Rookie MotoGP 2018, Xavier Siméon's career in MotoGP is still obviously very quick to retrace...
Having left the Valencia tests 2,6 seconds behind the best time, the Belgian driver started his 2018 season with testing at Sepang, appearing 3,5 seconds behind the best, before progressing and leaving the Malaysian scene just 1,9 seconds behind the absolute record of Jorge Lorenzo.
And if we want to compare “on equal terms”, the holder of Reale Avintia Racing is 7 tenths behind the best rookie, Takaaki Nakagami, and 2 tenths of Franco Morbidelli, reigning Moto2 champion.
This is therefore a good progression that the teammate of Tito Rabat carried out throughout the 118 laps completed at Sepang aboard his GP16, even if, we obviously know, it is the last tenths that are the hardest to achieve...
But, in the current circumstances, it is appropriate to give time!
Xavier Simeon, 2'00.784, 22nd: “To be honest, I'm very happy because we worked step by step, and I improved the times every day, and, what's more important, I improved my feeling with the bike. For the first time, I was able to make changes to the set-up, better understand the bike and how it should be ridden. It also allowed me to concentrate on my driving and on a track as difficult as this one, we managed to do a lap in 2'00, which is not bad for my first time at Sepang with a MotoGP. I work very well with the team and they gave me very good directions. Rubén (Xaus) helped me a lot and thanks to his experience I was able to advance faster and, ultimately, we were with the other rookies. Now we have to continue working at home to return to Thailand from where we arrived.”
MotoGP #SepangTest J.3: Chronos
1. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, 1:58,830 min
2. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, + 0,179 sec
3. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0,222
4. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0,339
5. Jack Miller, Ducati, +0,516
6 Alex Rins, Suzuki, +0,518
7. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0,552
8. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +0.619
9. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, +0.681
10. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0.698
11. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +0.717
12. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, +0.785
13. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 1.132
14. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +1.241
15. Alvaro Bautista, Ducati, + 1.375
16. Mika Kallio KTM +1,634
17. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +1 696
18 Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +1,717
19. Karel Abraham, Ducati, + 1.744
20. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, + 1.954
21. Scott Redding Aprilia + 1.982
22. Bradley Smith, KTM, +2.139
23. Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki, +2
24. Tom Lüthi, Honda, +2
25. Yonny Hernandez, Yamaha, +2
MotoGP #SepangTest: Combined times of the 3 days
1. Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati, 1:58,830 min
2. Dani Pedrosa, Honda, + 0,179 sec
3. Cal Crutchlow, Honda, +0,222
4. Andrea Dovizioso, Ducati, +0,339
5. Jack Miller, Ducati, +0,516
6 Alex Rins, Suzuki, +0,518
7. Maverick Vinales, Yamaha, +0,525
8. Marc Marquez, Honda, +0,552
9. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +0,560
10. Johann Zarco, Yamaha, +0.681
11. Danilo Petrucci, Ducati, +0.698
12. Tito Rabat, Ducati, +0.717
13. Andrea Iannone, Suzuki, +0.785
14. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 1,095
15. Takaaki Nakagami, Honda, +1.241
16. Alvaro Bautista, Ducati, 1,375+
17 poles Espargaró, KTM, + 1
18. Mika Kallio KTM +1,634
19. Bradley Smith, KTM, +1.690
20. Franco Morbidelli, Honda, +1.696
21. Karel Abraham, Ducati, + 1.744
22. Xavier Siméon, Ducati, + 1.954
23. Scott Redding, Aprilia + 1.982
24. Sylvain Guintoli, Suzuki, + 2.290
25. Tom Lüthi, Honda, + 2.296
26. Yonny Hernandez, Yamaha, +2.393
27. Michele Pirro, Ducati, 5,937
Reference times:
Test record: 1'59.053 by Dani Pedrosa (Honda) in 2015
Lap record: 2'00.606 by Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) in 2015
Test record: 1'58.867 by Marc Marquez (Honda) on February 6, 2015
