Yamaha lead

Factory Yamaha duo Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi continued to dominate the IRTA test in Qatar today after brilliant performances on the second morning.

At lunch on day two, Edwards was again setting the pace from his Italian team-mate, the American clocking a 1.56.296 in a 27-lap stint this morning.

That is a massive 1.2s inside of Rossi’s 2006 lap record and is just 0.6s slower than Casey Stoner’s 990cc lap pole position.

The double World Superbike champion has already gone 0.5s faster than he managed yesterday when topping the timesheets in the penultimate test of the winter. 

Rossi was just 0.1s behind of Edwards as he clocked a best of 1.56.537 in his 35 laps completed up until the 1pm break.

Best Honda rider was Dani Pedrosa who logged the third best time in front of Suzuki’s John Hopkins. 

Edwards, Rossi and Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa are the only three riders today so far to have broken into the 1.56 bracket.

Pedrosa was a massive 0.8s quicker than he was on day one when he ended up only 10th fastest.

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden was only ninth fastest this morning with official timing restored after the technical glitches of yesterday. 

Hayden was 1.3s down on compatriot Edwards.

Best Ducati rider was Australian Casey Stoner who ended this morning’s session with a best time of 1.57.452, which is 0.5s slower than he set yesterday when clocking the third best time.