2017 Sepang MotoGP Test Monday Times 12:20 - Iannone Leads Bautista As Testing Starts

MotoGP testing is underway at Sepang. The weather has held, and a dry track saw a mass exodus onto the track, the riders using the opportunity to do as much testing as possible. Shortly after noon, Andrea Iannone is fastest, the Italian making a strong start on the Suzuki. He deposed Alvaro Bautista on the Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati, who had led for much of the morning. Maverick Viñales is third, always quick here, and now doubly so on the Movistar Yamaha.

There are plenty of test riders here, with Casey Stoner the most notable. Stoner is currently fifth fastest, just behind Danilo Petrucci. Petrucci appears to be riding the Valencia version of the GP17, while Stoner and the two factory Ducati men are testing the new GP17, with the carbon fiber box in the tail. Still no official word on what it is, but from close up, it looked relatively light, whcih means it is probably carrying a sensor or something similar.

Marc Marquez is off to a modest start on the Honda, only sixth quickest at the moment, just ahead of a very impressive Jonas Folger on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha. Folger is clearly benefiting from the extra time he got on the bike at Yamaha's private test in November.

The factory Ducatis are well down the order at the moment. Andrea Dovizioso is in 11th, a second off the pace of Iannone, and just behind Valentino Rossi on the Yamaha (a late starter, as always). Jorge Lorenzo is much further behind, down in 22nd over two seconds slower than Iannone.

Clouds are starting to gather at Sepang, but it remains dry. The riders are likely to push the lunch break back as late as possible, to make the best possible use of the dry track.

Times at 12:20: