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MotoGP back to Sepang

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Khatir Soltani
From MotoGP files

Five-time MotoGP champion, Italian Valentino Rossi ended the first day of action at Sepang in Malaysia with the quickest time. The Italian and his Fiat Yamaha team were back in the saddle after skipping the Ellis Island tests last week.

Another former champion was also hard at work. Nicky Hayden was second fastest and still having to take on the majority of Repsol Honda's work, due to the continued absence of his teammate Dani Pedrosa who hurt himself a couple of weeks ago on the same circuit.

Shinya Nakano was a promising third fastest, ahead of Rossi's teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who had been quickest in the morning.
Gresini Honda's Alex de Angelis, went out early in the morning on a damp track and, unfortunately crashed hard and had to wait till late in the afternoon to go back on the track.

First day's best times:

Pos Rider Team Time Laps
1. Rossi Fiat Yamaha 2:00.300 64
2. Hayden Repsol Honda 2:01.949 80
3. Nakano Honda Gresini 2:02.317 55
4. Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha 2:02.654 57
5. De Angelis Honda Gresini 2:03.231 41
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
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