De Puniet sets the Jerez pace on Aprilia's MotoGP hybrid

De Puniet sets the Jerez pace on Aprilia's MotoGP hybrid

De Puniet in action on the Aprilia at Jerez today
De Puniet in action on the Aprilia at Jerez today

MotoGP exile Randy De Puniet has set the fastest unofficial lap during the second day of testing at Jerez on the hybrid Aprilia CRT bike, lapping more than a second faster than Colin Edwards on his BMW-engined Suter.

De Puniet, who looks likely to race the Aprilia for Jorge Martinez's team next season and has the support of the factory's test team in Spain, went round in 1'41.5 compared to Edwards' 1'42.6 on a bike that is not quite to WSB-spec but not exactly a CRT machine either.

It has an RSV4 motor with gear-driven cams and midly-tweaked frame but is sporting carbon brakes and Bridgestone tyres - so illegal in both series. It is also more than ten kilos over the CRT weight limit. Pole for the 2011 Jerez MotoGP race was 1'38.757 but De Puniet's time would have been fourth quickest the last time 990s ran at the Andalucian track.

Ivan Silva is third quickest on the FTR BQR Kawasaki and lapped at 1'43.5 while Yonny Hernandez, also on a BQR Kawasaki, was a further half-second in arrears.

First pictures - Edwards rides his CRT MotoGP bike at Jerez

Edwards on the CRT bike he will race in MotoGP next year
Edwards on the CRT bike he will race in MotoGP next year

Former Monster Yamaha MotoGP team leader Colin Edwards has got back on a bike for the first time since his Sepang crash, lapping on the NGM Forward Racing CRT bike at Jerez today. The veteran did a best time of 1'43.9 which compares to a 1'39 for a good 800 lap.

Edwards was running around the same pace as a good Moto2 lap on the Suter-engined, BMW-powered bike but expect that to drop over the next couple of days. The American did 39 laps as his first shakedown with the new team. The best comparative laps for CRT bikes have been four seconds off the pace of factory bikes so Edwards will be the benchmark by the time he leaves the Spanish track.

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First pictures - Checa tests Rossi's aluminium-framed GP12

Checa is riding the aluminium-framed GP12 at Jerez
Checa is riding the aluminium-framed GP12 at Jerez

Reigning World Superbike Champion Carlos Checa has been testing Valentino Rossi's aluminium-framed Desmosedici GP12 at Jerez today as the Italian is currently engaged in a rally at Monza.

Checa is with full-time tester Franco Battaini as Nicky Hayden is recovering from scaphoid surgery. Times for both riders were not disclosed by the team today.

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