On the final day of the second Sepang Test of 2007, the teams present at the Malaysian circuit rounded off their week of fine tuning their new 800cc machines ahead of the season curtain-raiser next month. 

Colin Edwards was once again the fastest rider at Sepang. The factory Yamaha team rider clocked a lap of 2:00.248, below the 990cc pole position record set on qualifying tires last year.

Once again putting in a solid number of laps, Kawasaki’s Randy de Puniet also managed to cut his times from the previous two days. The Frenchman showed no ill effects from the minor crash he suffered on second day, and also performed a race simulation as part of his 63 lap marathon on the Ninja ZX-RR800 equipped with an Akrapovic exhaust system. Team-mate Olivier Jacque also made improvements as part of a positive three days for the Gallic duo.

The only Ilmor team rider at this week’s test, Andrew Pitt rounded off what may be his last solo outing before the expected return of team-mate Jeremy McWilliams. The Australian established his task this week as finding a base for the bike, and put in more laps today than any other rider. The Ilmor racing machine with Akrapovic exhaust system showed some serious progress.

All four teams will join the remainder of the MotoGP grid next Tuesday for the first Official Test in Qatar, the scene of the opening round of the championship on March 10th.

MotoGP Sepang Test: Day 3
Unofficial Times

1. Colin Edwards - Yamaha Racing 2:00.248 - 46
2. Valentino Rossi - Yamaha Racing 2:00.793 – 43
*3. Randy de Puniet - Kawasaki Racing 2:02.071 – 63
*4. Olivier Jacque - Kawasaki Racing 2:02.607 – 55
5. Makoto Tamada - Yamaha Tech 3 2:03.380 – 35
6. Sylvain Guintoli - Yamaha Tech 3 2:04.636 – 35
*7. Andrew Pitt - Ilmor GP 2:07.373 – 70

*equipped with Akrapovic exhaust systems