Offseason Tests – MotoGP Sepang Testing – Day 1: Pedrosa shoots first! –

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MotoGP Sepang testing – Day 1: Pedrosa shoots first !

Offseason Tests - MotoGP Sepang Testing - Day 1: Pedrosa shoots first! -

Dani Pedrosa was the fastest on the first day of the official MotoGP 2018 tests in Malaysia, just two tenths from his pole position at the 2017 Malaysian GP. The Honda-Repsol official is followed by four Ducatis: Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo, Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller ! Valentino Rossi, sixth, is the first Yamaha rider.

The time has come to resume in MotoGP: all the riders have set their sights on Southeast Asia … where the weather is unfortunately quite unstable! The rain, very present since the end of the week in Sepang, forced the pilots to chomp their brakes for several hours on Sunday in the huge paddocks…

  • MNC of January 24, 2018 : Official MotoGP testing resumes at Sepang

The opportunity for some to again express their disapproval of the resurfacing work on the Malaysian runway: the asphalt takes much longer to dry after the showers, which are frequent in the region. Among the most successful is a certain … Casey Stoner, who released the new Ducati during private testing at Sepang just before the start of official testing !

The former double MotoGP world champion (and) delivers very positive first impressions on this new vintage, of which he ensures – like last year – part of the development as a test rider. The Australian considers the bike easier, which the titular riders confirm: "the new bike looks closer to my natural style", assures Jorge Lorenzo, third fastest on Sunday.

Between novelties and flashback at Yamaha

Andrea Dovizioso, second 0.343 seconds behind Pedrosa, is also very satisfied with his performance, as well as Danilo Petrucci who, like last year, is riding a Ducati similar to the official bikes in his Pramac team. His new teammate Jack Miller, defector from Honda Marc VDS, confirms that the old version was rather well born since he recorded the 4th time just 0.055 sec from his box neighbor.

Valentino Rossi for his part takes the sixth fastest time of this first day, after having long displayed at the top of the timesheet. The Italian continues his work on the new engine – considered better – and the redesigned frame, which Yamaha released during private testing at Sepang this fall.

This chassis is modeled on the 2016 version of the M1, in order to regain the homogeneity that it lacked in 2017 and to eradicate its traction concerns. The n ° 46 affirms that this new version has taken the right path and that he feels more comfortable on his handlebars: a good omen for the nine-time world champion who will celebrate his 39 years in a fortnight. !

Offseason Tests - MotoGP Sepang Testing - Day 1: Pedrosa shoots first! -

Rossi precedes Marc Marquez’s Honda in chrono, which tests a host of new parts like every year: HRC riders have three engine configurations to discover and a brand new fairing with aerodynamic appendages. The defending champion is ahead of Johann Zarco on his M1 Tech3, equipped with the 2017 chassis.

The French continue to speak highly of this configuration which posed so many problems for the official riders last year, praising the gain in stability of the 2017 frame. Enough to scratch their heads at Yamaha, which heard worse than hanging of its chassis last year from the mouths of Rossi and Viñales…

Viñales, precisely, closes this first day at a distant 13th position at 1.287 sec. The Spaniard – who has just finished – finished behind the Honda-LCR of Japanese rookie Takaaki Nakagami. Note also the 20th place of the French, who participates in the development of the Suzuki GSX-RR.

Results and standings of the first day of MotoGP 2018 testing in Sepang 

  1. PEDROSA, Dani Repsol Honda Team 1: 59.427  
  2. DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team 1: 59.770 0.343 0.343
  3. LORENZO, Jorge Ducati Team 1: 59.802 0.375 0.032 
  4. PETRUCCI, Danilo Alma Pramac Racing 2: 00.123 0.696 0.321
  5. MILLER, Jack Alma Pramac Racing 2: 00.178 0.751 0.055   
  6. ROSSI, Valentino Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 2: 00.233 0.806 0.055 
  7. MARQUEZ, Marc Repsol Honda Team 2: 00.290 0.863 0.057 
  8. ZARCO, Johann Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2: 00.421 0.994 0.131
  9. CRUTCHLOW, Cal LCR Honda CASTROL 2: 00.522 1.095 0.101  
  10. ESPARGARO, Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2: 00.568 1.141 0.046   
  11. RINS, Alex Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 2: 00.627 1.200 0.059
  12. NAKAGAMI, Takaaki LCR Honda IDEMITSU 2: 00.664 1.237 0.037 
  13. VIÑALES, Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 2: 00.714 1.287 0.050   
  14. ESPARGARO, Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 2: 00.866 1.439 0.152 
  15. RABAT, Tito Reale Avintia Racing 2: 00.912 1.485 0.046    
  16. IANNONE, Andrea Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 2: 01.027 1.600 0.115   
  17. SMITH, Bradley Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2: 01.099 1.672 0.072
  18. MORBIDELLI, Franco EG 0.0 Marc VDS 2: 01.161 1.734 0.062  
  19. BAUTISTA, Alvaro Ángel Nieto Team 2: 01.728 2.301 0.567
  20. GUINTOLI, Sylvain Suzuki Test Team 2: 01.864 2.437 0.136
  21. REDDING, Scott Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 2: 01.962 2.535 0.098 
  22. TEST3, Yamaha Yamaha Test Team 2: 02.044 2.617 0.082
  23. HERNANDEZ, Yonny Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2: 02.053 2.626 0.009   
  24. ABRAHAM, Karel Ángel Nieto Team 2: 02.088 2.661 0.035   
  25. TEST2, Yamaha Yamaha Test Team 2: 02.527 3.100 0.439  
  26. SIMEON, Xavier Reale Avintia Racing 2: 02.946 3.519 0.419  
  27. LUTHI, Thomas EG 0,0 Marc VDS 2: 03.732 4.305 0.786    
  28. TEST1, Yamaha Yamaha Test Team 2: 03.786 4.359 0.054 
  29. PIRRO, Michele Ducati Test Team 2: 04.767 5.340 0.981
  30. KALLIO, Mika KTM Test Team 2: 05.932 6.505 1.165

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