Official MotoGP 2018 testing resumes Sunday in Malaysia

The winter break is over: MotoGP riders are going – at last! – take back the handlebars of their 2018 prototype from Sunday in Sepang (Malaysia) for the first time since the tests in Valencia (Spain) in November. Three days of testing are on the program for this important warm-up.

Ants in the gloves: this is what MotoGP riders are feeling a few days before their first series of official tests 2018 scheduled from Sunday to Tuesday in Malaysia! All the teams and their representatives will be present on the sumptuous Sepang circuit, the scene of a large part of the offseason tests….

• MotoGP 2018 : 

Besides its more temperate climate than in Europe – sometimes too much! -, the Malaysian track offers the advantage of presenting a significant development and several types of turns. Pilots know this fast and very wide layout by heart, making it easy to collect reliable data and make comparisons between different parts..

Folger replaced by Hernandez for Sepang testing

This first practice session of the year will be marked by the absence of Joans Folger, who has just announced his painful decision to withdraw from MotoGP due to health problems. The handlebars of his competitive Yamaha M1 are therefore to be filled, which is a real challenge for the team manager of Tech3, Herve Poncharal….

• MNC of January 18, 2018: Folger draws a line on his MotoGP 2018 season

Getting hold of a German level driver – 2nd in – is already not an easy thing in normal times, but it becomes challenging at this time of the year because all the contracts are already signed … While waiting to find a replacement for Folger, Poncharal will roll Yonny Hernandez to Sepang.

 

This association will only be temporary since the Colombian is engaged in World Superbike on a Kawasaki Pedercini. Remember that Yonny Hernandez rode in MotoGP from 2012 to 2016 on private Ducatis (Aspar and Pramac), before downgrading to Moto2 last year. Without much success, alas: sacked in the middle of the season for lack of results, he finished the year with Honda in the endurance world.

Toni Elias on the Suzuki GSX-RR 

Hernandez will not be the only rider to get back in the saddle on a MotoGP: Toni Elias will also make his return to the premier class thanks to an invitation from Suzuki to come and test his GSX-RR. Elias is thus thanked by the coat of arms of Hamamatsu for his (American Superbike) on the new GSX-R1000.

 

The Spanish rider will be accompanied on the first day by two other (top) generously rewarded Suzuki riders: Michael Dunlop and Josh Waters, winners of the Tourist Trophy and the Australian Superbike Championship respectively! Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins will undoubtedly observe closely the performances of these "guests" at the controls of "their" motorcycle…

As for the titular pilots, all eyes will be on the reigning world champion, Marc Marquez, and his runner-up, Andrea Dovizioso: will the Spanish and the Italian resume their thrilling duel from the first tests has opposed up to the? Recall that the Spanish finally won with 37 points ahead of the Italian, who won six victories on his Ducati !

• MNC of January 11, 2018 : 

Lorenzo ready to confirm ?

Among the Reds, Lorenzo’s adaptation to the Desmosedici will also be followed very closely: after a fairly average first season (7th overall, without pole or victory), the former Yamaha rider is doomed to perform … Even thing for his replacement Maverick Viñales – who has just extended his contract with Yamaha for 2019 and 2020 -, who stormed off at the start of the season but gradually returned to the ranks…

 

Viñales team-mate Valentino Rossi will enter his 22nd season with his sights set on clinching his 10th world title. However, the Italian will find on his path a certain Joahnn Zarco, determined to continue his ascent to the heights of MotoGP … and the !

Finally, this first test session will be the opportunity for the four newcomers to continue to make their mark: the Japanese Takaaki Nakagami at Honda-LCR, the Belgian Xavier Simeon at Ducati-Avintia, as well as the Italian Moto2 world champion. Franco Morbidelli and his new Swiss teammate Tom Luthi, absent from the first tests in Valencia due to his foot injury. To follow naturally all year round: stay connected !

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