MotoGP | Sepang Test, Day 1: Aprilia dominates, Marquez 8th but falls

Apparently the experience accumulated over the three days of the shakedown was invaluable for the Aprilia men, because the RS-GPs literally dominated the first day of the MotoGP collective tests in Sepang, monopolizing the top two positions.

Sepang MotoGP test: Aprilia dominates the scene

Aleix Espargaro achieved the best performance of the day in the morning, stopping the clock at 1’58 “371. In fact, the Granollers driver only needed 9 laps to get within a few thousandths of the best pole of the Malaysian track, which had been scored by Fabio Quartararo in 2019, in the last race held in Malaysia before the pandemic.

However, Maverick Vinales was not outdone, seeming to have finally established a good feeling with the four-cylinder from Noale. The rider from Roses, however, waited for the end of the day, when the temperature dropped, to print his 1’58 “384 in the 54th of the 56 laps.

Sepang MotoGP test: Suzuki seems to be making progress

Despite a crash at turn 9, Alex Rins hoisted himself as the first pursuer of the Aprilia with his Suzuki, dropping exactly one-tenth of Espargaro’s performance in the final minutes. Among other things, with his 72 laps he was also the driver who completed the most kilometers today.

After all, as loudly requested by both drivers, the Hamamatsu manufacturer has really brought a lot of new material to be tested on the GSX-RR 2022 in practically every area between the engine, chassis and suspension, but also in terms of aerodynamics. And Joan Mir’s performance wasn’t bad either, because the 2020 world champion finished with the seventh time in 1’59 “067.

Sepang MotoGP test: Bastianini best Ducati, the officers behind

In fourth and fifth position we find the two best Ducatis: the fastest of the Desmosedici GPs was Enea Bastianini, who with the transition from GP19 to GP21 seems really ready to make another important leap in quality. Behind him is Johann Zarco, the only one to have hoisted himself in the top ten among the factory drivers.

Taking advantage of the kilometers covered in the shakedown, Marco Bezzecchi also proposed in the first positions, author of the tenth time and therefore the best among the rookies on the track, with a 1’59 “468 which is his best reference on the Malaysian track. another rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio, who missed two days of shakedown due to gastroenteritis, is 20th in the Gresini Racing GP21.

The two official riders, on the other hand, are lagging behind: vice-world champion Pecco Bagnaia is 19th and Jack Miller 22nd. Both of them also rode with the GP21, a sign that there are still comparisons to be carried out. The only one to have two GP22s in the garage is in fact Luca Marini (but he is there, because last year he was racing with the GP19, so he has no references with the 21st), who is 18th, behind Jorge Martin.

Sepang MotoGP test: Quartararo 6th, but the M1 still pays in top speed

Returning to the noblest parts of the standings, Fabio Quartararo placed his Yamaha in sixth position, being the first among those who failed to break the 1’59 “barrier. The world champion is the only rider from the manufacturer. Iwata in the high areas of the timesheet, moreover at the level of top speed there still seems to be a good gap between the M1 and the Ducati, but not only.

If we exclude the test driver Cal Crutchlow, who occupies the 11th place, the other three full-time drivers of the House of the three tuning forks are even beyond the twentieth position: Franco Morbidelli is 21st, while Andrea Dovizioso is 23rd, and respectively pay 1 “1 and 1” 3 against Quartararo. A little further back is rookie Darryn Binder, who crashed at turn 9.

Sepang MotoGP test: Marquez crashes twice but is 8th

We come now to Honda, because certainly in the HRC garage there was great anticipation for the return of Marc Marquez, who immediately took the title of best rider of the brand. It is true that we are talking about an eighth time just under a second from the top, but it is a clear indication of how the vision problems of the last few months have actually been overcome.

And the fact that Marc crashed twice, first at turn 9 and then at turn 15, means that he feels ready to try to push and give feedback to the team. Not surprisingly, in his garage there are two RC213V 2022 with different aerodynamic garments and one 2021. He has worked with two 2022 bikes instead Pol Espargaro, who is behind him just 66 thousandths behind.

Sepang MotoGP test: KTM back with new aerodynamics

The KTMs are a bit in the shade for the moment and it is surprising that the best was that of rookie Raul Fernandez. It must be said, however, just like for Bezzecchi, that this is his fourth day of testing on the Malaysian track and this may have helped him to close with the 13th fastest time, right in front of Brad Binder, who crashed at turn 8.

On the ground, but at turn 3, his box mate Miguel Oliveira also finished, finishing just behind in 16th place. In the garage of the Austrian manufacturer today the main focus was on aerodynamics, with new double-profile wings similar to those of the Honda and Aprilia.

Sepang MotoGP test: the times of the first day