Philip Island test: Day 1

Honda has dominated the first day of MotoGP testing at Phillip Island with the class rookies putting in some impressive performances.

2005 runner-up and Fortuna Honda rider Marco Melandri set the pace for the day with a best lap of 1:30.79 followed by Repsol Honda’s Nicky Hayden just 0.2 seconds down.
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MotoGP rookie Casey Stoner was the most impressive rider of the day taking the third fastest time only a month after he and the LCR team announced they would be moving up to the premier class together.

Sete Gibernau may not have taken the top spot as he did in last week’s test in Sepang but he is still hot on the pace, finishing in fourth just half a second behind Melandri.

Dani Pedrosa was the second MotoGP rookie to impress taking his Repsol Honda the fifth fastest time with a 1:31.45 second lap.

Kenny Roberts Jr. proved that his dad’s decision to go with Honda power for 2006 was the right move, finishing less than a second off Melandri’s pace.

Unofficial times:

Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda 1:30.79

Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda 1:30.99

Casey Stoner LCR Honda 1:31.07

Sete Gibernau Ducati Marlboro 1:31.27

Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda 1:31.45

Kenny Roberts Team Roberts 1:31.5

Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro 1:31.6

Shinya Nakano Kawasaki 1:31.86

Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 1:32.23

Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda 1:32.4

Randy de Puniet Kawasaki 1:32.49

Jose Luis Cardoso d’Antin Ducati 1:32.78

Alex Hofmann d’Antin Ducati 1:32.9

2005 pole position time: Nicky Hayden 1:29.337