After tests of Sepang ended with four Desmosedici in the first four places, the watchword at Ducati seems to be modesty. However, the GP19 leaves with a new track record improved by more than half a second. But if we recognize that we are on the right path in Borgo Panigale, we refuse to recognize there the path to glory. The sports director Paolo ciabatti supports the message, even paying tribute to the competition…
Ducati has launched a first message from Malaysia to its opponents in view of the next MotoGP season. But its leaders and pilots prefer to keep their feet on the ground. The first real event will take place in Qatar, on March 10, during the first race. However, the best record performance of Danilo Petrucci and the second best time of Pecco Bagnaia allow a certain optimism for the continuation of operations.
The sporting director of Ducati, Paolo Ciabatti, after the Sepang test, draws up an initial assessment: “ we tried a different chassis specification. The drivers compared this chassis to the previous one. In addition, we rode for the first time on Friday morning with the new aerodynamic package. The first feedback was interesting, Dovi was quite fast. Now we have to wait and see how it continues to work with this package ", he declared to Speedweek. com.
« We are quite satisfied, although we must realize that the level of competition is still very high. We cannot exaggerate our results because Márquez was certainly not 100%. And Lorenzo wasn't there. Two very important factors are therefore missing for making comparisons. ».
But the new Yamaha, which has progressed since last year, also raises certain concerns: “ I watched the Yamaha riders on the track. They have made a great leap forward. Maverick Viñales rode in 1'58.97 minutes on Thursday. It looked like an extraordinary performance, but our drivers downplayed it on Friday. That doesn't change the fact that Yamaha did a great job this winter. This is our opinion. They will be a much stronger opponent this year ».
Sepang J3 test: times
| 1 | 9 | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati GP19 | 1:58.239 | ||
| 2 | 63 | Francis Bagnaia | Ducati GP18 | 1:58.302 | 0.063 | 0.063 |
| 3 | 43 | Jack Miller | Ducati GP19 | 1:58.366 | 0.127 | 0.064 |
| 4 | 4 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati GP19 | 1:58.538 | 0.299 | 0.172 |
| 5 | 12 | Maverick Vinales | Yamaha M1 | 1:58.644 | 0.405 | 0.106 |
| 6 | 35 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda RC213V | 1:58.780 | 0.541 | 0.136 |
| 7 | 41 | Aleix Espargaró | Aprilia RS-GP | 1:59.022 | 0.783 | 0.242 |
| 8 | 21 | Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha M1 | 1:59.141 | 0.902 | 0.119 |
| 9 | 30 | Takaaki Nakagami | Honda RC213V | 1:59.148 | 0.909 | 0.007 |
| 10 | 46 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha M1 | 1:59.155 | 0.916 | 0.007 |
| 11 | 93 | Marc Márquez | Honda RC213V | 1:59.170 | 0.931 | 0.015 |
| 12 | 42 | Alex Rins | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1:59.180 | 0.941 | 0.010 |
| 13 | 6 | Stefan bradl | Honda RC213V | 1:59.368 | 1.129 | 0.188 |
| 14 | 53 | Tito Rabat | Ducati GP18 | 1:59.485 | 1.246 | 0.117 |
| 15 | 36 | Joan mir | Suzuki GSX-RR | 1:59.486 | 1.247 | 0.001 |
| 16 | 20 | fabio quartararo | Yamaha M1 | 1:59.497 | 1.258 | 0.011 |
| 17 | 5 | Johann zarco | KTM RC16 | 1:59.640 | 1.401 | 0.143 |
| 18 | 44 | Pol Espargaro | KTM RC16 | 1:59.751 | 1.512 | 0.111 |
| 19 | 88 | Miguel Oliveira | KTM RC16 | 1:59.949 | 1.710 | 0.198 |
| 20 | 17 | Karel Abraham | Ducati GP18 | 2:00.378 | 2.139 | 0.429 |
| 21 | 55 | Hafiz Syahrin | KTM RC16 | 2:00.766 | 2.527 | 0.388 |
| 22 | 50 | Sylvain Guintoli | Suzuki GSX-RR | 2:00.990 | 2.751 | 0.224 |
| 23 | 38 | Bradley Smith | Aprilia RS-GP | 2:00.995 | 2.756 | 0.005 |
| 24 | 66 | Mika Kallio | KTM RC16 | 2:01.020 | 2.781 | 0.025 |
| 25 | T2 | Nakasuga/Folger | Yamaha M1 | 2:01.243 | 3.004 | 0.223 |
| 26 | T1 | Jonas Folger | Yamaha M1 | 2:01.719 | 3.480 | 0.476 |
