Hayden Leads Stormy Jerez MotoGP Test

2012 MotoGP Jerez Testing

The second day of Jerez testing was plagued by rain and wind Saturday, frustrating all teams and riders participating in the final pre-season test sessions before the official start of 2012 MotoGP at Qatar April 8.

But when the track was almost dried out by the end of the test, Ducati Team’s Nicky Hayden was the fastest, posting a 1:40.755. Behind, only two riders posted within a second of Hayden – Cardion AB Ducati’s Karel Abraham and Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Spies.

To put Hayden’s time into perspective, Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner put in a best of lap 1:39.146 during Friday’s session.

When the 21-rider grid (22 with Ducati test rider Franco Battaini) first attempted to get on the Jerez circuit in the morning, the conditions were wet and extremely windy. Only a handful of riders were on the track, including Battaini and CRT Team Avintia Racing’s Ivan Silva.

But during the afternoon, many riders headed out onto Jerez with full-rain setups, the first being Dani Pedrosa, who was third fastest during Friday’s sessions. The rain became heavier as the afternoon progressed, and every rider was out on the track except Avinta Racing CRT’s Yonny Hernandez.

But near the end of the testing session, the track began to dry, and Hayden put in the quickest lap, followed by Abraham and Spies. But although quickest, many of the top riders didn’t ride in the last session, including Friday’s second-fastest rider, Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati Team’s Valentino Rossi and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 duo of Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso.

Friday’s leader, Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner, was out during the last sessions as the track dried, but only put in three laps on the RC213V, posting the 18th-quickest time.

The grid will return Sunday for the third and final day of pre-season MotoGP testing at Jerez. For a report of Friday’s testing results, click here.

2012 Jerez Pre-Season MotoGP Test: Saturday Times: