 Hopkins has adapted well to the new 800cc bike |
John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen stole the spotlight from Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi at the first MotoGP testing session of 2007. The Suzuki duo clocked the fastest times on the first of three days testing at the 5.5km Sepang circuit.
"I'm very happy we are able to carry on with the form we had in the previous tests in November," said Hopkins.
Rossi clocked the third fastest time of the day, with world champion Hayden, who used two bikes, in fifth place.
Hopkins and Vermeulen impressed in the last testing session of 2006 and kept that up as they clocked times of two minutes 02.277 seconds and 2:03.049 respectively.
Five-time champion Rossi recorded a time of 2:03.184, while Hayden, who underwent shoulder surgery before Christmas, notched a best time of 2:03.413.
Carlos Checa and MotoGP debutant Sylvain Guintoli both crashed but escaped injury.
The next three day testing session will be at Phillip Island in Australia later this month, followed by further sessions at Sepang, Qatar and Jerez.
Hayden begins the defence of his title in Qatar on 10 March.
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