Binder keen to ‘learn a lot’ from Dovizioso, ‘not do anything too crazy’

Although Darryn Binder has completed three days of testing at Sepang already, the 2022 MotoGP rookie will ride alongside three-time championship runner-up Andrea Dovizioso for the first time this weekend. 

Binder's best finish during the three-day Shakedown test was seventh which came on both days one and two, before claiming ninth place on Wednesday. 

The RNF Yamaha rider also ended the final day of action last of the rookies as Raul Fernandez was quickest for the second time in three days - Marco Bezzecchi was the top rookie on day-two. 

Looking ahead to the first official pre-season test, Binder said: "These three days of the shakedown have been pretty intense already, so it was good to get two days of rest, but we took it step by step and improved each day. 

"Now I’m really looking forward to having someone like Dovi with a load of experience next to me in the garage. 

"I hope that I can work with him and learn a lot from him. The plan is the same every day here, arrive and try to learn as much as possible, keep moving forward and gaining a little bit more, while not doing anything too crazy. 

"I just want to progress each day, to figure things out and further improve gradually."

For Dovizioso this will be his first on track action of 2022 and the first since last season’s final round in Valencia. 

The 15-time MotoGP race winner is aiming to use both the Sepang and Mandalika tests to see where ‘my feeling with the bike is’, ahead of his first full-season with Yamaha since 2012.

"I’m really happy to arrive in Malaysia, which is one of my favourite tracks and one of the best circuits to test," said Dovizioso. 

"I’m super excited to ride the Yamaha in Sepang and interested to understand how this test is going to be, to check my feeling with the bike. 

"I’m very happy to do Malaysia and then also Indonesia afterwards in order to be as ready as possible for the first round in Qatar."