MotoGP Sepang testing – Day 3: Lorenzo scares records on the 2018 Ducati !
The third and final day of official MotoGP 2018 testing at Sepang marks the return to the forefront of Jorge Lorenzo on Ducati, the only rider to drop below the 1’59 mark in a record lap ! Dani Pedrosa and Cal Crutchlow (Honda) are relegated to two tenths ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati).
The year 2018 started strong for Jorge Lorenzo, author of the best time of the first official practice session at Sepang: the Mallorcan took advantage of excellent weather conditions to complete a resounding 1’58.830 in the first part of the day, when the temperatures not yet too high are favorable to performance.
The only rider to have dropped below the symbolic 1’59 mark during these tests, "Jorgueil" strikes a huge blow: his cannon lap – unofficial, because he did outside a race – places him below the approved record of the Malaysian circuit made by Pedrosa during the Malaysian GP 2015 (). Lorenzo is also faster than the "unofficial" record set by Marquez during the 2015 offseason (1’58.867) !
In other words, the n ° 99 has returned to this incredible velocity which characterizes it … within one lap in any case, and despite a small fall without impact in turn 1. Its performance demonstrates all the progress made by Lorenzo on the Ducati but also those of Michelin, since the previous records dated from the Bridgestone era.
Lorenzo has said it over and over again during these three days: the Desmosedici 2018 allows him more to express his natural style. Easier to place in curves, this new vintage does indeed seem well born! Still to be confirmed on another circuit, more sinuous, because the long fast curves of Sepang traditionally smile on the motorcycles of Bologna.
Honda well placed
Honda also left Malaysia with a smile, as Dani Pedrosa took second time 0.179 seconds off the benchmark. Like every winter, the HRC deployed a lot of resources as Pedrosa, Marquez and Crutchlow tested three engine configurations, several chassis adjustments and a new fairing with prominent appendages. !
This fairing – very inspired by that of the Ducati – was dismissed by Marquez, who criticizes him for making the Honda more difficult to handle in fast curves and a little slower in terms of top speed. Two logical counterparts, caused by the higher drag generated by the ailerons.
Cal Crutchlow – involved in the development of the RCV to help the official pilots – also did very well with the third time 0.222 sec behind the leader. What to give balm to the heart to the LCR team, a little disappointed by the lack of consistency and bursts of the British last year.
Fourth at 0.339 sec, Andrea Dovizioso shows a significant velocity deficit over his teammate at Ducati. But the vice-world champion does not have to be ashamed of the comparison, he who has a habit of firmly building the foundations of his season. Recall that in 2017, no one had seen his impressive rise to power coming with six victories. !
The reigning world champion, in fact, closed these tests in 7th place behind Miller’s Ducati and Rins’ Suzuki. A fairly modest performance from the flamboyant Marquez, who however confided to be focused on the large number of parts to be processed during this test.
"I am really very satisfied with these first tests", rejoices Jack Miller: "the feeling with the bike is very good and I think we still have good room for improvement. In Thailand we will work on the details, but in waiting for the pace during today’s long run is really encouraging ".
Zarco returns to the 2016 chassis !
The Spaniard is ahead of Valentino Rossi, 8th at 0.619 seconds, who turned a little slower than the day before when he had set the second fastest time (1’59.390 against 1’59.49). For his team-mate Maverick Viñales, the comparison is even more cruel: he also slower than yesterday, "Mack" goes from 1st to … 18th place (7th in the combined classification of the three days). The two Yamaha officials focused on the new engine and redesigned chassis on the 2016 model.
Johann Zarco for his part finished 9th on this last day in 1’59.511. The French won two tenths compared to the day before … by returning to the 2016 chassis! Yamaha had given him the choice between the 2017 or 2016 frame, but Zarco finally chose the one he used last year, failing to be able to pinpoint the new configuration..
The Tech3 rider made this choice despite the positive effects he attributes to the new chassis, such as increased stability which brings him comfort. But the shoe pinches according to him in terms of feeling and pure velocity, especially with the new tire. Recall that according to Rossi and Viñales, the 2017 frame is at the origin of the motor problems of the M1.
