Melandri and Rossi on top at Jerez Saturday

The official MotoGP test at Jerez continued today with Marco Melandri and Valentino Rossi setting the pace as they work towards the opening race of the 2007 season. Riding the new Repsol Honda RC212V American Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa carried out further development work at the 4.423km (2.747 mile) circuit which hosts the second round of the World Championship on March 25.

Once the morning fog cleared, World Champion Nicky Hayden made significant improvements from yesterday, completing a marathon 91 laps – the most of any rider today. The talented 25-year-old American set his fastest lap time of 1m 41.259s during a 17-lap run and unlike some of the field chose not to test a qualifying tire.

The three-day test concludes tomorrow and features an official televised 40-minute timed ‘qualifying’ session. Then the MotoGP paddock packs up in preparation for the season opener at the Losail circuit in Qatar on March 10.

Official lap times:
1. M. Melandri 1m 40.383s
2. V.Rossi 1m 40.408s
3. D. Pedrosa 1m 40.581s
4. A. Hofmann 1m 40.748s
5. T.Elías 1m 40.952s
6. C. Stoner 1m 41.071s
7. C. Checa 1m 41.096s
8. R. De Puniet 1m 41.151s
9. C. Edwards 1m 41.204s
10. M. Tamada 1m 41.234s
11. N. Hayden 1m 41.259s
12. S. Nakano 1m 41.269s
13. C. Vermeulen 1m 41.363s
14. L. Capirossi 1m 41.590s
15 O.Jacque 1m 41.777s
16. K. Roberts 1m 41.783s
17. A.Barros 1m 41.845s
18 S. Guintoli 1m 42.364s
19 S. Ito 1m 43.209s
20 K. Akiyoshi 1m 43.610s
21. V. Guareschi 1m 44.143s
22. J. McWilliams 1m 44.458s
23. A. Pitt 1m 44.589s