MotoGP: Bautista sets early testing pace at Sepang

Alvaro Bautista denied Aleix Espargaro the top spot on an unusual first day of the second pre-season MotoGP test at Sepang.

Few of the big names came out early on due to the dusty track conditions, with Gresini Honda rider Bautista taking up first position for much of the day.

He was briefly pipped by a 2m00.900s lap from Espargaro's Open class Forward FTR-Yamaha, before redressing the balance with a lap 0.052 second quicker in the closing moments.

The pace of Forward's Yamaha-based machine has already caused controversy, with Honda unhappy about its arch-rival's interpretation of the Open category regulations. Espargaro's Wednesday pace will fuel the debate further.

Both Espargaro brothers were in the top three, as Aleix's rookie brother Pol put his Tech 3 Yamaha third with a late flying lap. Andrea Dovizioso was fourth for Ducati.

The usual front-runners kept a low profile while waiting for track conditions to improve.

Jorge Lorenzo was the best of the likely 2014 title contenders in fifth on the lead works Yamaha, ahead of Dani Pedrosa on the only factory Honda present due to Marc Marquez's injury.

Valentino Rossi, Stefan Bradl and Bradley Smith were next up, while the best of Honda's Open bikes was Nicky Hayden in 10th place for Aspar.