Italy's Valentino Rossi achieved the best time on the first day of a MotoGP training session yesterday at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, while Dani Pedrosa (Honda) was fourth.

The reigning world champion, on board the new Yamaha M1, clocked a time of 2:02:14, just four tenths of a second slower than the time of team mate Loris Capirossi, who won pole position at last year's Malaysian GP.

"Everything went well from the start and I was able to go quite quickly. The new M1 is a good machine, I like it and I've been able to test out the great work done by the team this winter. We had some "chattering" problems, but that's a good sign at this stage of the season," said the eight times world champion.

Dani Pedrosa (photo) was riding the 2005 prototype developed especially for him, which he is still getting used to. With a time of 2:02:86, Sete Gibernau (Ducati) finished seventh on his new machine.

Qualifying times:

1. Valentino Rossi  (ITA/Camel Yamaha)       2:02.14.  
2. Marco Melandri (ITA/Fortuna Honda)       2:02.21.  
3. Nicky Hayden (USA/Repsol Honda)          2:02.23.  
4. DANI PEDROSA (SPA/Repsol Honda)   2:02.46.  
5. Loris Capirossi (ITA/Ducati Marlboro)       2:02.54.  
6. Colin Edwards (USA/Camel Yamaha)        2:02.61.  
7. SETE GIBERNAU (SPA/Ducati Marlboro) 2:02.86.  
8. John Hopkins (GB/Suzuki MotoGP)          2:03.30.  
9. Casey Stoner (AUS/LCR Honda)              2:03.57.  
10. Shinya Nakano (JAP/Kawasaki Racing)   2:03.77.