Yamaha Tech 3 rider Jonas Folger was the quickest of the new kids on the block as 2017 testing began. The German was seventh on the timesheets with an impressive laptime of 2:00.643 and completed 40 laps of the Malaysian venue.

Folger and teammate Johann Zarco have some experience of the track following a private test at the circuit alongside Movistar Yamaha at the end of 2016, and work focused on setup before attention shifted to the front of the bike. Rain cut work short, but the German is eager to get back out on day 2 to continue the program.

Monster Yamaha Tech3 rookie Jonas Folger put in a strong performance on Day 1 at Sepang securing P7

"Today was positive and I am happy with what we accomplished." Said Folger "I had a good feeling as soon as we got going this morning, so we only changed a few settings."

After lunch, the team and I aimed to make a step forward with regards to the front of the bike because I felt like I was already close to the limit with my lap times and we saw that I could improve with the braking."

"Therefore, we made a big adjustment, but when I went back out, the weather interfered." He added.

"However, we have two more days left to try this setting properly but overall, I am really happy about today, not only with the result, but also with our work."

In addition, I was able to ride in the rain for the first time, which was very useful and I felt positive on the wet Michelin tyres."

"I went out twice and it was important to experience this because it’s different with the brakes. We gained a lot of data and I have started to understand the bike a lot more so I am excited to see what we can do tomorrow."

Ducati Team test rider and double MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner led the way at the top of the timesheets on the first day of the first Official Test of 2017 – ahead of Ducati race rider and 2016 Malaysian GP winner Andrea Dovizioso as the Italian factory locked out the top.

Behind the two red machines was Maverick Vinales in P3, showing his teeth once again after topping timesheets first time out on his new Movistar Yamaha machine in Valencia. Rain cut the day short as it began around two hours before the end of the session, putting paid to any attempt to better times.

Stoner put in 33 laps with a best of 1:59.681, ‘DesmoDovi’ 33 laps with a best of 1:59.796. The two men were the only riders below the two-minute barrier. New arrival in red Jorge Lorenzo was further down the order in P17; a 2:01.350 on a 2016 machine, before rain put paid to any further advances. One of the Ducati Team’s most high-profile additions in Malaysia is a strikingly-new exhaust, something that proved a key focus in the initial stages of testing for the factory as the red machines were put through their paces.

Vinales’ 2:00.128 in P3 was his best over 55 laps on his first track day of 2017, with teammate Valentino Rossi on a 2:00.694 to go P8 - a second down on Stoner after 28 laps – with new additions left off the agenda for the first day back on track for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP. Both Rossi and Viñales also tested at Sepang late in 2016 in a private test shared with Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rookies Jonas Folger and Johann Zarco.

Fastest rookie on Day 1 was Folger in an impressive P7, who was up the timesheets from the off. The German’s best of the day was a 2:00.643 after 41 laps, with his French teammate putting in a best of 2:01.224 over 70 laps. Both premier class newcomers got in some wet track time late in the afternoon.

Aspar Alvaro Bautista was the early leader as the day began and finished up the session in a notable P4 as he moves to the team to pilot a Ducati for the first time, with new teammate Karel Abraham further down the timesheets as he returns to MotoGP from a year in WorldSBK. Bautista also got in some running in the wet later in the session, and ended the day after 54 laps with a best of 2:00.134.

Team Suzuki Ecstar’s charge was led by Andrea Iannone on day 1 as the Italian put his new MotoGP machine up into the top five. The ‘Maniac’ put in 45 laps, with an impressive best of 2:00.490. Rookie teammate Alex Rins, who is getting back to full strength following a crash in testing in Valencia, was down in P20 with a 2:01.889, but showed a clear progression – and ventured out even after the rain started.

LCR Honda Team’s Cal Crutchlow was the quickest Honda as he finished day 1 in P6, with a 2:00.570 his best time after 45 laps. Honda Team got 2017 in gear in P9 and P13, with reigning World Champion Marc Marquez leading teammate Dani Pedrosa by two tenths. Marquez did 57 laps with a best of 2:00.737, Pedrosa 46 laps with a top time of 2:00.970.

EG0,0 Marc VDS Honda duo Jack Miller and Tito Rabat had a slightly tougher day at the office, with Assen 2016 winner on a 2:01.942 and the former Moto2 World Champion a further four tenths back. Honda were another manufacturer with a new exhaust as one of their key points of investigation for the test, and both Marquez and Pedrosa also took to the track in the rain.

