The 2011 MotoGP season is over and the lead-up to the 2012 MotoGP season has begun. Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Ben Spies, and the rest of the MotoGP grid were on track today at Valencia to test out the new 1000cc motorcycles for the 2012 season.
Dani Pedrosa put in the fastest time today aboard the new and evolving RC213V. Stoner and Pedrosa both put in about 40 laps and times in the low 1'32s.
Ben Spies handled the testing duties for the Yamaha team as Jorge Lorenzo is still resting his injured hand. Spies brought the new M1 around the track 73 times and finished a second behind the Repsol Honda team's pace.
Andrea Dovizioso got his first taste of the new M1 as he joins the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team for 2012. Dovizioso did 75 laps today at Valencia. He started on the 800cc motorcycle to get the feel of the M1 before switching to the bigger and badder 2012 version. His new teammate, Cal Crutchlow, put in 45 laps during the testing session.
Valentino Rossi continued development on the GP12. Rossi put in 70 laps with a new experimental chassis. His teammate, Nicky Hayden, was unable to test due to an injury he picked up during the final race of the 2011 season. Hector Barbera and Karel Abraham were able to ride the new Ducati for the first time.
