The Ducati MotoGP Team completed the first day of a second test session at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia today as they continue their preparations for the 2010 MotoGP season. Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden were second and eleventh fastest on the unofficial time sheets today, without using the new tyres (hard front and medium rear) that Bridgestone have made available to the teams here. Both riders plan to try the new rubber during tomorrow’s second and final day.

Stoner knocked a tenth off his best time from the last test at Sepang three weeks ago on just his second outing of the day and reported positive feedback from the new bike. Hayden also managed to improve his lap times from the previous session here although he was careful not to put too much stress on his right arm, which underwent surgery two weeks ago.

Casey Stoner (Ducati MotoGP Team) 2nd fastest 2’01.219 (43 laps)
“Today went really well, we have taken a good step forward since the last test three weeks ago. We didn’t make any major changes to the bike at the start, preferring to make small adjustments as the day progressed, working in particular on the suspension. I’m satisfied – the bike feels well balanced and the characteristics of the new engine make it easier to ride in general. We definitely have room for improvement in terms of the set-up – we could find some more traction, for example, although we are still better off in this respect than we were here last year. We could also improve the bike under braking, especially in the hard braking zones, and find some more edge grip but it is a case of refining a few details. We have a good base to work from so I’m happy for today.”

Nicky Hayden (Ducati MotoGP Team) 11th fastest 2’02.221 (65 laps)
“We started out with the setting from the previous test, working a little bit with the geometry, and in some parts of the track we got better but there is still plenty of room for improvement. We’ve been working on trying to solve a little front-end chatter and we did that a little by changing the carbon forks. The arm is pretty good but I didn’t want to push it too hard.”

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