The final MotoGP test of the year featured just two riders at Sepang in Malaysia on 21-23 December, with rookies Hiroshi Aoyama and Marco Simoncelli concluding the three-day test on Wednesday.

In a test interrupted by rain on the opening two days, Interwetten Honda’s reigning 250cc Grand Prix World Champion Aoyama set the fastest lap of the pair with a 2:02.30, just two tenths of a second off the current circuit record.

“It was very important that we had the test in Sepang at this time of the year,” said the Japanese rider. “The circumstances were ideal apart from the rain on Tuesday afternoon. I have to learn a lot because the MotoGP bike is so much different from the 125cc and 250cc machines – I have to get used to the traction control and to the fact that all works electronically. I am satisfied with the work of these days, but I want to do more.”

Aoyama tested the 2009 Honda machine at this test, and for the next scheduled MotoGP test in February is set to have the 2010 prototype, confirmed technical director Tim Jojic.

Simoncelli, whose fastest time was a 2:03.20, undertook a 21-lap race simulation on the final day, continuing his transition to MotoGP machinery with San Carlo Honda Gresini on the factory RC212V that Toni Elias rode this season.

“I’ve ridden around 900 kilometres (160 laps) over the past three days, which was a nice early Christmas present,” said the Italian former 250GP World Champion. “I had hoped to go a little faster, but the lap times were not our principal target here and I am extremely satisfied with what we have achieved.

“Fortunately today the rain held off and we were able to do a race simulation. I did 21 laps at a consistent pace in the 2:04 region – even over the last few laps when the tyres were almost completely spent.”

The test featuring Aoyama and Simoncelli was a rookie-only test, while the entire MotoGP field of 2010 will return to the Malaysian sunshine in February in preparation for next season’s world championship.