Offseason tests – Ducati power 4 for the last day of MotoGP testing at Sepang –

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Ducati power 4 for the last day of MotoGP testing at Sepang

Offseason tests - Ducati power 4 for the last day of MotoGP testing at Sepang -

The third and final day of MotoGP testing in Sepang (Malaysia) is largely dominated by Ducati, which places four of its riders at the forefront: Petrucci, Bagnaia, Miller and Dovizioso. Vinales on Yamaha and Crutchlow on Honda cling somehow to this red hell train … Debriefing.

The last day of official MotoGP 2019 tests in Malaysia began again under the sun, marked by the appearance of new fairings at Honda, Ducati and Yamaha..

  • MotoGP tests in Sepang – D2 : Leader in Sepang, Viñales sprints to the record !
  • MotoGP tests in Sepang – D1 :
  • MNC special file :

But the main highlight of this third day is the mind-blowing pace of the 2019 prototypes: by the lunch break, six drivers had already fallen below the unofficial record set by Lorenzo last year () !

This squad was led by Danilo Petrucci on his official Demosedici, author of a splendid 1’58.239. Lorenzo‘s replacement precedes Fancesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller’s Ducati Pramacs, Andrea Dovizioso’s factory GP19, Maverick Viñales’ official Yamaha and Cal Crutchlow’s semi-private Honda LCR. Only half a second separates these six men !

Reduced to a strict minimum from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. due to the hot weather, activity resumed at the end of the day but the hierarchy: "Petrux" left Malaysia with the satisfaction of having lowered Lorenzo’s previous benchmark by some six tenths on the same motorcycle. Something to reassure the Italian, impressed by his new status as factory driver !

The n ° 9 has apparently benefited from the advice generously lavished by his teammate: Andrea Dovizioso offered him yesterday to carry out a simulation in "tandem", in order to send as much information as possible to the Italian engineers in similar conditions.

"Dovi" explains that if his approach can surprise, he finds it interesting: "to train with another pilot who has the speed of Danilo, it can help me in certain aspects and there are advantages for both of us" , he assures while the Ducati clan applauds this teamwork with both hands.

Note that the understanding between the two official pilots seems solid since Dovizioso also recommended his mental coach to Petrucci and would have invited him to participate in some of his physical training sessions. The objective of n ° 4 is clear: to make Petrucci progress enough so that he can insert himself, if necessary, between him and his rivals….

This strategy can pay off for "Dovi" at the end of the season … except that if the student overtakes the teacher, the atmosphere may quickly deteriorate between the two Italians! In the meantime, Ducati is collecting very precise data to develop its motorcycle.

The prodigy Bagnaia

The Italian manufacturer can also be delighted to have bet on a rider with great potential in the person of Moto2 world champion Francesco Bagnaia: the native of Turin, very comfortable since his debut in MotoGP, confirms his speed by winning the second time of these tests just 0.063 sec from the leader.

Offseason tests - Ducati power 4 for the last day of MotoGP testing at Sepang -

Valentino Rossi, who raced this young rider of just 22 years old in his Moto2 team in 2018, says of his protege that his "natural talent" is superior to that of Franco Morbidelli, also from his VR46 Academy: this is confirmed ! To the point of worrying the "Doctor", potentially overwhelmed by his young shoots ?

"Pecco and Franco will be formidable opponents because they were trained at the academy", predicts the n ° 46. "If they get to my level and beat me it’ll get on my nerves, that’s obvious. We all three have the same passion for motorcycles, which brings us together, even though I’m older," recalls the official Yamaha which will celebrate its 40 years in exactly eight days, on February 16 !

"If the race took place tomorrow, we would suffer"

This dreaded scenario of the veteran of the plateau occurred for the first time in Sepang: Bagnaia, first beginner of these tests, sticks the trifle of 0.853 sec to Rossi, tenth behind Takaaki Nakagami! Franco Morbidelli also does better than his Italian maestro: the Italian-Brazilian finished eighth, 0.902 sec behind the leader on his semi-official 2019 Yamaha.

Be careful, however, not to draw hasty conclusions from this hierarchy: as Petrucci rightly points out, "we all start from these tests with zero points".

