Rossi leads opening day of MotoGP testing at Sepang

Valentino Rossi got his testing schedule started in the best way possible at Sepang with the quickest time of the day on his Yamaha. 

Rossi's best lap of 2:00.414 was more than enough to end the day on top, with the Italian believed to be running the full seamless gearbox in his Yamaha YZR-M1.

Pedrosa was not too far off the leader, with a best lap of 2m 0.543s on the RC213V that HRC engineers are working hard on to improve edge grip and acceleration out of corners.

The Yamaha Tech 3 team will be very upbeat today, with Espargaro impressing with a best lap of 2:00.876, but the surprise of the day was the Suzuki and factory rider Aleix Espargaro, who leaped into fourth place with a best lap of 2m 1.055s ahead of double MotoGP Champion Jorge Lorenzo on the second of the Yamaha's.

Marc Marquez was somewhat off the pace today, the reigning MotoGP champion finishing day one in sixth place and just ahead of LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow, the British rider setting a best lap of 2:01.222 while fellow countryman Bradley Smith was next along for the Yamaha Tech 2 squad with a best time of 2:01.241.

Suzuki will also be very happy that Maverick Vinales finished in ninth, with Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso rounding out the top ten.