Rennie Scaysbrook | February 2, 2016
Octo Pramac Ducati Danilo Petrucci set a blistering early pace during day two of the Sepang MotoGP test, using soft compound tires to set a time of 2:00.095s that would not be beaten. However, it was the fate of Frenchman Lori Baz on the Avinita Ducati that had the biggest bearing on the day’s action. Baz crashed at over 175mph down the main straight when it was reported his rear Michelin soft tire disintegrated, locking the rear and sending the rider flying. Baz thankfully walked away unhurt. The session was re flagged for over an hour, with Michelin withdrawing the soft compound tire for the remainder of the test.
Several other riders fell during the day, including World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, who had a fast get off at turn five, all but destroying his Movistar Yamaha. Others to fall included Dani Pedrosa, Tito Rabat, while Pol Espargaro fell twice.
Lorenzo recovered from his fall to post the second fastest time with a 2:00.155, 0.060s off Petrucci’s pace.
Hector Barbera was another surprise in third as the veteran Spaniard made the most of the Michelin soft compound tire before teammate Baz’s crash to edge ahead of an improving Marc Marquez in fourth, his time 0.0750s away from Italian Petrucci. Rounding out the top five was Englishman Cal Crutchlow with a 2:00.899s lap.
Second on day one, Valentino Rossi was sixth on day two. The 2015 MotoGP Championship runner up improved his pace to Lorenzo but still needed to find extra speed to catch good friend Petrucci. Petrucci’s teammate Scott Redding made it a good day for the Octo Pramac Ducati team, finishing in seventh. The Briton is clearly enjoying his Ducati more than his Marc VDS Honda from 2015, reeling off a number of fast laps and looking ever more comfortable.
Eighth fastest went to the first factory Ducati in Andrea Iannone, who spent the entire day getting to grips with the new GP16 machine after riding the GP15 Ducati for much of day one. He ended day two just ahead of the man most were keeping an eye on, 2007 and 2011 World Champion Casey Stoner, who set the ninth fastest time. Rounding out the top 10 was Englishman Bradley Smith.
The first Sepang test has one more day to run on Wednesday February 3.
Sepang test day two final times
- Danilo Petrucci Octo Pramac Yakhnich 2:00.095s
- Jorge Lorenzo Movistar Yamaha MotoGP +0.060s
- Hector Barbera Avintia Racing +0.292s
- Marc Marquez Repsol Honda Team +0.748s
- Cal Crutchlow LCR Honda +0.804s
- Valentino Rossi Movistar Yamaha MotoGP +0.926s
- Scott Redding Octo Pramac Yakhnich +0.954s
- Andrea Iannone Ducati Team +0.957s
- Casey Stoner Ducati Test Rider +1.008s
- Bradley Smith Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +1.012s
- Maverick Viñales Team Suzuki Ecstar +1.326s
- Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team +1.380s
- Yonny Hernandez Aspar MotoGP Team +1.549s
- Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Team +1.628s
- Pol Espargaro Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +1.897s
- Aleix Espargaro Team Suzuki Ecstar +1.997s
- Tito Rabat Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS +2.233s
- Stefan Bradl Factory Aprilia Gresini +2.277s
- Loris Baz Avintia Racing +2.516s
- Katsuyuki Nakasuga Yamaha Test Rider +2.596s
- Alvaro Bautista Factory Aprilia Gresini +2.781s