MotoGP Tests Jerez J1: Viñales and Quartararo dominate the first day with the 2020 engine

After the last Grand Prix of the year, tests began last week in Valencia to continue this Monday and Tuesday in the south at Jerez, a circuit much more favorable to this type of exercise, according to the drivers. and teams, because it is significantly larger and more comparable to other tracks around the world than the cramped layout of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

On the side of Yamaha , Valentino Rossi et Maverick Vinales focused their efforts on the new 2020 engine, more powerful than this season's, but still not enough according to these drivers. Maverick Viñales nonetheless set the best time at midday in 1'37.187. He then improved during the afternoon to 1'37.131, compared to the pole position record set in 1'36.880 by fabio quartararo earlier this year during the Spanish Grand Prix.

Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli also took part in these tests, with very good times. Fabio was slightly penalized by technical problems during the morning.

Video: Fabio Quartararo takes to the track, with the new engine:

An hour before the end of practice, Morbidelli fell without gravity in Turn 5.

Finalement Maverick Viñales conservait l’avantage avec son chrono du matin, alors que “El Diablo” le suivait à 0.754. Valentino Rossi effectuait de longs roulages en pneus usés, sans se soucier en ce premier jour de réaliser un chrono sur un tour.

Fabio was happy with his first day: “I tried the 2020 engine today and it was a bit difficult for me to get used to it, after driving the whole season with a different engine. I had good pace and was happy with the tires. Unfortunately, every time I have fitted a new tire there has been a red flag. Overall it was good because I had a good rhythm »

At Honda, Marc Márquez and Cal Crutchlow continued the development of the 2020 bike whileAlex Marquez was familiarizing himself with his new category, while Stefan Bradl was not shooting.

Video: Marc Márquez leaving his stand:

At 13:15 p.m., Marc Márquez fell violently in Turn 13 and was rushed to the medical center, where his close guard, made up of Alberto Puig, his team manager, Emilio Alzamora, his personal manager, and Julia Marquez.

Fortunately more fear than harm, and Marc quickly left the infirmary, with the look of bad days.

Fortunately, the consequences were not significant, and Marc could continue the tests, as we see in the video below:

In terms of times, nothing transcendent at Honda with Marc sixth, a full second behind Viñales. This was normal due to his fall and the inclement weather which did not allow him to improve at the end of the session. Cal Crutchlow followed him in seventh position.

Álex Márquez showed new colors:

At Ducati, Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci could count on the support of Jack Miller, while Francesco Bagnaia was out, reserving himself while recovering from his injury in order to be ready for the Sepang tests in early April. Tito Rabat rode for Avintia, with Brazilian Eric Granado as teammate of the day on the Desmosedici GP18 ex-Karel Abraham. Johann zarco was absent.

Michele Pirro was also present, but an engine failure at the end of the straight, shortly after 14 p.m., led to the session being interrupted with a red flag. Then Loris Capirossi, reassured by the absence of oil on the tarmac, could decide to resume the session.

Jack Miller had tried the Ducati 2020 in Valencia, but not this Monday in Jerez. The Australian was not very optimistic for Tuesday: “ We have an engine with 2020 parts and other new components on our motorcycle. We are very close to the new bike. Ducati of course wants to make the 2020 bike available to factory riders first. Maybe they'll lend it to us tomorrow... But we have enough to do, because we had to optimize the mapping for the new engine this morning. »

The Ducati did not panic the times this Monday with Petrucci 9th at 1.227, Dovizioso 10th at 1.343 and Miller 11th at 1.361.

To Suzuki, Sylvain Guintoli came to lend a hand to Alex Rins and Joan Mir, mainly to develop the new engine, as well as some parts for the cycle part, which is gradually evolving.

Video: Sylvain Guintoli filmed in slow motion:

The GSX-RRs performed brilliantly with Joan Mir's third fastest time for most of the first day in 1'38.012, 0.881 behind Viñales' best time, and 0.127 behind Fabio Quartararo. His teammate Álex Rins followed closely in fourth position in 1'38.089, 0.077 behind Mir.

On the side of KTM, Pol Espargaró was as usual the leader, with Iker Lecuona and Brad Binder at Tech 3. Dani Pedrosa, the new excellent house tester, did not ride due to gastroenteritis.

Around 15 p.m., Iker Lecuona fell in Turn 4 and was evacuated on a stretcher by ambulance. For Borja, who was not far away, “Another red flag in Jerez. This time due to Iker Lecuona's crash in turn 4. They are changing the inflatable protection. The driver was standing, but got into the ambulance to return to the paddock. I don't know if he went to the clinic afterward. » Fortunately, shortly after the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team communicated: “ Small fall, but the pilot is fine and ready to continue. »

“I have enough for today » declared Lecuona. But the Spaniard will be back on Tuesday in Jerez. “ When I released the brake, the front wheel slipped. I slipped in the Airfence, but I'm okay. Riding fast in Jerez on this bike is difficult » estimated Lecuona. “Also to have a good feeling. I need more rounds. I'm only three seconds behind, the track is much more difficult than Valencia. Sometimes I'm too aggressive, which costs me a lot of time. »

In terms of times, Pol Espargaro achieved a distinguished performance by placing his KTM, the first European motorcycle, in eighth position, ahead of the Ducati and the Aprilia, even if the Granollers rider also suffered a crash in the afternoon.

At Aprilia, Bradley Smith came to reinforce the classic duo composed of Aleix Espargaró and Andrea Iannone. We were mainly working on the chassis part because the new engine is currently being tested in Noale. He is expected to make his appearance during the Malaysian tests in early April.

In a nice Italian group shot, the two Aprilias ranked just behind the three Ducatis, with Aleix 12th at 1.369 and The Maniac 13th at 1.620.

Results of the first day:

Reference times:

Test record: 1'36.880 by Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) in 2019

Lap record: 1'38.051 by Marc Márquez (Honda) in 2019

 

Photos © Photos A. Nursery for Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto, and motogp.com / Dorna