MotoGP Tests Sepang J1 final: Aprilia makes the double and Marc Marquez falls twice

The first of two days dedicated to the important Sepang tests ahead of the 2022 MotoGP season has just ended with two Italian machines dominating. But these are not the ones we expected since they come from Noale and not Borgo Panigale. Indeed, Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales, separated by 13 thousandths, finished in the lead, thus bringing the Aprilia brand to the firmament. Rins follows with his Suzuki and no Yamaha is in the top 5…

The first salvo was fired in Malaysia by a MotoGP who made his return to Sepang. A game which turned in favor ofAprilia which completely achieves a double, in front of the Suzuki of Kidneys, the Ducatis of bastianini and zarco who is ahead of his compatriot World Champion on Yamaha Fabio Quartararo. Joan mir, the two Honda officials Marc Marquez, which fell twice, and Pol Espargaro are in the top 10 closed by the rookie Bezzecchi on the Ducati VR46.

Aleix Espargaro achieved a good 1'58.371 which puts him only 132 thousandths behind the record lap established by Danilo Petrucci during the 2019 tests. Other drivers than Marc Marquez, unhurt, fell: KTM factory riders Brad Binder et Miguel Oliveira, LCR Honda riders Takaaki Nakagami et Alex Marquez, and the rookie Darryn binder thus defied the law of gravity.

The official Ducatis did not shine at Sepang

The official Ducatis of Francis Bagnaia et Jack Miller are in difficulty. “Pecco” is nineteenth, 1.656s from the top, while the Australian is twenty-second. A difficult start, but we have time to recover and the performance of zarco et bastianini show that nothing is lost.

Suzuki re-evaluated the 2022 engine from the Jerez test on Saturday, but with minor adjustments. Add to that the Jerez chassis as well as a new swingarm, new suspension parts and a new self-leveling device. Honda provided to Marc Marquez three motorcycles. One 2021 version and two machines in the all-new 2022 configuration. Pol Espargaro received two new motorcycles. KTM has equipped its RC16 with a new aerodynamic package and sees Raul fernandez as leader of the clan at the end of the day. At Yamaha, Fabio Quartararo remains alone in the world in view of the ranking... Tomorrow will be another day that everyone still hopes without rain.