The big Sepang tests which brought MotoGP straight into the new vintage are now over, and they did not disappoint both on the track and in the pits. Here is the final verdict in terms of timing like the first comments.
The mass was said at the start of this third and last day of the IRTA tests of Sepang dedicated to the titular pilots and the sermon was given by a flamboyant Pecco Bagnaia. The time of the double MotoGP World Champion 1'56.682 remained the great reference of the day, and only three other drivers followed the Italian below the mark of 1'57 per lap. They are also all on Ducati with Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini et Alex Marquez.
It is Aleix Espargaró, alone within the clan Aprilia to tame the new RS-GP, which leads the rest of the peloton, ahead of a Marc Marquez finally reassuring. Brad Binder is the first pilot KTM, the rookie Peter Acosta is already ninth and Joan mir closes the top 10 for Honda. Fabio Quartararo follows, and also reveals that neither Yamaha is in the first part of the table. John Zarco, his compatriot is seventeenth. To note that Marco Bezzecchi, fifteenth, fell and that he is the last rider holding the Ducati brand. The “Bez” was also dominated by his new teammate Di Giannantonio, eighth with the GP23.
As for comments, after some doubts about the 2024 fairing, George Martin finally gave his discharge: “ I did the time with the brand new package and it soothed me. Then I tried the old Ducati and again the new one and saw that the 2024 fairing had more potential. Ducati did a great job this winter ».
The Sepang tests were useful and revealing in more than one way
fabio quartararo also takes stock of the three days of testing in Malaysia: “ it was a positive test, even if we are still far away, especially in the hunt for time. Yamaha is working hard and I'm happy. You have to take a step ».
The LCR team was pleasantly surprised by Honda : " I must say that I am impressed by Honda's work. They have improved the new Valencia motorcycle, which we have already noticed positively ", states Lucio Cecchinello.
Alberto puig took stock of the work at Honda on the Sky Sport microphones: “ the bike has improved a lot, we must try to be consistent in the race. After the Shakedown and these three days of testing we collected a lot of data. Concessions ? They will be important, but they will also have to be exploited in the right way. It will take time to get closer to Ducati, we come from difficult years. But with concessions we will definitely improve. Marina? He is very methodical, he surprised me. He speaks clearly and communicates accurate information. It is a hard worker and he has a positive mentality, he doesn't give up ».
If not, Joan mir fell (without physical consequences) in the last turn. Taka Nakagami is also at turn 6, the driver is fine. The last word goes to the essential Charles Pernat : “ Bastianini will be there with Bagnaia and Martin ". The next meeting with MotoGP is to be fixed for the February 19 and 20 at Losail, a route which will receive the last test of this off-season before opening the hostilities of the year from March 8 as part of the Qatar Grand Prix.
MotoGP Test Sepang J3 Final: times
Credit classification motogp.com
