Dani Pedrosa dominates second day in Sepang

Honda’s impressive start to the 2011 winter testing campaign continued today with Dani Pedrosa topping the timesheets on the second day of action at the Sepang circuit.

The Spaniard took advantage of cooler track conditions shortly after 10am this morning to log a best time of 2.00.770.

That was on only his fourth lap and his time was never bettered with Pedrosa the only rider to duck under the 2.01 barrier.

Closest rival and Repsol Honda team-mate Casey Stoner, who had been quickest yesterday, was second fastest but his best lap of 2.01.434 was still 0.664s behind Pedrosa.

Triple world champion Pedrosa got his first chance to assess Honda’s new V4 engine and chassis this afternoon and he told MCN: “The engine has a little bit more top power. It is only a little bit and the chassis it has improved the braking stability. But the handling is a little bit heavy but we must check with the setting if we can get close to something positive.”
One key request repeatedly made by Pedrosa during last season was to have a more smoother power delivery but he reported mixed feelings in that area with the new motor.
“Unfortunately we still have some work to do this in the area, particularly for the exit of the corner, “he added.
It was another superb t showing from Honda with five of RC212V machines in the top six with only Ben Spies able to break the domination, the American ending in third on board the new factory Yamaha YZR-M1 with a best time of 2.01.508.