Testing report
MotoGP Sepang February Testing
MotoGP Sepang test: Bastianini smashes lap record on final day
Gresini Ducati rider Enea Bastianini topped a rain-hit final day of the Sepang MotoGP test after smashing the circuit lap record to lead an incredibly tight field.
Lewis Duncan
Edited: Feb 7, 2022, 1:40 AM
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MotoGP pre-season testing ahead of the 2022 campaign continued on Sunday in Malaysia, with lap times fast and furious from the off.
During the first hour of the eight-hour session, MotoGP sophomore and double podium finisher Bastianini went top with an outright lap record of 1m58.131s, heading Saturday pacesetter Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia by 0.026 seconds.
Bastianini’s time continued to stand as the benchmark as the day rolled on, with it thought time attacks at the end of the day would see the lap record drop into the 1m57s for the first time.
However, with around four hours to go as much of the field went for lunch, light rain appeared over the Sepang circuit – which eventually worsened to the point where most teams called it a day.
Several riders did take the opportunity to test out their bikes in the wet conditions, including rookies Darryn Binder (RNF Yamaha), VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi, Tech3 KTM’s Raul Fernandez and Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Remy Gardner (Tech3) elected against running in the wet conditions owing to pain in his recently broken wrist.
The likes of reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo on his factory Yamaha, Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and LCR’s Alex Marquez also ventured out for some laps on wet tyres.
Pramac’s Jorge Martin – who also completed some laps in the wet – was third-fastest behind Aleix Espargaro and Bastianini.
Jack Miller, Ducati Team, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Dorna
It came to light on Saturday that Ducati has been testing a new front ride height device that can be activated exiting corners along with its rear one.
Suzuki continued testing its updated engine and other general 2022 updates on Sunday, with Joan Mir – who had a crash earlier in the day - telling media that he feels “good potential” with it.
Alex Rins was fourth quickest ahead of the second Aprilia of Maverick Vinales, while Mir was 0.398 seconds off the pace in 12th.
Francesco Bagnaia was sixth on the factory Ducati ahead of Quartararo, with Marc Marquez leading the Honda charge in eighth ahead of Pramac’s Johann Zarco and HRC team-mate Pol Espargaro.
After admitting the 2022 KTM isn’t quite ready yet on Saturday, Miguel Oliveira was once again a low-key 15th on his RC16 – albeit just 0.570s off the pace – behind Jack Miller on the other factory Ducati.
VR46 Ducati’s Bezzecchi was the leading rookie in 16th, 0.579s off the pace, despite a crash at the start of the day.
Testing resumes on 11 February with three days of running at the new Mandalika track in Indonesia.
Sepang test - Day 2 Results:
Pos
Rider
Team
Bike
Time
Gap
1
Enea BASTIANINI
Gresini Racing
DUCATI
1'58.131
2
Aleix ESPARGARO
Aprilia Racing
APRILIA
1'58.157
0.026
3
Jorge MARTIN
Pramac Racing
DUCATI
1'58.243
0.112
4
Alex RINS
Team SUZUKI
SUZUKI
1'58.261
0.130
5
Maverick VIÑALES
Aprilia Racing
APRILIA
1'58.261
0.130
6
Francesco BAGNAIA
Ducati Team
DUCATI
1'58.265
0.134
7
Fabio QUARTARARO
Yamaha
YAMAHA
1'58.313
0.182
8
Marc MARQUEZ
Repsol Honda
HONDA
1'58.332
0.201
9
Johann ZARCO
Pramac Racing
DUCATI
1'58.413
0.282
10
Pol ESPARGARO
Repsol Honda
HONDA
1'58.420
0.289
11
Luca MARINI
VR46 Team
DUCATI
1'58.430
0.299
12
Joan MIR
Team SUZUKI
SUZUKI
1'58.529
0.398
13
Takaaki NAKAGAMI
LCR Honda
HONDA
1'58.607
0.476
14
Jack MILLER
Ducati Team
DUCATI
1'58.645
0.514
15
Miguel OLIVEIRA
KTM Factory
KTM
1'58.701
0.570
16
Marco BEZZECCHI
VR46 Team
DUCATI
1'58.710
0.579
17
Alex MARQUEZ
LCR Honda
HONDA
1'58.800
0.669
18
Brad BINDER
KTM Factory
KTM
1'59.016
0.885
19
Raul FERNANDEZ
Tech 3 KTM
KTM
1'59.180
1.049
20
Fabio DI GIANNANTONIO
Gresini Racing
DUCATI
1'59.197
1.066
21
Cal CRUTCHLOW
Yamaha Factory
YAMAHA
1'59.262
1.131
22
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
RNF MotoGP
YAMAHA
1'59.284
1.153
23
Remy GARDNER
Tech 3 KTM
KTM
1'59.348
1.217
24
Franco MORBIDELLI
Yamaha
YAMAHA
1'59.365
1.234
25
Darryn BINDER
RNF MotoGP
YAMAHA
1'59.857
1.726
26
Sylvain GUINTOLI
Suzuki Test
SUZUKI
1'59.996
1.865
27
Takuya TSUDA
Suzuki Test
SUZUKI
2'05.678
7.547
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