It seemed like Stoner would have no competition on top of the field from the early hours of the Wednesday testing, especially since his two Yamaha rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo did not test their 2010 machineries yesterday. The Japanese manufacturer decided to commit to only 2 days of testing this week, as well as their satellite team Tech 3.
Under the circumstances – and considering Scot Racing Team's announcement the other day that they will withdraw from the series prior to the 2010 season – the field was reduced to only 12 bikes on Wednesday.
Having made only some slight adjustments to his front suspension and using a different engine configuration, Stoner scored the best time of the week on the Valencia track – 1:31.900 – while his teammate Nicky Hayden recorded a personal best 1:32.804 in 3rd place. Honda completed the Top 5 with works rider Andrea Dovosiozo and Gresini's Marco Melandri.
“I'm satisfied with this three-day test and with the new characteristics of the bike, in particular the extra traction in corner exit. It is still difficult to figure out exactly the best time to open the throttle but we're getting there and it is a case of more practice and improving the set-up,” said Stoner after the 3-day test in Valencia.
The two Pramac Racing riders Mika Kallio and Aleix Espargaro followed the Top 5 in 6th and 7th respectively, ahead of the first Suzuki rider Loris Capirossi. As it happened in the first two days of testing in Spain, the rookie riders next season completed the last 4 positions in the time sheets: Hector Barbera, Marco Simoncelli, Alvaro Bautista and Hiroshi Aoyama, in that order.
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