Having barely descended from the top step of the Le Mans podium, Jack Miller went to the Catalonia-Barcelona circuit, where a three-day test was taking place, including some Moto2 and Moto3 teams on track from Tuesday. .
The first day, dry but windy, the Catalan track was rented by the Marc VDS Racing team, and of the 12 drivers present, only 10 were equipped with transponders.
Jack Miller was of course riding his Panigale V4S since MotoGP riders no longer have the possibility of participating in private tests in this category.
The Australian nevertheless played the game by fitting a transponder, and it is interesting to note that in 1'45.183, he was slower than four drivers in the intermediate category, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Sam Lowes (Marc VDS Racing), Augusto Fernandez (Marc VDS Racing) and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia).
As a reminder, the MotoGP record still belongs to Jorge Lorenzo since 2018, in 1'38.680, but the times are not comparable since, this week, the track was on its modified layout with a tighter (and slower) entry to turn ten.
Sam Lowes (101 turns): “It was a good test. This afternoon we struggled a bit with the wind, but like most tests we found some good improvements and some other things that didn't work as we had hoped. The team did a very good job because we were able to evaluate a few points that should help me when we come back here for the Grand Prix. I'm looking forward to now enjoying a few days of rest before heading to Mugello where I'm sure we can perform well. »
Augusto Fernandez (104 turns): “Today’s test was very positive. We tried some things we wanted to look at during a race weekend, but didn't have time. We found a few ways to improve our basic settings. The test we did in Aragón was positive and we saw the progress at Le Mans, but I feel like we took another step forward and that makes me really happy and confident for the races to come. »
Much more numerous pilots participated from Wednesday in the two days organized by the BOE Owlride team which is lining up Riccardo rossi et Stefano Nepa in Moto3. Indeed, no less than 49 drivers from different categories were able to train on the Catalan track, in gradually improving conditions.
Remy gardner was the fastest on the morning of the first day, under the Ajo Motorsports colors.
Marco Bezzecchi (VR46) got the better of the Australian in the afternoon, on a track made a little slower due to a violent wind which got even stronger...
Fabio DiGiannantonio : " These last two days have been intense and productive as we have tried many things and understood many things. We were always fast, even on the first day of simulated racing. We have collected a lot of data that will be very useful for the season and especially for the Montmeló race, which will take place in three weeks. I would like to thank the team because they worked very hard and very well, and we are stronger than ever after this test. »
Conditions improved this Thursday, with the return of the sun and the easing of the wind.
Marcos Ramirez took the opportunity to win in the morning aboard his American Racing team Kalex in front of
Marco Bezzecchi.
In the afternoon, with a more favorable track, it is however Joe Roberts who took advantage of these much more welcoming conditions to impose his Kalex from the Italtrans team 3 tenths ahead of the rest of the field. Fourth yesterday, the American confirms his speed, even if the sixth place in the championship he currently occupies is already 58 points behind the leader Remy gardner.
Combined ranking of the two days:
The Montmeló circuit (Barcelona) will host the seventh Grand Prix of the season on June 6, with some spectators.
