Lorenzo quickest in Valencia test

The Yamaha rider, sporting the #1 on his bike for the first time, went nearly a second quicker than his closest rival, who was his own new team-mate Ben Spies.

Lorenzo tested the new M1 bike and completed 38 laps of the Ricardo Tormo circuit.

"Today we tried the new chassis on the 2011 M1 which felt good, although it is still to early to say too much about it," he said. "We also tried the new Ohlins suspension which felt better to me on the track. The new engine seems to have less wheelie but we will see more tomorrow in the next session."

American Spies had a very positive first day as works rider, managing 42 laps on his way to second place.

"For the first day of testing I'm super happy with the team, a lot of things are new including obviously riding the prototype bike," said Spies. "There are a lot of subtle changes from last year so I spent some time getting used to it along with working with a new Japanese engineer who is very, very good.

"I had a couple of new mechanics who were learning the ropes as well so it was a lot of learning today. I'm really happy, I can feel the potential of the bike and I think there's quite a bit more to come."

Andrea Dovizioso was third fastest and the quickest of the Honda riders, finishing ahead of Casey Stoner, who made his debut with he Japanese squad after leaving Ducati.

The Australian outpaced team-mate Dani Pedrosa, who completed the top five from Colin Edwards and Marco Simoncelli.

Valentino Rossi caught the attention of the Spanish circuit when he jumped onto the track for the first time with the Ducati, the Italian riding a black bike with the usual #46 on it.

Rossi finished down in eighth position, with team-mate Nicky Hayden in ninth and Hector Barbera completing the top ten.

The test continues tomorrow.

Pos  Rider                                Time                Laps
 1.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha             1m32.012s             38
 2.  Ben Spies         Yamaha             1m32.878s  + 0.866s   42
 3.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda              1m33.190s  + 1.178s   35
 4.  Casey Stoner      Honda              1m33.261s  + 1.249s   27
 5.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda              1m33.336s  + 1.324s   26
 6.  Colin Edwards     Tech 3 Yamaha      1m33.513s  + 1.501s   49
 7.  Marco Simoncelli  Gresini Honda      1m33.578s  + 1.566s   39
 8.  Valentino Rossi   Ducati             1m33.882s  + 1.870s   46
 9.  Alvaro Bautista   Suzuki             1m33.921s  + 1.909s   39
10.  Nicky Hayden      Ducati             1m33.998s  + 1.986s   35
11.  Hector Barbera    Aspar Ducati       1m34.110s  + 2.098s   54
12.  Randy de Puniet   Pramac Ducati      1m34.142s  + 2.130s   45
13.  Hiroshi Aoyama    Gresini Honda      1m34.181s  + 2.169s   49
14.  Loris Capirossi   Pramac Ducati      1m34.631s  + 2.619s   53
15.  Cal Crutchlow     Tech 3 Yamaha      1m34.924s  + 2.912s   40
16.  Toni Elias        LCR Honda          1m35.808s  + 3.796s   45
17.  Karel Abraham     Cardion AB Ducati  1m37.434s  + 5.422s   30