Marco Simoncelli surprised to be fastest in Sepang

Marco Simoncelli seemed as surprised as anyone to leave Kuala Lumpur with the fastest time at the end of this week’s MotoGP test at the Sepang circuit.

Riding a full factory Honda RC212V machine, the Italian produced the first big shock of 2011 when a lap of 2.00.757 on the final morning secured him a morale-boosting place at the top of the timesheets.

He narrowly beat fellow factory Honda duo Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner as the new RC212V made a blistering start to 2011.

Four Hondas finished in the top five with only a flu-ridden Toni Elias blotting the Japanese factory’s copybook as he finished last and way off the pace.

Simoncelli said his performance has come as something of a surprise but added his confidence had been boosted when he first rode the factory RC212V in Valencia back in early October.

The former 250GP world champion said: “I tested the new bike in Valencia for the first time and my feeling was good there. So through the winter I expected to be very fast, but maybe not the fastest. My best time on the first test last year was a 2.03.2. So I am 2.5s faster and no crashes. In the race last year I did a 2.02.8. From last year in the winter test the difference is generally me, the bike and the team and especially the experience we have got now. The bike for me is the package that has improved in every area and it is helping me the most. But the factory support from Honda is also very important.”