Hayden fastest in Sepang

Honda’s Nicky Hayden has finished the final day of MotoGP testing at Sepang as the fastest rider, posting a time of 2:02.041 on his factory Honda RC211V.

The American headed fellow Honda riders Max Biaggi, Sete Gibernau and Colin Edwards. Valentino Rossi finished the day fifth fastest, using the same down-on-power engine as on the previous day’s testing (see link, right).

Hayden said, ” I’d be lying if I didn’t feel good, but I’ve got to remember this is still only practice. I’ve never been that good in testing. The bike feels good Honda have made a great bike even better over the winter. The 16.5 inch front feels real good just like I’m used to with a superbike.”

British MotoGP star Neil Hodgson managed 14th quickest on the Ducati Desmosedici, posting a time of 2:04.674. Meanwhile Aprilia’s Shane Byrne continues to improve, chopping over a second from his time on the second day.

For more news from Sepang and the WSB tests in Valencia, see MCN, out February 18.

Sepang final day lap times:

1) Nicky Hayden (Honda) 2:02.041. 2) Max Biaggi (Honda) 2:02.108. 3) Sete Gibernau (Honda) 2:02.496. 4) Colin Edwards (Honda) 2:02.597. 5) Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2:02.746. 6) Makoto Tamada (Honda) 2:02.962. 7) Carlos Checa (Yamaha) 2:03.100. 8) Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2:03.100. 9) Troy Bayliss (Ducati) 2:03.544. 10) Alex Barros (Honda) 2:03.558. 11) Kousuke Akiyoshi (Suzuki) 2:03.729. 12) Shinichi Itoh (Honda) 2:04.076. 13) Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki) 2:04.625. 14) Neil Hodgson (Ducati) 2:04.674. 15) Marco Melandri (Yamaha) 2:04.753. 16) Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) 2:05.756. 17) Alex Hofmann (Kawasaki) 2:04.817. 18) Ruben Xaus (Ducati) 2:04.929. 19) Norick Abe (Yamaha) 2:05.059. 20) Shane Byrne (Aprilia) 2:05.059. 21) Jeremy McWilliams (Aprilia) 2:06.574. 22) Andrew Pitt (Moriwaki) 2:06.00.