Sepang MotoGP Test Results - Saturday lap times (5pm)
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.
With one hour to go on day one, 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 29 laps and close to the all-time unofficial lap record by Danilo Petrucci.
However team-mate Maverick Vinales has now moved to third, place just behind Enea Bastianini on Gresini's GP21 Ducati. Alex Rins is the top Suzuki in fourth, with Marc Marquez moving ahead of team-mate Pol Espargaro to be the quickest Honda.
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.
Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo was fourth early in the day before sliding to tenth, just behind Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow.
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 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 at KTM. Quartararo's peak is a 328.2km/h, tied with Crutchlow as the quickest Yamaha through the speed trap.
VR46's Luca Marini is having his first ride on the GP22 today.
The Sepang test – which takes place from 10am to 6pm, followed by practice starts - concludes on Sunday evening…
| 2022 Sepang MotoGP Test - Saturday (5pm) | |||||
| 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 | ^4 | Maverick Vinales | SPA | Aprilia Racing (RS-GP) | +0.731s |
| 4 | ˅1 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.786s |
| 5 | ^1 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.953s |
| 6 | ˅2 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | +0.982s |
| 7 | ˅2 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +1.044s |
| 8 | = | Johann Zarco | FRA | Pramac Ducati (GP) | +1.120s |
| 9 | = | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) | +1.187s |
| 10 | = | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.296s |
| 11 | = | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.401s |
| 12 | ^4 | Alex Marquez | SPA | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +1.542s |
| 13 | ˅1 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.574s |
| 14 | ˅1 | Jorge Martin | SPA | Pramac Ducati (GP) | +1.578s |
| 15 | ˅1 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Ducati Lenovo (GP) | +1.656s |
| 16 | ˅1 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | +1.665s |
| 17 | = | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.736s |
| 18 | = | Marco Bezzecchi | ITA | Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP)* | +1.877s |
| 19 | ^2 | Jack Miller | AUS | Ducati Lenovo (GP) | +1.887s |
| 20 | ˅1 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1) | +1.971s |
| 21 | ˅1 | Raul Fernandez | SPA | KTM Tech3 (RC16)* | +2.045s |
| 22 | = | Remy Gardner | AUS | KTM Tech3 (RC16)* | +2.415s |
| 23 | ^3 | Luca Marini | ITA | Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP) | +2.640s |
| 24 | ˅1 | Fabio di Giannantonio | ITA | Gresini Ducati (GP)* | +2.686s |
| 25 | = | Sylvain Guintoli | FRA | Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) | +3.019s |
| 26 | ˅2 | Darryn Binder | RSA | WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)* | +3.034s |
| 27 | = | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Test Rider (RS-GP) | +6.014s |
*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.
