MotoGP Test Sepang J1: Full box for Ducati and Marco Bezzecchi!

After a first run during which Francis Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in 2'00.332 was able to gain a slight psychological advantage over his little MotoGP comrades who were visibly impatient to make their pre-return, things continued to go wrongadvantage of the Italian firm during a morning that began under a rare clear sky in Sepang. 

This time, it's thanks to Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac Racing) that Borgo Panigale could line up a trio of visibly well-born Desmosedici GP23s at the top of the ranking, the Spaniard in 1'58.737 preceding the two official red drivers ahead of their colleagues from Noale who are Maverick Vinales et Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia Racing).

 

 

Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team), in 6th position, was the only rider to place a Japanese motorcycle in the Top 10, since behind him were the Ducati GP22s of Luca marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Fabio DiGiannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) in front Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (RNF MotoGP Team).

 

 

Around 13 p.m., when the flags signaled to the drivers the arrival of a very light rain which encouraged them to return to the boxes, fabio quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Johann zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) were only 18th and 19th, while Augusto Fernandez et Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) made minor mistakes.

 

 

After a good two hours of silence on the Sepang International Circuit, the returning sun dried the track and allowed fabio quartararo to recover a position more in line with its potential, 0,690 seconds behind the Ducati trident then led by Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) in 1'58.732, then the two Aprilias.

 

 

Likewise, one hour before the starting practice which closes the session, Johann zarco entered the Top 10 by moving up to 9th position, 0,777 seconds behind the leader.

With track temperatures dropping and drivers who had adjusted their various settings, aerodynamic and otherwise, the last hour looked like it would be competitive. It wasn't really right away, even if once again the rare improvements were to Ducati's credit, Johann zarco progressing to 6th position, Fabio DiGiannantonio in 7th grade, until Jorge Martín et Marco Bezzecchi light the first sectors in red 10 minutes from the end of the session.

The Pramac driver missed out in the last sector and ultimately took his GP22 to the top of the standings, in 1'58.470.

4 minutes from the checkered flag, Maverick Vinales made his effort and, after lighting the first 3 sectors in red under his newly decorated helmet, had to settle for 2nd time, 0,130 seconds behind the leader.

 

 

In the end, the Italian manufacturers already appear to be very efficient, Ducati placing 7 of its 8 Desmosedici in the Top 10, Aprilia its two official RS-GPs in the Top 6!
The first Japanese motorcycle was the Yamaha YZR-M1 Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), in 10th position just ahead of his French teammate.
Japanese manufacturers are well aware of European domination and have brought a number of machines for their top drivers, Marc Márquez having 4 RC213V and fabio quartararo of 3 M1, but it is not going to be easy to catch up on the delay made in recent years.

 

But let's not draw hasty conclusions: it's only the first day and top speeds have improved significantly at Yamaha, as shown in the following table...

 

 

The MotoGP Test will continue for two more days at the same times in Sepang, but before that, see you this evening for the photos and first reactions!

 

 

Ranking of MotoGP Test results at Sepang J1: 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com