The debutants’ ball 2018
As for the "rookies", it is Takaaki Nakagami who signs the best reference on his Honda-LRC, 1.2 seconds behind the leader. Cal Crutchlow’s new team-mate ranks behind Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia and Alvaro Bautista’s Ducati, two very experienced riders in the premier class.
The reigning Moto2 world champion, meanwhile, recorded 17th time at 1.696 sec on his Honda Marc VDS, just ahead of Viñales and Abraham. The other two rookies, Xavier Simeon at Ducati Avintia and Tom Luthi at Honda Marc VDS, finished 20th and 24th respectively.
"When I got on the bike this morning, my fingers hurt on my left hand from my fall yesterday, but I was able to continue thanks to the painkillers," said Morbidelli. "This afternoon we worked with the medium rear tire and I’m happy with the results. I turned around 2’01, which isn’t too bad with this tire. Then we wanted to get a stopwatch. but the conditions at the end of the session weren’t as good as this morning and I couldn’t improve my time. It was the first test of the year, we managed to do a lot of work and I feel good with my team ".
This last day was marked by the absence on the track – but not in the paddocks – of the Spaniard Pol Espargaro, victim of a big fall the day before on his official KTM, from which he recovered very "crumpled". His teammate Bradley Smith finished the day at a distant 22nd position at 2.139 sec, ahead of the Suzuki GSX-RR driven in reinforcement by .
The best performance of the Suzuki clan is again to be credited to Alex Rins (6th), while his experienced box neighbor Andrea Iannone finishes far behind (12th).
"We are very happy and we are fully recharged to continue working during the next test in Thailand," said Rins. The riders will indeed resume the handlebars from February 16 to 18 for new tests on the circuit of Buriram (Thailand), where MotoGP will visit for the first time during the in October..
Results of the third day of the official MotoGP practice in Sepang
- LORENZO, Jorge Ducati Team 1: 58.830
- PEDROSA, Dani Repsol Honda Team 1: 59.009 0.179
- CRUTCHLOW, Cal LCR Honda CASTROL 1: 59.052 0.222
- DOVIZIOSO, Andrea Ducati Team 1: 59.169 0.339
- MILLER, Jack Alma Pramac Racing 1: 59.346 0.516
- RINS, Alex Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1: 59.348 0.518
- MARQUEZ, Marc Repsol Honda Team 1: 59.382 0.552
- ROSSI, Valentino Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1: 59.449 0.619
- ZARCO, Johann Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1: 59.511 0.681
- PETRUCCI, Danilo Alma Pramac Racing 1: 59.528 0.698
- RABAT, Tito Reale Avintia Racing 1: 59.547 0.717
- IANNONE, Andrea Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1: 59.615 0.785
- ESPARGARO, Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1: 59.962 1.132
- NAKAGAMI, Takaaki LCR Honda IDEMITSU 2: 00.071 1.241
- BAUTISTA, Alvaro Ángel Nieto Team 2: 00.205 1.37
- KALLIO, Mika KTM Test Team 2: 00.464 1.634
- MORBIDELLI, Franco EG 0,0 Marc VDS 2: 00.526 1.696
- VIÑALES, Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 2: 00.547 1.717
- ABRAHAM, Karel Ángel Nieto Team 2: 00.574 1.744
- SIMEON, Xavier Reale Avintia Racing 2: 00.784 1.954
- REDDING, Scott Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 2: 00.812 1.982
- SMITH, Bradley Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2: 00.969 2.139
- GUINTOLI, Sylvain Suzuki Test Team 2: 01.120 2.290
- LUTHI, Thomas EG 0,0 Marc VDS 2: 01.126 2.296
- HERNANDEZ, Yonny Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2: 01.223 2.393
- TEST3, Yamaha Yamaha Test Team 2: 01.385 2.555
- TEST2, Yamaha Yamaha Test Team 2: 01.679 2.849
- TEST1, Yamaha Yamaha Test Team
- ESPARGARO, Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
- PIRRO, Michele Ducati Test Team
Combined ranking of the three days of MotoGP 2018 testing in Sepang
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