After a taste of the Shakedown at the beginning of the week, today we started to get serious in Sepang, with the first day of collective tests reserved for the entire MotoGP grid.
Sepang MotoGP test: Aprilia close to the Record
When we reached the middle of this first Malaysian session, at 2 pm local time, the Aprilia was hoisted in front of everyone. The Noale manufacturer is the only one that has been able to use its drivers even in the three days reserved for rookies and test drivers, having remained the only one that enjoys the concessions, and today it was immediately found ready.
Aleix Espargaro lapped in 1’58 “371, missing for just a handful of thousandths the connection to the best pole of the Malaysian track made by Fabio Quartararo in 2019. Among other things, the indications obtained from the RS-GP 2022 must have been very good, because the 2021 bikes have disappeared in the pits. This is also true for Maverick Vinales, currently seventh in 1’59 “426.
Sepang MotoGP test: good Bastianini behind the Ducati GP22s
The first of the pursuers is Enea Bastianini, who seems to have immediately found a great feeling with the Gresini Racing Ducati GP21. The Romagna player also fell under the wall of 1’59 “with his 1’58” 638 and pays a delay of 267 thousandths. The new GP22s, on the other hand, are more late, with only Johann Zarco slipping into the top 10 in eighth position. In fact, to find Pecco Bagnaia you have to go down to 14th place, but the vice-world champion is even beyond the two-minute wall at the moment.
Sepang MotoGP test: lots of news on Suzuki
Suzuki, on the other hand, seems to have started off on the right foot with Alex Rins in third place and Joan Mir in fifth. On the GSX-RR there is really a lot of meat in the fire, just as requested by the riders: an evolved version of the engine, frame and swingarm that had been tested in November in Jerez, but there are also news on the front of the suspensions, of the aerodynamics and rear lowering.
Sepang MotoGP test: Marquez crashes, but is fast immediately
Probably the eyes were focused above all on the Honda garage, for the return of Marc Marquez after the problem of diplopia (double vision) that had forced him to miss the last races of 2021. The Cervera rider is doing quite well for now, because he completed 35 laps and occupies the sixth position in 1’59 “422, although he also ran into a crash without consequences.
The eight-time world champion seems to have decided to focus on the 2022 bike, given that both RC213Vs are in this version in his garage, even if they have two different aerodynamics. Pol Espargaro also seems at ease on the new bike, because the # 44 occupies the fourth position in 1’59 “353.
Sepang MotoGP test: soft start for Yamaha
For now, the Yamahas are more delayed: the best of the M1s is that of test rider Cal Crutchlow in ninth position, credited with a time of 1’59 “558, with the Briton just ahead of world champion Fabio Quartararo. Franco Morbidelli, author of the 17th time to open a tricolor trio in which Marco Bezzecchi with the Ducati of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team and Andrea Dovizioso with the Yamaha RNF have joined. Now there is certainly curiosity to understand at the end of the day whether the latest updates from the House of Iwata will have satisfied “El Diablo” or not.
Sepang MotoGP test: new aerodynamics for KTM
12th time for the best of the KTMs, that of the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira, who travels with a delay of about a second and a half. On the RC16 today a new aerodynamic look made its debut, different from the one shown on the day of the presentation. The situation of the Italians, on the other hand, is completed with the 23rd time of Fabio Di Giannantonio, back on the Ducati of Gresini Racing after gastroenteritis had stopped him in the Shakedown, while Luca Marini is at the rear of the group, but for now he has put together just 14 laps.
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