Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completed the top five on the combined timesheets on the first day of action in Malaysia, after those from FP1 remained the fastest laptimes of the day as rain affected the afternoon. The 9-time World Champion got his first taste of the new track surface and other modifications – such as the now-adverse camber of Turn 15 – but hopes for better weather, or clearer weather, for the remainder of the weekend – with the track taking a long time to dry.
Valentino Rossi (P5): “This morning we were able to ride in the full dry, but anyway there were some wet patches that were very difficult and you have to stay very concentrated and careful because it‘s quite dangerous. We hope for the next days we have some clear conditions, full dry or full wet. The first feeling is not so bad, but for sure after today‘s rain the track needed too much time to dry out.”