This Tuesday was impatiently awaited by many riders present on this Ricardo Tormo circuit, because it was an opportunity for some to discover their new bike and team, and for others to try the machines with which they will ride next year. These Valencia tests are particularly important for manufacturers because they are used to determine the technical choices adopted, before launching the manufacture of motorcycles during the winter.
After these two days of testing, there will only be two short weeks left before the driving ban is imposed on Wednesday, November 30. There will then be a mandatory two-month break, at the end of which we will find ourselves at Sepang from January 30 to February 1, 2017. While the temperature of the track was only 8°, we discovered many pilots' equipment without marking, the contracts running until December 31. The decorations of the machines were very varied, with inspirations for some with an artistic tendency.
Jorge Lorenzo completed his first timed lap on the Ducati in 1'37. For the record, his pole position was 1'29.401 and his best race lap 1'31.171 this weekend. Francis Bagnaia rode for nine laps on one of the Aspar team's Desmosedici, in thanks for his two Moto3 victories on a team Mahindra. He then declared: surprised by the power and impressed by the brakes ". He hoped to be in MotoGP in two years. Marc Marquez achieved the first significant time in 1'31.605.
At the end of the first hour, Marquez dominated in 1'31.6, 0.7 ahead Cal Crutchlow, 0.8 ahead Andrea Iannone, 1.0 ahead Maverick Vinales and 1.1 ahead of Jorge Lorenzo. Each driver had 8 rear Michelins identical to those used last weekend, and 10 front old models. Cal Crutchlow returned to the LCR pit after his eleventh lap with a problem. At Ducati, Jorge Lorenzo's driving position was moved back on the saddle. The Spanish champion was satisfied overall with the Ducati (then the 2016). It was possible that he would try the 2017 at the end of the day, but for sure on Wednesday.
After 1h30, Maverick Vinales moved into second on his Yamaha, 0.5 behind Marquez. Valentino Rossi wasn't running yet. Andrea Iannone started again on the Suzuki, this time with wings, unlike at the start of the session. Andrea Dovizioso took to the track with the 2017 Ducati. Marc Marquez did the same shortly after with the black 2017. From his first laps on the KTM, Espargaro Pol was already a tenth of the best time of Mika Kallio.
At noon, Valentino Rossi achieved the best performance in 1'30.950, 0.5 ahead of Pedrosa and Marquez, 0.9 ahead of Vinales. Ducati changed Lorenzo's position on his Desmosedici, he feeling too far forward. A thickness of 5 mm was added. His new teammate Andrea Dovizioso continued to run on the 2016. Due to current contracts, few drivers and teams were willing to comment. At 12:30 p.m., Maverick Vinales moved into second position, 0.2 behind teammate Valentino Rossi, securing the double for Yamaha. That Vinales was so quickly ahead of Marquez on his new M1 was a surprise, even if Marquez was not at his best. Andrea Iannone joined in the fun and set the third fastest time on his Suzuki, 0.4 behind Rossi. As with Vinales, Iannone's speed of adaptation was impressive. HRC mechanics warmed up the 2017 Honda Dani Pedrosa, who was then on track in the 2016 taking third position from Andrea Iannone. Cal Crutchlow had an RC213V identical to those of Marquez and Pedrosa, except for the fairing decoration. He was seventh with 4:15 remaining. Marc Marquez moved to third, 0.05 behind Vinales. Rossi debuted the 2017 Yamaha. The airbox seemed a little bigger than on the 2016. Loris Baz was sixteenth and Johann zarco nineteenth. Dovizioso left with a 2016 Ducati without fins. Andrea Iannone was second on his Suzuki, 0.06 ahead of Vinales.
Ranking at 13 a.m. (tryouts end at 17 p.m.)
