Offseason testing – Pol Espargaro dominates MotoGP practice warm-up in Sepang –

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Pol Espargaro dominates MotoGP practice warm-up in Sepang

Offseason testing - Pol Espargaro dominates MotoGP practice warm-up in Sepang -

The official KTM rider sets the best time of the three days of "pre-tests" in Sepang (Malaysia) ahead of his brother Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia. Jorge Lorenzo, back as Yamaha test rider during this "shakedown", is in the middle of the pack at 1.062 seconds. Explanations.

MotoGP test riders, beginners and owners of manufacturers benefiting from regulatory concessions (Aprilia and KTM) have just completed three days of testing on the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. Objective: to rough up the 2020 prototypes for the first official tests planned on this same circuit from February 7 to 9.

  • MotoGP tests : 
  • MNC file : 

KTM has shown itself to its advantage by dominating each day of this "shakedown", first with its test driver Dani Pedrosa on Sunday and Monday then with Pol Espargaro today. Johann Zarco’s former teammate went down in 1’59.444 on his 2020 RC16, the main visible changes of which are in the aerodynamics with an imposing front spoiler.

By way of comparison, "Polito" qualified in 12th place in the Malaysian GP last fall in 1’59.812: the Spaniard won almost 4 tenths, which seems to bode well. Espargaro and KTM, however, remain far from the records of the Malaysian track: Fabio Quartararo qualified on pole in 1’58.303 on his private M1, a second and a half faster. !

Be careful, however, not to draw too hasty conclusions from this kind of test during which the conditions have nothing to do with those of a Grand Prix: different weather, new parts to be tested and performances sometimes hidden to "poison" the car. competition. Some even drive without a transponder so as not to show their pace…

April 2020 is it (finally) well born ?

MNC nevertheless notes with interest the second place won by Aleix Espargaro on the Aprilia 2020 prototype, which also features new aerodynamics in addition to a V4 now set at 90 ° (around 70 ° in 2019). His RS-GP was clocked in 1’59.622, 0.178 sec behind his little brother’s RC16: not bad at all after only 25 laps on a new bike that was just out of the box. !

"At the end of this" shakedown "and 25 laps on the RS-GP 2020, the only thing I can say is whaouuu", exclaimed Aleix Espargaro who thanked Aprilia for the "hard work carried out these six last months: the year will be fun! " Hopefully it will also be for his teammate Andrea Iannone, still suspended for suspected doping…

The third time of this "shakedown" goes to Miguel Oliveira on the KTM Tech3, while Dani Pedrosa finishes fourth in the cumulative standings without having driven today. The former Honda rider gave way to Mika Kallio for this third and final day after dominating the first two: "Pedro" is still in the rhythm! Too much perhaps to Pol Espargaro’s taste ?!

Another major absentee is rookie Alex Marquez, who joined his brother Marc in Jakarta (Indonesia) for the official presentation of the Honda-Repsol team. The Moto2 world champion has remained in the lead during the first two days and will be able to put this experience to good use at the end of the week during the "real" Sepang tests..

Also note the performances of Brad Binder: the South African rookie climbed to 5th place on his official KTM and narrowly failed to pass below the 2 minutes mark (2’00.099). Beaten by Michele Pirro in the development Ducati, Binder ahead of Honda and Suzuki test riders Stefan Bradl and Sylvain Guintoli.

Lorenzo back on track on the Yamaha

Finally, this "shakedown" will have been marked by the return of Jorge Lorenzo to the handlebars of a Yamaha in his new functions as test pilot. The Mallorcan, who arrived in Sepang on Monday, only rode on … after having showered his social networks with smiling photos and positive comments on this "new chapter of my life".

The former Honda rider – observed with attention from the edge of the track, in particular by a certain Fabio Quartararo! – completed 46 laps with a better time in 2’00.506 which places him 8th for the day and 10th place overall. A smooth recovery after two seasons on the Ducati and one on the Honda, with which the n ° 99 had also turned slightly faster (2’00.478) during qualifying for the Malaysian GP.

  • MNC of February 4, 2020: Lorenzo finds "his" Yamaha at Sepang tests
  • MNC of January 30, 2020: Lorenzo returns to MotoGP as Yamaha test rider

Next key dates for MotoGP: Thursday 6 February for the official presentation of the Suzuki team in Sepang, on the eve of the first official 2020 tests. Two other teams will then unveil their new colors and objectives a few hours later in the same place: the official Yamaha team and its Petronas-SRT satellite structure. 

While waiting for this deadline, Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales participate in promotional activities in Indonesia: admire their mastery of choreography in the company of the director of the race department, Lin Jarvis !

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