Sepang test to start MotoGP season
The three-day, pre-season test which starts at Sepang on Wednesday will offer a first glimpse of the new 1000cc MotoGP bikes as
manufacturers initiate their first official test of the year on the 2012 machinery.
Teams will make the most of the first outing on the new equipment they have been evolving since last November, as testing continues until
2 February.
The key factory teams will see their rider line-ups largely unchanged, and present at the test will be current world champion Casey
Stoner alongside Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa. The two riders took part in the official team launch on Monday at the Pan Pacific
Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, near the Malaysian circuit.
The Yamaha factory team is again represented by riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies and will be joined by Yamaha test riders Waturu
Yoshikawa and Katsuyuki Nakasug.
This test is also an opportunity to see Valentino Rossi at the controls of the new Ducati Desmosedici GP12, as the nine-time world
champion hopes to fight again with the best in the field after an appalling first season with the Italian factory. At his side is former
world champion, American Nicky Hayden, who arrives at this first test still recovering from a broken shoulder blade and two broken ribs
suffered in a training accident.
Also in attendance will be Andrea Dovizioso, who will continue adapting to the Yamaha of the Tech3 team alongside current rider and
MotoGP Rookie of the Year, Cal Crutchlow. Karel Abraham of the Cardion AB Racing Team will be in attendance and Alvaro Bautista will finally
debut on the 1000cc Honda of the Gresini Team. Hector Barberá representing Pramac Racing will participate as will current Moto2 World
Champion Stefan Bradl, who makes his debut in the premier class with the LCR Honda team.
Among the new teams contesting MotoGP on CRT machines will be Forward Racing with Colin Edwards on board the Suter-BMW, and Avintia
Racing which will test with Roberto Pietri and Jordi Torres in addition to test rider Ivan Silva, as team rider Yonny Hernandez continues to
recover from a hand injury.
The test schedule will see the track open from 9am-1pm and again from 2pm-6pm each day.
-MotoGP-