Testing for the 2010 MotoGP season commenced at Sepang today as several factory test riders carried out a shakedown session ahead of tomorrow's first full-field test of the year. No official times were released, but the four factory squads Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki were all in action at the Malaysian Grand Prix venue.
Yamaha used works test riders Norihijo Fujiwara and Wataru Yoshikawa, while Akiyoshi Kosuke and Nobuatsu Aoki were riding for Honda and Suzuki, respectively. Recently promoted Ducati team boss Vittoriano Guareschi continued with his previous test rider role as well to give the latest Desmosedici its first run.
The test rider day was introduced as part of the more stringent 2010 test restrictions. In previous years all three days of running were open for the full MotoGP field.
The race riders are all present at Sepang and will commence their 2010 preparations tomorrow and Friday.