After a start to the session that was more than disrupted by the heavy rain that fell this morning (see here), what characterized this afternoon in Malaysia was the total absence of frenzy.
With the asphalt completely dry since 13:30 p.m., we could have expected a flood of drivers on the track... This was far from being the case, and everyone, well aware that it was only the first after- noon of the first day of the first MotoGP 2018 test, began without panic the long and meticulous work of fine-tuning his mount of the year.
The circuit was therefore far from resounding with a multitude of engines and we could only hear, from time to time, the roar of a four-cylinder, whether V-shaped or in-line.
The opportunity to take stock of the slicks: Michelin made the same allocation as during the Grand Prix, but also offers 2 front tires with a harder compound for evaluation, designed to offer a better grip/resistance ratio on abrasive tracks, as well as a rear test tire with a small change in gum.
It is therefore under a sun generating a temperature of 30° that Valentino Rossi set a first milestone around 14:30 p.m. before being overtaken by his own teammate Maverick Vinales, then the most diligent on the track, then by Andrea Dovizioso who had spent the whole morning in his box, not wanting to take any risks on a wet surface.
Risks, Cal Crutchlow actually took a little more than necessary, since he was the first driver to fall (without gravity) in 2018.
Conversely, Franco Morbidelli surprised, but in a positive way, by positioning himself only a little more than a second behind the best times, whether on a wet track or a dry track: the Rookie of the Marc VDS team did not miss his entry into premier category and is already impressing the entire paddock! He is not the only one, since the Japanese Takaaki Nakagami from the LCR team was also immediately in on the action.
Things got lively over the last two hours and, at 16:30 p.m., Johann zarco repositioned his Yamaha Tech3 in 4th position, 4 tenths behindAndrea Dovizioso. At this moment, we therefore find 3 Yamahas in the Top 4, especially as the French rider improves in the following minutes to take 2nd position, tied on time with Maverick Vinales : 2'00.714!
Then, for 3 hundredths of a second, Dani Pedrosa recalls that he holds the record for this route (in 1'59.053) and takes his RC213V to the top of the provisional ranking. However, he will not benefit from this position for long since, the following turn, Valentino Rossi relegates everyone to 3 tenths by registering a promising 2'00.233.
Half an hour from the checkered flag, we find the unusual situation of a Esteve Rabat 8th in front Marc Marquez ! Nothing to draw any conclusions from, except that the Avintia rider is undoubtedly more comfortable on his new Ducati GP17 than he was on his Honda…
His little fall already forgotten, Cal Crutchlow places his in 2nd place in the general ranking. Jack Miller then brilliantly entered the Top 10 before Dani Pedrosa does not regain his good 15 minutes from the end of the session, in 1'59.427, or 4 tenths of his absolute circuit record! Andrea Dovizioso and even Jack Miller will try to give him the answer 5 minutes from the end… in vain! This is the first time since 2014 where Dani Pedrosa conducts an official test session (including post-GP sessions).
In extremis, Jorge Lorenzo takes 3rd place in front Danilo Petrucci while Marc Marquez limits damage by positioning yourself 6th.
Obviously, all this doesn't have much importance but we still saw that everyone, with the exception of the official Yamahas, played the game by attacking in the last minutes, like during a Grand Prix qualifying...
See you tomorrow at 03:00 a.m. for the second of these three days of testing, but until then, we will listen and report what the drivers say...
Below, while waiting for ours, here is a gallery of photos published on Twitter (MotoGP.com, Mat Oxley, Peter Mc Laren, Izaskun Ruiz, Movistar, teams, etc.):
