MotoGP Sepang J1 Tests: Marc Marquez falls, Aleix Espargaró leads

After a pre-start in the form of a shakedown which lasted three days, it is now truly the return of these MotoGP tenors to the Sepang track in Malaysia. For two days, Marc Marquez, Fabio Quartararo, Pecco Bagnaia and other Joan Mir will take stock of their new equipment, evaluate the winter work done by their respective manufacturers to whom they will give advice and, for those who are at Yamaha and Suzuki, certainly their feelings about the rest of their career…

It will be recalled thatAprilia is already on the pace after dominating the last days of testing by showing a more compact RS-GP. At the house of KTM, we have the data of the rookies from Tech3 and those brought back by Dani Pedrosa. The fact remains that this recovery pleases everyone MotoGP : " I am very excited to finally be able to take my Desmosedici GP back » commented Pecco Bagnaia who heads into the 2022 vintage with the pressure of being a favorite for the title. “ The last test in November in Jerez was very positive, so I hope to be able to immediately find the same sensations on the bike, despite the stoppage of more than two months. It will be a very busy two days, but much of the work has been done by Michele Pirro. So we already have a good starting point and, fortunately, we will have three more days in Indonesia next week to continue our program. I can't wait to get started, to be as ready as possible at the start of the season! ».

His teammate Jack Miller, freed from Covid-19, was just as happy: “ I'm really happy to finally be back with my team here in Sepang. We haven't been to Malaysia for two years now! It is very hot and as always the tropical climate will be unpredictable. But I hope two days without rain await us, which will allow us to make the most of regaining the feeling and working on the GP Desmosedici. Michele already did a lap here earlier this week so we'll have a good starting point: I can't wait to get on track and get to work ».

Enthusiasm was not the preserve of pilots Ducati, if we judge by the comment made by Andrea Dovizioso, RNF Yamaha rider: “ I'm really happy to arrive in Malaysia, one of my favorite tours and one of the best to try. I'm super excited to ride the Yamaha at Sepang and I'm interested in understanding what this test will be like, to check how I feel with the M1. I am very happy to go to Malaysia and then also to Indonesia to be as ready as possible for the first round in Qatar”.

First fall for Marc Marquez at Sepang

And what can we say about this first outing on the track of Sepang at midday Malaysian?

Well thatAleix I will espargaro is in good shape after having covered some 435 km of training by bike, thus ignoring the health bubble... With its 1'58.371, he also benefits from his shakedown experience with his Aprilia to get closer to the best qualifying times for the 2019 race, and the absolute lap record held by Danilo Petrucci of the 2019 season. It will be remembered that the track record is the prerogative of fabio quartararo in 1'58.303.

After a quick familiarization course on the old motorcycles, everyone finds themselves on the new machines. The garage Repsol Honda focuses entirely on the 2022 motorcycle, while Yamaha alternates between 2021 and 2022 machines. Ducati also focuses on the GP22, and only Johann zarco spends a lot of time on the old bike.

The factory team Red Bull KTM is on 2022 bikes with a new front wing, while the team's rookies Tech3 are working on last year's motorcycles. This is understandable, given that their task is to familiarize themselves with riding a MotoGP machine.

The Suzuki also feature a new fin, flatter and thinner. GSX-RR riders are also testing a new swingarm, an advanced engine and a new level control.

There were falls including those of Brad Binder but also Marc Marquez, Without gravity.

By Giannantonio et Cal Crutchlow are back on the track after their intestinal problems of recent days. See you in 03:30 a.m. for the end of this first of two test days.

MotoGP Tests Sepang J1: mid-session times

Credit classification motogp.com