Hector Barbera rounded out the top ten for Avintia Racing with a 2:00.744 out of 39 laps, with Octo Pramac Yakhnich duo Danilo Petrucci and Scott Redding in hot pursuit. Petrucci, on the 2017 Ducati, clocked a best of 2:00.850 – with his teammate on the 2016 machine a mere two-thousandths in arrears on a 2:00.852.

Aleix Espargaro led the Aprilia charge for Aprilia Racing Team Gresini in P15 with a 2:01.271, with the Noale machines sporting a new fairing. Rookie teammate Sam Lowes did a best of 2:02.942, but did get a significant amount of track time – 51 laps - something important after the Brit sat out some previous sessions in Valencia and Jerez following some big crashes. Espargaro completed 37 laps.

Yamaha Maverick Vinales topped the test in which he rode his Yamaha for the first time when he went quickest in Valencia last year, and the Spaniard picked up almost where he left off as he ended the first day of 2017 action in third – behind only the Ducatis of test rider Casey Stoner and 2016 winner at the track Andrea Dovizioso.

Vinales has experience of Sepang on his new machine following a private test late last year alongside teammate Valentino Rossi and the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 squad.

The 2013 Moto3 Champion's quickest effort on Day 1 of 2017 was a 2‘00.128, with work focused on setup and bettering tyre life.

Maverick Vinales was pleased after completing his first day of testing at Sepang with the Yamaha YZR-M1

Vinales said: “We have been working a lot to prepare before the race season starts and honestly I‘m quite surprised."

"The first day is always difficult, but I‘m feeling OK on the bike and physically good, so I‘m happy and I want to go back to working on the bike some more."

"We tried many things today to get a good package and now we focus on comparing many things."

"We‘re doing some difficult work these days before we go out to set a fast lap time, but it‘s really useful for the next few tests.”

After coming back to MotoGP in 2015, Suzuki’s rise back to the top echelons of MotoGP has been meteoric, culminating in podiums and a race win at Silverstone in 2016.

The Japanese factory has come back with a bang and want more. For 2017, the Hamamatsu team welcomes a new line up in the premier class of Andrea Iannone, 2016 Austrian GP winner, and Alex Rins, former Moto2 title contender.

The new-look Team Suzuki Ecstar was introduced in Sepang ahead of the start of the first Official Test, with Team Manager Davide Brivio the first to speak ahead of their 2017 debut. Then it was time to introduce the new riders, Iannone and Rins, and they spoke about their new challenge as they both arrive in the team for the first time – with Rins also discussing his recovery from a crash in Valencia in which he injured his back.

After Satoru Terada, Team Director, and Ken Kawauchi, Technical Manager, discussed the project, the two riders then unveiled the bikes to the gathered crowd - with the new 29 and 42 numbers displayed front and center ahead of their track debut on Monday.

“I feel ok, I’m not in pain so I’m ready to start this new project. I’m excited to get on the bike." said Rins

"It’s not easy to switch. In Valencia I felt a lot of power in my hands, and it’s not easy to go fast. We need to work hard. The most important thing is that I’m excited to start."

When I entered the box, I felt it’s like a family. And after the crash, too, everyone was asking me how I was and they all came to the hospital. I’m happy to be here. I felt that it’s heavier than a Moto2 bike and when I entered the corners it felt like I was going down, but the feeling was incredible. Unique. This year I want to learn, to be fast quickly, and try to get experienced very fast.”

Iannone added: “In winter I’ve been relaxing and training. It’s important to relax, but also to train. My first impression in Valencia with this bike was very good."

"We worked very well and the bike is very special. The chassis works very well - I think it’s more similar to my style and I’m happy about these two years. From the beginning I had a very good impression. It’s like a family team and that’s very good. The guys in the garage always have a smile and that’s important for the rider."

"It’s very difficult in MotoGP to win, there’s a lot of manufacturers and riders. But we’ll try the best together and I hope in the future we can - why not?”

Davide Brivio, Team Manager said: “We’re very happy with our new rider line up and I think we have an exciting season ahead. Andrea Iannone comes to us as a mature rider, he’s a top rider in MotoGP and he’s already won a race."

"He can be at the top and we have to be able to give him a good package – we know we have to give him a good package. And Alex Rins we think is a rider with great talent, and we have to help him grow up and use his talent. So Iannone has to bring us to the top, and Rins has to catch him as soon as possible."

"We have a lot of pressure because Suzuki has great history. It’s good motivation for all of us, to try and continue this tradition and take Suzuki back to the top.”