Maverick Vinales completes private test for Aprilia at Sepang
Fastest during the MotoGP Shakedown test at Sepang, Maverick Vinales has already been back in action ahead of this weekend’s first official pre-season test.
Aprilia had two riders in action as Vinales was joined on circuit by Lorenzo Savadori in what was a private test for the Italian manufacturer.
During Wednesday’s final day of the Shakedown test, Vinales was the only rider to lap under the 1m 59s barrier - posted a time of 1:58.942s which is just over four tenths off the official lap record set by former team-mate Fabio Quartararo (2019).
Second to Vinales was current team-mate Aleix Espargaro who decided not to take part in the team’s private test.
For said private test, Vinales had two 2022 spec RS-GP machines to work with, while Savadori rode both a 2022 and 2021 spec bike.
Components that have been updated to the 2022 bike include a brand new air intake, wings, front fairing, chassis, exhaust and engine.
The latter is one area where Aprilia needed to improve going into this season and based off the Shakedown test it seems as though positive steps have been made.
Aprilia finished the final day of running with the fastest top speed - both Vinales and Espargaro clocked an identical 334.4km/h (207.8mph), however, a truly accurate assessment of where they stand compared to the likes of Ducati and KTM in particular will come this weekend.
Aside from Vinales and Aprilia, it was an impressive Shakedown test for rookies Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi as both riders spent all three days inside the top six, that includes Fernandez finishing day-one fastest overall.
