth place with a time of 2:01.747.

Lorenzo was third fastest on his Yamaha, with a time of 2:01.468 after he spent the day trying a modified chassis in a bid to deal with a chatter problem encountered last time out at his track.

San Carlo Honda Gresini pair Hiroshi Aoyama and Marco Simoncelli finished at the seventh and eighth places as Simoncelli, who set the best time at the previous test, worked towards better grip and braking performance.

The highest placing Ducati on day one was multiple world champion Valentino Rossi, who managed ninth on the timesheet with 1.012 seconds off Stoner.

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Rossi, however, appeared to enjoy improved comfort in his shoulder compared to the previous test at Sepang three weeks ago, when he made a return after a shoulder injury.

Mapfre Aspar rider Hector Barbera and Ducati Team's Nicky Hayden both experienced crashes during the earlier half of the day and escaped uninjured, finally placing their respective Desmosedicis at the 11th and 12th place.

The riders will have a further session in Qatar ahead of the start of the new season at the emirate's Losail Circuit on March 20.