2012 Sepang 1 MotoGP Test Day 1 Times Compared: 2012 Test vs 2011 Test And 2011 QP

Feb 01

With the first results of MotoGP testing in 2012 in, it is worth making a comparison with the times from previous times set at Sepang, though just as at Valencia, conditions were hard to compare, as the day started on a damp track. Below is a set of three comparisons, comparing times set during the first day of the 2012 test at Sepang with time set on day 1 of the Sepang test in 2011, and with times set during qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix in October, the race that was cancelled after the tragic death of Marco Simoncelli in a second-lap crash.

Despite the differences in track conditions, it is surprising to see that the 1000s have yet to beat the 800s. Compared to the 2011 test, Jorge Lorenzo's time on the 1000cc Yamaha is just under a tenth of a second slower than the time set by Casey Stoner on the 800cc Honda RC212V. Include qualifying from october, and Lorenzo's time is actually 4th fastest, slower than Stoner at the test and both Dani Pedrosa and Stoner during QP. Compare the 2011 test and the 2012 test, and just half of the top 10 times were set by 1000s. Include qualifying, and that drops to just 2 bikes, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, in 4th and 7th spot respectively.

Race Details

2012