2021 Jerez MotoGP Test Results - Friday lap times (FINAL)
The last official MotoGP track action of 2021 has concluded with Francesco Bagnaia fastest for Ducati by almost half-a-second from new world champion Fabio Quartararo, on the final day of the Jerez test.
Day one leader Takaaki Nakagami picked up where he left off by leading the first hour of Friday morning, before title runner-up Bagnaia took over at the top by a massive 0.8s, as he tried a range of new Desmosedici parts including fairing, exhaust and an all-new engine.
The Italian remained fastest for the remainder of the test with Maverick Vinales, Quartararo, Honda's Pol Espargaro, Suzuki's Alex Rins and then Quartararo (again) all swapping second during the final hours as five manufacturers finished in the top five.
KTM, the sixth factory, was a best of eleventh with Brad Binder.
Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez was absent as he continues treatment for double-vision problems, with team-mate Pol Espargaro was back on track after withdrawing from Valencia due to a huge Saturday highside.
Espargaro rode his 2021 bike on day one but was also trying the 2022 prototype, first seen at the previous Misano test, on day two. Nakagami and LCR Honda team-mate Alex Marquez were also evaluating the two different versions of the prototype, alongside their existing machines.
The end of the Covid technical freeze means Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki and Honda can upgrade their engine designs for the first time since the the start of 2020. KTM's engine was frozen at the start of 2021, when it left Concessions, while Aprilia has been free to develop this year.
The test marked the debut of the new VR46 Ducati team, plus the heavily revised RNF Yamaha (formerly SRT) and Gresini Ducati (formerly partnered with Aprilia) squads. VR46 and Gresini have GP21s (but Luca Marini will then get a GP22 next year), with Andrea Dovizioso is using a 2022 Yamaha and rookie RNF team-mate Darryn Binder (jumping straight from Moto3) the 2021 spec.
All five of next year's rookies were in action, reigning Moto2 champion Remy Gardner and Tech3 team-mate Raul Fernandez making their second appearances on the RC16 after some laps at the Misano test, while Binder (RNF), Fabio di Giannantonio (Gresini) and Marco Bezzecchi (VR46) were getting their first taste of MotoGP.
Fernandez was fastest of the rookies on day one, in 19th place. Gardner (riding with sore ribs from his Portimao Moto2 accident) was then the quickest rookie for much of day two, before Fernandez and finally di Giannantonio jumped ahead.
The impressive lap from 'digia' put the young Italian 19th, 1.656s from Bagnaia and less than one-tenth behind Pramac Ducati race winner Jorge Martin.
Testing began at 10am and concluded at 6pm.
The next official MotoGP test will be at Sepang, Malaysia, in early February.
| 2021 Jerez MotoGP Test - Friday (FINAL) | ||||||
| Rider | Nat | Team | Time | Lap | ||
| 1 | = | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP) | 1m 36.872s | 12/42 |
| 2 | = | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +0.452s | 67/68 |
| 3 | = | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.551s | 54/59 |
| 4 | = | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.624s | 46/46 |
| 5 | = | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP) | +0.750s | 67/82 |
| 6 | = | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.762s | 59/73 |
| 7 | = | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.800s | 4/36 |
| 8 | = | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Gresini Ducati (GP) | +0.826s | 20/25 |
| 9 | = | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Lenovo (GP) | +0.845s | 38/39 |
| 10 | = | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.888s | 56/56 |
| 11 | = | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.070s | 45/56 |
| 12 | = | Luca Marini | ITA | VR46 Ducati (GP) | +1.153s | 11/56 |
| 13 | = | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1) | +1.157s | 54/58 |
| 14 | = | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.213s | 6/56 |
| 15 | = | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.228s | 5/30 |
| 16 | = | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP) | +1.277s | 47/55 |
| 17 | = | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP) | +1.288s | 20/65 |
| 18 | = | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP) | +1.563s | 11/34 |
| 19 | = | Fabio Di Giannantonio | ITA | Gresini Ducati (GP)* | +1.656s | 43/45 |
| 20 | = | Raul Fernandez | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16)* | +1.819s | 53/55 |
| 21 | = | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Test Rider (RS-GP) | +1.852s | 45/60 |
| 22 | = | Remy Gardner | AUS | KTM Tech3 (RC16)* | +1.856s | 62/64 |
| 23 | = | Sylvain Guintoli | FRA | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +2.168s | 54/56 |
| 24 | = | Dani Pedrosa | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +2.313s | 45/58 |
| 25 | = | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | VR46 Ducati (GP)* | +2.440s | 54/62 |
| 26 | = | Darryn Binder | RSA | WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)* | +3.069s | 53/55 |
* Rookie
Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than previous hour.
= Rider is same position as previous hour.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than previous hour.
Fastest Day 1 Time:
Best lap:
Takaaki Nakagami JPN Honda 1m 37.313s
Official Jerez MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Maverick Vinales SPA Yamaha 1m 36.584s (2020)
Fastest race lap:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 37.770s (2021)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
