De Puniet leads first day at Sepang
Randy de Puniet set the fastest time during an incident-filled day of testing at Sepang on Tuesday as MotoGP's winter break came to an end
The Frenchman, who has switched to the LCR Honda team, ended the day half a second quicker than his nearest challenge - Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa.
Most of the attention was on Pedrosa, however, who ended his day's running with a big crash at Turn 11.
The Spaniard had been the fastest man up to that point, but the incident resulted in him taken to hospital for checks which are believed to have confirmed a hairline fracture in his arm.
Rizla Suzuki rider Chris Vermeulen, showing off his number seven plate for the first time, was third quickest just ahead of his new teammate Loris Capirossi.
MotoGP champion Casey Stoner made his return to action for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury in testing at Jerez in Spain at the end of last year.
His Ducati Marlboro team had a mixed day, with the bikes suffering niggling problems throughout the morning that limited their number of laps, before he set the fifth fastest time in the afternoon.
Valentino Rossi had a spectacular crash in the morning on cold tyres, although thankfully did not badly hurt the wrist that had caused him trouble since he injured it in Valencia last year.
He was sixth fastest, just a tenth faster than former teammate Colin Edwards, who now rides for the Tech 3 Yamaha team.
Today's times:
Pos Rider Team Time Laps 1. De Puniet Honda LCR 2:01.377 68 2. Pedrosa Repsol HRC 2:01.864 47 3. Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki 2:02.074 57 4. Capirossi Rizla Suzuki 2:02.416 61 5. Stoner Ducati Marlboro 2:02.457 36 6. Rossi Fiat Yamaha 2:02.490 44 7. Edwards Yamaha Tech3 2:02.549 29 8. Hayden Repsol HRC 2:02.558 85 9. Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha 2:02.563 43 10. Nakano Honda Gresini 2:02.622 63 11. Hopkins Kawasaki Racing 2:02.628 62 12. Dovizioso Jir Team Scot 2:02.783 52 13. Toseland Yamaha Tech3 2:03.264 45 14. De Angelis Honda Gresini 2:03.301 47 15. West Kawasaki Racing 2:03.387 51 16. Jacque Kawasaki Racing 2:03.863 53 17. Elias Alice Team 2:03.954 55 18. Melandri Ducati Marlboro 2:04.414 52 19. Canepa Ducati Test 2:05.580 48 20. Guintoli Alice Team 2:06.000 36 21. Serizawa Kawasaki Racing 2:23.590 6
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