Suzuki fastest in Sepang

Suzuki started where they left off last year, with Rizla men John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen first and second fastest on day one today of the major Sepang MotoGP test which ends the winter testing ban.

The two were the surprise packages at the end of last year, the new 800 Suzuki looking the bike most suited to the change to smaller revvier engines, and Hopkins’ best time of 2:02.27 was the only under the 2:03 mark. 

Vermeulen was a little over 07.s behind, and former champ Valentino Rossi was third.

Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards was fourth on an near-identical time, Nicky Hayden fifth recovering from surgery, and Loris Capirossi sixth.