In short: to shine during practice is one thing, to confirm in the race is another. And in this area, the No.46 racehorse usually knows how to put forward his experience and his consistency, although there is still some way to go … "If the next race was tomorrow, we would suffer," admits Rossi: "I don’t think we have much new for the tests in Qatar in ten days (the, Editor’s note) but it’s another circuit, we’ll see!"

Marquez preserves himself…

Marc Marquez, 11th this day behind Rossi, did not resume the handlebars in the afternoon like the two previous days: the reigning world champion, embarrassed by his convalescent shoulder but "very happy with his feelings" on this last day, ended its program after 39 laps on the track essentially dedicated to the analysis of a more powerful engine in the laps and a new fairing.

The Honda rider – the only HRC rider on the track since Lorenzo takes care of his wrist – is ahead of Alex Rins, less spirited than the previous days in his Suzuki. A little lower in the ranking is Fabio Quartararo, 16th today, 1.258 seconds behind the leader. The young Frenchman is constantly improving on his Yamaha, closer to the official M1s than expected.

Zarco 1st KTM and Quartararo 1st French

"Yes, I am indeed lucky to have the 2019 motorcycle," said El Diablo. “That being said, I don’t know more about the specification (a priori less engine speed and evolutions than that of Morbidelli, editor’s note).“ All I know is that we have a very good machine. to fight this year! "

Offseason tests - Ducati power 4 for the last day of MotoGP testing at Sepang -

The beginner from Nice – a bit aggressive on the brakes above! – is ahead of his compatriot Johann Zarco, who yesterday already did not. The n ° 5 confirms today by being again the first pilot of the Orange brand in front of his teammate Pol Espargaro and Miguel Oliveira, excellent beginner on the KTM satellite Tech3.

Although his 17th position was less exciting than his 11th the day before, the former Tech3 rider said he was satisfied with his progression curve and the progress made on the front axle – quite physical – of the RC16. However, there is still a long way to go for KTM, since Johann finishes these tests at 1.4 sec from the benchmark..

Mixed results at Aprilia

We should also note the 22nd fastest time for French test driver Sylvain Guintoli on the GSX-RR, just ahead of the Aprilia now developed by Bradley Smith. Aprilia leaves these tests with mixed feelings despite the promising 7th fastest time of Aleix Espargaro.

Certainly, the Spanish says he is encouraged by the 2019 developments even if he expects even more technical progress. But the atmosphere remained a little gloomy at Aprilia because its new driver Andrea Iannone drove very little due to a toothache: the former Suzuki representative, on antibiotics, packed his suitcase on Thursday evening…

An unfortunate setback in the necessary development of Noale’s MotoGP, because the season starts in exactly one month in Qatar! Suffice to say that at this stage, the main lines are definitely drawn..

Results of the third day of MotoGP testing in Sepang

  1. PETRUCCI, Danilo Mission Winnow Ducati 1: 58.239
  2. BAGNAIA, Francesco Alma Pramac Racing 1: 58.302 0.063
  3. MILLER, Jack Alma Pramac Racing 1: 58.366 0.127
  4. DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Mission Winnow Ducati 1: 58.538 0.299
  5. VIÑALES, Maverick Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1: 58.644 0.40
  6. CRUTCHLOW, Cal LCR Honda CASTROL 1: 58.780 0.541
  7. ESPARGARO, Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1: 59.022 0.783
  8. MORBIDELLI, Franco Petronas Yamaha SRT 1: 59.141 0.90
  9. NAKAGAMI, Takaaki LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1: 59.148 0.909
  10. ROSSI, Valentino Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1: 59.155 0.91
  11. MARQUEZ, Marc Repsol Honda Team 1: 59.170 0.931
  12. RINS, Alex Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1: 59.180 0.941
  13. BRADL, Stefan Honda Test Team 1: 59.368 1.129
  14. RABAT, Tito Reale Avintia Racing 1: 59.485 1.246
  15. MIR, Joan Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1: 59.486 1.247
  16. QUARTARARO, Fabio Petronas Yamaha SRT 1: 59.497 1.258
  17. ZARCO, Johann Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1: 59.640 1.401
  18. ESPARGARO, Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1: 59.751 1.512
  19. OLIVEIRA, Miguel KTM Tech 3 Racing 1: 59.949 1.710
  20. ABRAHAM, Karel Reale Avintia Racing 2: 00.378 2.13
  21. SYAHRIN, Hafizh KTM Tech 3 Racing 2: 00.766 2.527
  22. GUINTOLI, Sylvain Suzuki Test Team 2: 00.990 2.751
  23. SMITH, Bradley Aprilia Racing Factory Team 2: 00.995 2.756
  24. KALLIO, Mika Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Test Team 2: 01.020 2.781
  25. TEST 2, Yamaha Yamaha Test Team 2: 01.243 3.004
  26. TEST 1, Yamaha Yamaha Test Team 2: 01.719 3.480
  27. IANNONE, Andrea Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
  28. TSUDA, Takuya Suzuki Test Team

