The rain that fell this morning meant that Franco Morbidelli and Tom Luthi to perform their first laps of the year on a wet track.
The start of the first MotoGP test session organized at Sepang therefore took place on wet tires for the two riders of Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS. It was only after the midday break that Morbidely et Lüthi were able to benefit from a completely dry track.
To Morbidely, the morning showers were a good opportunity to test the Michelin rain tires for the first time on his Honda RC213V. When the track began to dry out, the Italian preferred to wait in his garage, like the majority of other MotoGP riders, before coming out on slick tires on a track free of any trace of humidity.
The afternoon session took place in almost perfect conditions. Morbidely was thus able to concentrate on getting back into rhythm after two months of winter break. The Italian then devoted himself to the adjustments of his Honda RC213V in order to adapt it to the specificities of the fast Sepang circuit.
Absent from the two test sessions organized in November in Valencia and Jerez, Lüthi was finally able to make his MotoGP debut this morning. The conditions were far from ideal, but like his teammate, the Swiss driver took to the track on wet tires in order to discover the Honda RC213V as quickly as possible.
The improvement in conditions in the afternoon then gave him the opportunity to begin his adaptation to MotoGP riding after long seasons contested in Moto2. The former 125 world champion said he was satisfied at the end of his first day as a premier class driver.
Franco Morbidelli: 2'01.161 – 62 laps
« The day was good because we were able to work in different conditions and learn a lot. When the track was dry this afternoon, we then changed our settings with positive results. But the level is so high in MotoGP that we still have a lot to do to continue to progress. I'm happy to have been able to get back on my bike after the break, and this day allowed us to put our minds back in place. We will continue to work tomorrow trying to reduce the gap on the leading drivers »
Tom Lüthi: 2'02.732 – 58 laps
« After missing the Valencia and Jerez tests, I am very happy to have had the chance to ride my MotoGP today, even if my first laps were not easy in the wet. So I discovered the Honda RC213V with rain tires, which didn't help me get good sensations right away. Fortunately, the conditions improved in the afternoon and I was able to start working. I think it's important to keep the line to understand the bike, the tires and identify their limits in order to improve the times. It's a good first day, but I still have a lot to discover »
