SEPANG, Malaysia: World champion Marc Marquez posted the fastest time and emerged as the first rider this week to break through the two-minute barrier on day two yesterday of the test session in Malaysia.
The Spanish Honda rider who was quickest on Tuesday, finished ahead of compatriot Dani Pedrosa, with Germany’s Stefan Bradl third at the Sepang Circuit. Marquez and his team-mate Pedrosa, who is seeking to capture an elusive first MotoGP world title after eight years in the premier class, were ahead of rival Yamaha pair Jorge Lorenzo and nine-time Italian world champion Valentino Rossi.
Lorenzo - a two-time MotoGP champion - lost his world crown to Marquez last year.
Marquez, who remains the one to beat, clocked one minute 59.926 seconds in hot temperatures, with Pedrosa 0.410 seconds behind. Bradl was third, 0.413 seconds off the pace while Rossi was fourth, 0.538 seconds behind Marquez. Spaniard Lorenzo was sixth, 0.647 seconds behind the newly crowned MotoGP champion. Marquez, 20, became the youngest MotoGP champion at the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix in November, winning the world title in his rookie year. “I am happy. The new rear tyre is working well. But I feel a little nervous in the first corner. We need to improve the bike performance on the first corner. We need to be safe,” he said.
The Spaniard on Tuesday clocked two minutes 0.286 seconds to finish half a second ahead of Rossi.
Testing wraps up today, but riders will return to Sepang for another three-day session from February 26. They will have a further session at Phillip Island in Australia and at the Losail Circuit in Qatar, before the new season officially kicks off at Losail on March 23. AFP