Combined ranking of the three days of MotoGP testing at Sepang

  1. 9 Danilo PETRUCCI (ITA) Mission Winnow Ducati DUCATI 1: 58.23 Session 3
  2. 63 Francesco BAGNAIA (ITA) Alma Pramac Racing DUCATI 1: 58.302 (+ 0.063) Session 3
  3. 43 Jack MILLER (AUS) Alma Pramac Racing DUCATI 1: 58.366 (+ 0.127) Session 3
  4. 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Mission Winnow Ducati DUCATI 1: 58.538 (+ 0.299) Session 3
  5. 12 Maverick VIÑALES (SPA) Monster Energy Yamaha YAMAHA 1: 58.644 (+ 0.405) Session 3
  6. 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW (GBR) LCR Honda CASTROL HONDA 1: 58.780 (+ 0.541) Session 3
  7. 41 Aleix ESPARGARO (SPA) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini APRILIA 1: 59.022 (+ 0.783) Session 3
  8. 21 Franco MORBIDELLI (ITA) Petronas Yamaha SRT YAMAHA 1: 59.141 (+ 0.902) Session 3
  9. 30 Takaaki NAKAGAMI (JPN) LCR Honda IDEMITSU HONDA 1: 59.148 (+ 0.909) Session 3
  10. 46 Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Monster Energy Yamaha YAMAHA 1: 59.155 (+ 0.916) Session 3
  11. 93 Marc MARQUEZ (SPA) Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1: 59.170 (+ 0.931) Session 3
  12. 42 Alex RINS (SPA) Team SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI 1: 59.180 (+ 0.941) Session 3
  13. 6 Stefan BRADL (GER) Honda Test Team HONDA 1: 59.368 (+ 1.129) Session 3
  14. 53 Tito RABAT (SPA) Reale Avintia Racing DUCATI 1: 59.485 (+ 1.246) Session 3
  15. 36 Joan MIR (SPA) Team SUZUKI ECSTAR SUZUKI 1: 59.486 (+ 1.247) Session 3
  16. 20 Fabio QUARTARARO (FRA) Petronas Yamaha SRT YAMAHA 1: 59.497 (+ 1.258) Session 3
  17. 5 Johann ZARCO (FRA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 1: 59.640 (+ 1.401) Session 3
  18. 44 Pol ESPARGARO (SPA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 1: 59.751 (+ 1.512) Session 3
  19. 88 Miguel OLIVEIRA (POR) Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 1: 59.949 (+ 1.710) Session 3
  20. 17 Karel ABRAHAM (CZE) Reale Avintia Racing DUCATI 2: 00.378 (+ 2.139) Session 3
  21. 29 Andrea IANNONE (ITA) Aprilia Racing Team Gresini APRILIA 2: 00.510 (+ 2.271) Session 2
  22. 66 Mika KALLIO (FIN) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team KTM 2: 00.523 (+ 2.284) Session 2
  23. 55 Hafizh SYAHRIN (MAL) Red Bull KTM Tech 3 KTM 2: 00.766 (+ 2.527) Session 3
  24. 31 Yamaha TEST 1 (JPN) Yamaha Test Team YAMAHA 2: 00.965 (+ 2.726) Session 1
  25. 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI (FRA) Suzuki Test Team SUZUKI 2: 00.990 (+ 2.751) Session 3
  26. 38 Bradley SMITH (GBR) Aprilia Factory Racing APRILIA 2: 00.995 (+ 2.756) Session 3
  27. 32 Yamaha TEST 2 (JPN) Yamaha Test Team YAMAHA 2: 01.243 (+ 3.004) Session 3
  28. 85 Takuya TSUDA (JPN) Suzuki Test Team SUZUKI 2: 03.276 (+ 5.037) Session 2

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