Sepang MotoGP Test Results - Saturday lap times (2pm)
Following a Shakedown test for rookies, test riders and concession manufacturer Aprilia, the Official Sepang MotoGP test - open to all 2022 competitors - began on Saturday morning.
Aleix Espargaro, who rode on the final day of the Shakedown, continues to lead the way with a 1m 58.371s, set on his 9th of 22 laps and close to the all-time unofficial lap record by Danilo Petrucci.
Gresini Ducati's Enea Bastianini slotted into second at midday, ahead of the Suzukis of Alex Rins and Joan Mir, with Pol Espargaro putting the new Honda into fourth shortly afterwards by almost one-second behind his brother's best.
The test is the first time that Marc Marquez has ridden a MotoGP bike since winning at Misano last October, after which he was sidelined by a repeat of his 2011 double-vision problems triggered by an enduro training accident.
The Repsol Honda rider suffered a small crash at around 11:30 but was reported as 'OK' by the team and jumped to sixth on his return to the track.
Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo was fourth earlier in the day before sliding to tenth, just behind Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow, by 2pm.
The Frenchman, whose main request is for more top speed from the new M1, seems to be setting a consistent maximum of 327-328km/h, similar to the Suzukis.
The overall top speed of the day so far is a 337.5km/h by Marc Marquez, with Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia next best on 336.4km/h, then Vinales on 335.4km/h for Aprilia. Mir has set 330.2km/h for Suzuki, matched by Raul Fernandez and KTM. Quartararo's peak is a 328.2km/h, putting him joint 17th fastest through the speed trap (a speed matched by Crutchlow).
The all-time Sepang top speed is 339.6km/h, by Andrea Iannone at Ducati in 2015.
While one-off speeds can be casued by slipstreams or missed braking points, the factory Ducatis have both topped 334km/h on their fastest laps, with Honda and Aprilia also regularly above 330km/h.
The Sepang test – which takes place from 10am to 6pm, followed by practice starts - concludes on Sunday evening…
| 2022 Sepang MotoGP Test - Saturday (2pm) | |||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time | |
| 1 | = | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP) | 1m 58.371s |
| 2 | = | Enea Bastianini | ITA | Gresini Ducati (GP) | +0.267s |
| 3 | = | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.969s |
| 4 | = | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.982s |
| 5 | = | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +1.044s |
| 6 | = | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +1.051s |
| 7 | = | Maverick Vinales | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP) | +1.055s |
| 8 | = | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP) | +1.120s |
| 9 | ^9 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) | +1.187s |
| 10 | ˅1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.296s |
| 11 | ˅1 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.401s |
| 12 | ^5 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.574s |
| 13 | ˅2 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP) | +1.578s |
| 14 | ˅2 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP) | +1.656s |
| 15 | ˅2 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.665s |
| 16 | ˅1 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.677s |
| 17 | ˅3 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.736s |
| 18 | ˅2 | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP)* | +1.877s |
| 19 | = | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1) | +1.971s |
| 20 | = | Raul Fernandez | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16)* | +2.176s |
| 21 | = | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Lenovo (GP) | +2.394s |
| 22 | ^3 | Remy Gardner | AUS | KTM Tech3 (RC16)* | +2.415s |
| 23 | ˅1 | Fabio di Giannantonio | ITA | Gresini Ducati (GP)* | +2.686s |
| 24 | ˅1 | Darryn Binder | RSA | WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)* | +3.034s |
| 25 | ˅1 | Sylvain Guintoli | FRA | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +3.085s |
| 26 | = | Luca Marini | ITA | Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP) | +4.200s |
*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 Shakedown Time:
Maverick Vinales SPA Aprilia 1m 58.942s
Official Sepang MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Fabio Quartararo FRA Yamaha 1m 58.576s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha 1m 59.661s (2019)
Unofficial Sepang MotoGP record:
Danilo Petrucci ITA Ducati 1m 58.239s (2019 testing)
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.
