Just 17 days after winning the 2006 MotoGP World Championship, Nicky Hayden and Repsol Honda resumed testing in Sepang today (Wednesday) in preparation for their title defence.

Riding the new 800cc RC212V, Hayden continued the development work he began during two days of testing after the last race of the season at Valencia, Spain – but technical troubles, and then torrential rain, limited his progress.

The 25-year-old managed 25 dry laps, with a best of 2min 4.69secs - leaving the American 1.13secs behind fastest man Colin Edwards.

"Today was not as productive as we hoped it would be," confessed Nicky. "We started running and had a small problem with the electronics, but once we changed the mapping it was OK and we were rollin' again. But then the rain came and that was it for the day. I hung on, hoping to get in some wet tyre testing, but it didn't happen because there was just too much water in turn three. Still, we are set up for tomorrow and ready to try out a few things based on what we did today. I just hope the next two days are dry."

Hayden's team-mate, Dani Pedrosa, is not testing at Sepang as he remains in Spain following a minor, pre-scheduled operation on his left arm. The 21-year-old Spaniard will return to the saddle of his RC212V at the next test in Jerez, which begins on November 28.