MotoGP Mandalika test: Espargaro fastest after track problems
Honda’s Pol Espargaro topped the first day of MotoGP’s second pre-season test at Indonesia's Mandalika Circuit after track problems disrupted Friday's running.
Heavy rain and construction work around the circuit situated on Indonesia’s Lombok Island left the track, which was being visited by MotoGP for the first time, absolutely filthy.
The session was stopped just over an hour in because of the poor track conditions, with a lengthy clean-up operation taking place for around 90 minutes before action resumed.
A delegation of riders also held a meeting with Race Direction and FIM safety officer Franco Uncini to discuss the issues, but lap times eventually improved as the day wore on, albeit with an extra 45 minutes being added to the clock to make up for the stoppage.
Suzuki’s Alex Rins was the first to complete a lap on wet tyres, with Pramac Ducati rider Johann Zarco fastest ahead of the stoppage with a 1m44.830s.
As the track cleared up, riders were able to switch from wets to slicks and lap times improved.
However, only Espargaro on the radically revised RC213V was able to get underneath the existing World Superbike lap record of 1m32.882s with his best effort of 1m32.466s set on the 68th of his 69 laps.
He headed his Aprilia-mounted brother Aleix, who trailed by 0.471s, while KTM’s Brad Binder made a late jump to third.
Rins was top Suzuki in fourth on a 1m33.058s ahead of reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo in fifth.
Ducati’s Jack Miller was 0.006s behind in sixth, with Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, the second Suzuki of Joan Mir, RNF Yamaha’s Andrea Dovizioso and Pramac’s Jorge Martin completing the top 10.
Marc Marquez led the session at one stage but slid to a low-key 17th on the second of the factory Hondas, 1.3s off the pace, while works Ducati man Francesco Bagnaia was 22nd having crashed during the afternoon.
Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio (14th), VR46 Ducati rider Marco Bezzecchi (21st) and LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami (11th) also suffered crashes on Friday.
Tech 3 KTM’s Raul Fernandez was the fastest of the rookies in 19th, while teammate Remy Gardner 24th and last behind RNF’s Darryn Binder.
Testing results:
| Pos. | Rider | Bike | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pol Espargaro | Honda | 1'32”466 | 69 |
| 2 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | 1'32”937 | 60 |
| 3 | Brad Binder | KTM | 1'32”943 | 64 |
| 4 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | 1'33”058 | 72 |
| 5 | Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha | 1'33”108 | 86 |
| 6 | Jack Miller | Ducati | 1'33”114 | 72 |
| 7 | Maverick Vinales | Aprilia | 1'33”147 | 56 |
| 8 | Joan Mir | Suzuki | 1'33”244 | 58 |
| 9 | Andrea Dovizioso | Yamaha | 1'33”245 | 57 |
| 10 | Jorge Martin | Ducati | 1'33”358 | 51 |
| 11 | Takaaki Nakagami | Honda | 1'33”394 | 54 |
| 12 | Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha | 1'33”518 | 75 |
| 13 | Johann Zarco | Ducati | 1'33”592 | 96 |
| 14 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Ducati | 1'33”683 | 54 |
| 15 | Alex Marquez | Honda | 1'33”700 | 62 |
| 16 | Miguel Oliveira | KTM | 1'33”748 | 77 |
| 17 | Marc Marquez | Honda | 1'33”776 | 64 |
| 18 | Enea Bastianini | Ducati | 1'33”954 | 45 |
| 19 | Raul Fernandez | KTM | 1'33”966 | 57 |
| 20 | Luca Marini | Ducati | 1'34”165 | 53 |
| 21 | Marco Bezzecchi | Ducati | 1'34”173 | 63 |
| 22 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati | 1'34”318 | 75 |
| 23 | Darryn Binder | Yamaha | 1'34”495 | 58 |
| 24 | Remy Gardner | KTM | 1'34”603 | 64 |
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