Hayden ends Sepang test on top
Nicky Hayden gave his Repsol Honda team something to smile about at the end of this week's MotoGP test at Sepang when he set the quickest time on the final day
With teammate Dani Pedrosa having been forced to fly home to Spain for surgery on a broken hand after a big crash on Tuesday, Hayden made the most of qualifying simulations to outpace reigning MotoGP champion Casey Stoner on the Ducati Marlboro.
Stoner only rode in the morning, however, as he returned to action following the arm cramps that he had suffered on Wednesday.
Jorge Lorenzo was the fastest Yamaha rider, setting the third quickest time, just ahead of Colin Edwards on the Tech 3 bike.
Kawasaki's John Hopkins continued to show some impressive speed during development of his Ninja ZX-RR to set the fifth quickest time, with his team's work boosted by the presence of test riders Olivier Jacque and Tamaki Serizawa.
Teammate Anthony West had a small fall early in the day, but recovered to set the 15th fastest time.
Frenchman Randy de Puniet, who had topped the times on the first two days of the test, ended up 11th fastest overall after small accident.
Today's times:
Pos Rider Team Time Laps 1. Hayden Repsol HRC 2:00.326 77 2. Stoner Ducati Marlboro 2:00.660 27 3. Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha 2:00.766 63 4. Edwards Yamaha Tech3 2:01.179 34 5. Hopkins Kawasaki Racing 2:01.198 42 6. Rossi Fiat Yamaha 2:01.425 48 7. Dovizioso Jir Team Scot 2:01.447 51 8. Toseland Yamaha Tech3 2:01.745 45 9. Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki 2:01.748 70 10. Capirossi Rizla Suzuki 2:01.778 62 11. De Puniet LCR Honda 2:01.873 56 12. Nakano Honda Gresini 2:02.032 38 13. De Angelis Honda Gresini 2:02.198 37 14. Melandri Ducati Marlboro 2:02.725 58 15. West Kawasaki Racing 2:02.978 39 16. Elias Alice Team 2:02.995 67 17. Jacque Kawasaki Racing 2:03.030 40 18. Guintoli Alice Team 2:03.628 39 19. Canepa Ducati Test 2:03.703 49 20. Serizawa Kawasaki Racing 2:04.354 27
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