MotoGP Update: First day of private Test at Valencia completed

Pol Espargaró, Nico Terol and Aleix Espargaró all had their first rides with either a new team or bike on the first day of a private Test at the circuit.

The first of three days of a private Test at Valencia took place on Wednesday, where a number of riders completed their first laps with a new team. Taking advantage of the good conditions were, amongst others, 125cc World Champion Nico Terol who rode the Suter of the Mapfre Aspar team for the first time, as well as Pol Espargaró who will ride a Kalex for the Pons HP 40 Tuenti team in 2012.

Following the confirmation on Wednesday morning that he had signed for Sito Pons' the younger of the Espargaró brothers took to his new Kalex extremely well, setting the fastest unofficial lap time on day one. His new team-mate Esteve Rabat was close behind, as was Scott Redding, both riders getting to grips with the Kalex they will ride next year.

The elder of the Espargaró siblings, Aleix, joined Terol in the Mapfre Aspar team box having put pen to paper on a deal with the set-up for next season, and on the day that Andrea Iannone's plans for 2012 with the Speed Master team were confirmed the Italian was also on track on his FTR.

Stop and Go's new signing Ángel Rodríguez and JiR's Johann Zarco and Eric Granado were other riders furthering their progress, whilst Gino Rea got out on track for the Gresini Team having been unable to ride at last week's Official Test at the circuit due to the weather conditions. The Test concludes on Friday.

Unofficial times from Wednesday (times recorded by teams):

1.- Pol Espargaró 1'36.0 (56 laps)

2.- Esteve Rabat 1'36.2 (49 laps)

2.- Scott Redding 1'36.2 (69 laps)

4.- Andrea Iannone 1'36.8 (67 laps)

5.- Aleix Espargaró 1'37.3 (36 laps)

5.- Gino Rea 1'37.3 (77 laps)

7.- Mika Kallio 1'37.6 (62 laps)

8.- Johann Zarco 1'37.7 (80 laps)

9.- Claudio Corti 1'37.8 (81 laps)

9.- Ángel Rodríguez 1'37.8 (81 laps)

11.- Ratthapark Wilairot 1'38.2 (55 laps)