The Aprilia made the big voice on the third and final day of the MotoGP Shakedown in Sepang, reserved for rookies and test riders, which the Noale manufacturer exploited thanks to concessions, bringing its two starter riders to the track. The RS-GPs monopolized the first two positions, with Maverick Vinales who was the only one capable of breaking the 1’59 “barrier in these first three days of testing with a time of 1’58” 942 achieved right at the last of his 45 laps.
The Spaniard was just 144 thousandths ahead of box mate Aleix Espargaro, who waited this last day to take measurements on the 2022 bike in view of the actual weekend tests. 49 passes completed by the Granollers rider, with a best of 1’59 “086. Among other things, today on the track there were only the two owners, who alternated between 2021 and 2022 bikes for comparative tests, while the test driver Lorenzo Savadori remained at rest.
The rookies continue to make progress and in particular Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi. In the end, it was the KTM Tech3 rider who pulled off an interesting 1’59 “468 that threw him into third position. However, the progression of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team ducatista was also not bad, who filed another three tenths compared to yesterday, dropping to 1’59 “711, a time that earned him fourth place.
Fifth time for Ducati test rider Michele Pirro, who is the last to drop below two minutes with his 1’59 “805. GP21 and GP22, recognizable by a decidedly different aerodynamic look, to ensure that the owners are already in the best conditions when they hit the track at the weekend.
The first of those who remained above the two-minute wall is Remy Gardner, who therefore seems to have a little more to file than team-mate Fernandez. In fact, with his 2’00 “046 he paid just under six tenths to his twin KTM Tech3, but we must not forget that the Australian son of art is still completing his recovery from a wrist operation made necessary after an injury. remedied in training.
Small step forward also for Darryn Binder, who managed to break at least 2’01 “in 2’00” 928 compared to yesterday. The rider of the Yamaha RNF is probably the one who made the least decisive step forward among the rookies, but we must not forget that for him the category jump is double, since he comes directly from Moto3. Fabio Di Giannantonio was not seen on the track: the Gresini Racing rider is making progress with the gastroenteritis problem he accused in recent days, but he was still not fit enough to get back on his Ducati.
The two Honda and Suzuki test riders slipped between Gardner and Binder: Stefan Bradl finished seventh in 2’00 “449, thus paying about half a second to Pirro’s Ducati and completing 44 laps on the RC213V 2022 . A few thousandths behind there is Sylvain Guintoli, but the Frenchman has lapped significantly less, just 27 laps. Today, however, the Japanese Takuya Tsuda was also on the track for Suzuki, who closed the group in 2’02 “661, but with his 53 laps he was among the busiest of the day.
To close the group there are the KTM test rider Mika Kallio, credited with a best of 2’01 “074 and those of Yamaha, who once again did not indicate the names of his riders. What is certain is that he also lapped Cal Crutchlow, although the British driver had to reduce his work due to a stomach problem, alternating with the Japanese Kohta Nozane.
MotoGP 2022 – Shakedown Sepang: the times of the third day
Pos | Pilot | Motorcycle | Weather | Turns |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Maverick Vinales | Aprilia | 1’58 “942 | 45 |
2 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 1’59 “086 | 49 |
3 | Raul Fernandez | KTM | 1’59 “468 | 49 |
4 | Marco Bezzecchi | Ducati | 1’59 “711 | 48 |
5 | Michele Pirro | Ducati | 1’59 “805 | 58 |
6 | Remy Gardner | KTM | 2’00 “046 | 34 |
7 | Stefan Bradl | Honda | 2’00 “449 | 44 |
8 | Sylvain Guintoli | Suzuki | 2’00 “491 | 27 |
9 | Darryn Binder | Yamaha | 2’00 “928 | 43 |
10 | Mika Kallio | KTM | 2’01 ”074 | 44 |
11 | Yamaha Test 1 | Yamaha | 2’01 “819 | 15 |
12 | Yamaha Test 2 | Yamaha | 2’01 “257 | 9 |
13 | Takuya Tsuda | Suzuki | 2’02 “661 | 53 |
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