First 800cc test falls to Pedrosa.

The first post-season test with the new-for-2007 800cc machines has ended with Dani Pedrosa putting Honda's RC212V at the top of the timesheets, after two days of track action at Valencia.

The test, which began just three days after the season-ending grand prix at the Spanish circuit, saw the factory teams from Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki all put serious mileage on the new creations - only Kawasaki was not represented - while the independent, recently formed, Ilmor team was present with its 800cc X3, raced in the final two rounds of 2006.

After riding the 990cc M1, in order to 'understand why we lost' Sunday's title showdown, former five-times world champion Valentino Rossi went on to set the day one 800cc pace on his Camel Yamaha - but with Ducati's Loris Capirossi just 0.1secs slower, Suzuki's John Hopkins a mere 0.03secs further behind and the top 800cc Honda, of Pedrosa, within 0.11secs of Rossi!

Pedrosa, unlike team-mate and new world champion Nicky Hayden, had previously ridden the V4 during testing after the Japanese Grand Prix and the rookie of the year put his prior knowledge to good use on day two - finding a further 0.55secs to leave the test fastest of all.

Underlining the potential of the new 800cc machines, the Spaniard's pace was 0.66secs quicker than he'd been in Sunday's race, on the 990cc RC211V, and beat Capirossi's fastest race lap by 0.264secs.

"Today we were lucky because the weather remained dry so this was perfect and we were able to do many laps," said Dani, who completed 67 circulations. "Basically we did some tyre testing for Michelin and some more specific set-up work for the bike to continue things from yesterday. The progress was good, though it's still early and there's plenty of testing still to do before we begin again in 2007. Now I'm looking forward to getting home!"

Pedrosa finished the test just 0.03secs faster than Chris Vermeulen, confirming the excellent early potential of Suzuki's 800cc machine, while new Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner made a strong start to his Desmosedici career with the third fastest time - just 0.28secs behind Pedrosa.

Hayden set the sixth fastest time during his second day on the RC212V while Rossi, the only Yamaha rider at the test, lapped 0.68secs slower on day two after trying 'some different things' - and was left seventh fastest as a result.

Further back, Jeremy McWilliams and Andrew Pitt spent their second day on the Ilmor X3 - ridden by Garry McCoy in the GP - with McWilliams again the faster of the two, despite lapping 0.1secs slower than his Wednesday best. 2006 WSBK race winner Pitt was half a second behind the experienced Ulsterman, but improved by 0.2secs compared with his day one time.

The next winter test session will take place at Sepang, Malaysia, on November 15.

Valencia test - day two:

1.Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (800cc)1min 32.66 secs
2.Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (800cc)1min 32.69 secs
3.Casey StonerAUS Ducati Marlboro Team (800cc)1min 32.94 secs
4.John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (800cc)1min 32.95 secs
5.Loris CapirossiITA Ducati Marlboro Team (800cc)1min 33.01 secs
6.Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (800cc)1min 33.03 secs
7.Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (990cc)1min 33.20 secs
8.Valentino RossiITA Camel Yamaha Team (800cc)1min 33.78 secs
9.Jeremy McWilliamsGBR Ilmor SRT (800cc)1min 35.90 secs
10.Andrew PittAUS Ilmor SRT (800cc)1min 36.40 secs
11.Nobuatsu Aoki JPN Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (800cc)1min 37.30 secs

CLICK HERE to see the latest pictures from the Valencia test.