Dani Pedrosa stays on top in final MotoGP practice in Malaysia
Dani Pedrosa was quickest again in final practice ahead of Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying at Sepang
The Spaniard followed up his Friday domination by setting a 2m01.946s lap early in this morning's session to regain the top spot, and later improved to 2m01.769s on his works Honda.
Once again, the four factory specification Hondas proved untouchable, filling the top four positions. But this time Gresini's Marco Simoncelli managed to disrupt the works team formation, taking second - 0.265 seconds down on Pedrosa, and ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and champion Casey Stoner.
Nicky Hayden showed much improved form for Ducati to take fifth - within 0.480s of Pedrosa's pace as the pack at least closed in on the Hondas compared to Friday. Hayden's team-mate Valentino Rossi also picked up speed in eighth, with Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) and Colin Edwards (Tech 3 Yamaha) splitting the two Ducatis.
It was another painful session for the factory Yamaha team. Ben Spies exacerbated the discomfort from his Phillip Island injuries when he crashed at Turn 1, leaving him 14th, while Jorge Lorenzo's stand-in Katsuyuki Nakasuga was slowest again in what is now a 17-bike field after John Hopkins was forced to withdraw from Suzuki's line-up.
Pos Rider Team/Bike Time Gap 1. Dani Pedrosa Honda 2m01.769s 2. Marco Simoncelli Gresini Honda 2m02.034s + 0.265s 3. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 2m02.081s + 0.312s 4. Casey Stoner Honda 2m02.169s + 0.400s 5. Nicky Hayden Ducati 2m02.249s + 0.480s 6. Alvaro Bautista Suzuki 2m02.343s + 0.574s 7. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 2m02.463s + 0.694s 8. Valentino Rossi Ducati 2m02.614s + 0.845s 9. Hiroshi Aoyama Gresini Honda 2m02.744s + 0.975s 10. Loris Capirossi Pramac Ducati 2m02.825s + 1.056s 11. Randy de Puniet Pramac Ducati 2m03.019s + 1.250s 12. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 2m03.414s + 1.645s 13. Hector Barbera Aspar Ducati 2m03.554s + 1.785s 14. Ben Spies Yamaha 2m03.772s + 2.003s 15. Toni Elias LCR Honda 2m03.823s + 2.054s 16. Karel Abraham Cardion Ducati 2m03.952s + 2.183s 17. Katsuyuki Nakasuga Yamaha 2m04.629s + 2.860s
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