Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati Corse have reached an agreement that will see the Italian rider aboard the Ducati Lenovo Team’s factory Desmosedici GP bike for another two seasons after a very successful season in 2021…
Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati set to continue together in the 2023 and 2024 MotoGP seasons.
Born in Turin in 1997, “Pecco” Bagnaia made his MotoGP debut in 2019 with the Desmosedici GP of the Pramac Racing Team. He also contested the 2020 season with the same squad, achieving his first podium at the Grand Prix Lenovo of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera, where he finished second on the rostrum.
Promoted to the official Ducati team last year, the Turin-born rider continued to shine after taking pole position and finishing third place in the opening GP of 2021 and soon became one of the main title contenders. With nine podiums, four victories and six pole positions, Bagnaia ended 2021 in second place and is now looking forward to the new Championship, which will start on 6th March at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar.
Promoted to the official Ducati team last year, the Turin-born rider continued to shine after taking pole position and finishing third place in the opening GP of 2021.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) “Being a Ducati rider in MotoGP has always been my dream, and knowing that I can continue with the Ducati Lenovo Team for another two seasons makes me happy and proud. I have found a serene environment in the factory team: I feel very much in tune with my team and know that we can do great things together. Now I can only concentrate on doing well in this Championship. A big thank you to Claudio, Gigi, Paolo, Davide and all the Ducati Corse staff. I’ll try to repay their trust with my results on the track!”
Luigi Dall’Igna (General Manager of Ducati Corse): “We are delighted to have Bagnaia with us for another two seasons. Since he arrived at Ducati in 2019, Pecco has shown great talent and the ability to interpret our Desmosedici GP very well, adapting to ride it in any condition. He did it, especially in the last season, during which he had significant growth and got to play for the World Title. The way he managed the races at Aragón, Misano, Portimão and Valencia, scoring four fantastic victories, is proof of his maturity as a rider. With these great qualities, we are sure that he has the potential to aim for the title with us”.
ASBK fans will witness every thrilling moment of the 2022 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented Motul, via live free-to-air television coverage on SBS and SBS On-Demand.
With all 2022 final broadcast agreements now locked in, ASBK Management say they are pleased to confirm SBS once again as the Official free-to-air TV broadcaster for ASBK for 2022.
SBS has long held an important role as the home of ASBK and other great motorsport categories. In 2022, ASBK fans will be in for a real treat, with the coverage set to scale new heights thanks to the ongoing commitment of SBS.
SBS Director of Sport, Ken Shipp: “The Australian Superbike Championship is an excellent staple in our growing motorsport line-up. SBS’s dedicated coverage of the ASBK Championship combined with the gripping track action always provides for compelling viewing, free on SBS and SBS On Demand.”
“In 2022 ASBK race fans will benefit from both SBS’s live free-to-air coverage, plus the opportunity to catch all the action via SBS On-Demand at any time.”
In 2022 ASBK race fans will benefit from both SBS’s live free-to-air coverage, plus the opportunity to catch all the action via SBS On-Demand at any time. ASBK Production Partner AVE are once again in charge of capturing every angle and they bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the highly technical production of ASBK.
Each standalone round of the thrilling ASBK action will be broadcast, live for over three hours to fans at home, on the couch, or on mobile devices as part of the SBS’ free-to air-coverage. All the action will be brought to you by the ASBK TV Team, with Kate Peck and Steve Martin who will be joined by specialist commentators Phil Harlum and Mark Bracks.
This is great news for racing fans and the sport as a whole. ASBK will continue to regain popularity as it becomes more accessible for fans.
Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle: “Locking in SBS again in 2022 has been a high priority as their history with two-wheel motorsport is legendary. I appreciate and welcome their ongoing commitment to top-level Superbike racing in this country.
“Additionally, for fans, this is a great outcome as it offers them a number of ways to watch the racing: live, on-demand, on their home TV, tablet or mobile phone. With SBS’ support in 2022, alongside our Pay-TV broadcast partners here in Australia and around the world, we can look forward to a full season of the absolute best the sport has to offer.”
Tune in this weekend for the first round of 2022 at the spectacular Phillip Island Circuit.
ASBK Round One at Phillip Island this weekend will see every exciting race-day minute available to all Australian ASBK fans with live TV on SBS this Sunday the 27th February from 1-4pm (AEDT). For passionate ASBK fans who don’t want to miss a minute of the race-day action, ASBK Livestream will begin Sunday at 10am through to 1pm when the live TV telecast begins.
The MV Agusta F3 675 RC is one hell of an expensive supersport bike but it is also one very, very special machine and if you have the cash and the want, there is no reason to deny yourself of the experience. Just look at the bike. It is stunning, even at a standstill…
2018 MV Agusta F3 675 RC Tech Talk
The F3 675 RC offers 128hp (94kW) at 14,500 rpm with 71Nm of torque at 10,900 rpm, with the most significant technical redesigns on the 2018 models concerning the balance shaft, the primary gearing, the intake cam profiles and the valves.
The F3 675 RC offers 128hp (94kW) at 14,500 rpm with 71Nm of torque at 10,900 rpm.
The gearbox has undergone a complete overhaul to make shifting easier and reduce clutch lever effort. Exhaust manifolds have also been redesigned, while the F3 RC silencer – supplied by the SC Project in the Race Kit – derives directly from the unit used by the Racing Department that significantly increases the power.
The F3 675 RC model also introduces new engine covers. These enhance engine protection in the event of a collision or fall and reduce mechanical noise emissions.
The F3 675 RC control platform, developed through racing, is based on the MVICS (Motor & Vehicle Integrated Control System). Key developments on the 2018 models include improved Ride By Wire performance, now with personalised mappings. Parameters on the eight-level traction control have also been fully revised to enhance effectiveness and fluidity. The EAS 2.0 electronic shifter has also been optimised for smoother shifting.
Two-way quickshifter, compact DOHC 12-valve inline triple makes 133hp with the kit fitted.
A new frame mount point for the three-cylinder engine ensures increased overall rigidity and the tubular steel trellis frame, closed off with aluminium alloy plates, is designed to offer maximum handling performance, as is evident from the wheelbase of just 1380mm, despite the long 576.5mm single-sided swingarm.
The race kit exhaust is mega loud. 10-spoke wheels look trick.
Each of the 350 limited edition F3 RC bikes comes with a top-drawer kit that boosts bike performance even further, effectively making it identical to the race version in terms of equipment and appearance. In just a few simple steps, the kit can be used to transform the F3 RC road bike into a perfect track day machine. The titanium exhaust system, with carbon fiber silencer, is supplied by SC Project and comes complete with carbon-fibre heel guard and aluminium silencer support brackets.
“Also included in the kit is the electronic control unit with a dedicated mapping to maximise the increase in performance.”
Also included in the kit is the electronic control unit with a dedicated mapping to maximise the increase in performance (133hp at 14,570rpm on the F3 675 RC and 153hp at 13,250rpm on the F3 800 RC).
The rear seat cowl (for single- seat use) adds a touch of style, as do the machined from billet brake and clutch levers. The included rear sprocket is for race track gearing, while the rear stand and bike cover are for maintenance purposes. As proof of its uniqueness, each RC comes with its own certificate of origin.
The final day of testing for MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship teams and riders at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve came to a close on Wednesday with some scintillating lap record pace from Toprak Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea – the pair lapping the 4.592km circuit in under 1’40s using Pirelli’s SCQ tyre.
Both Razgatlioglu and Rea lapped in the 1’39s bracket, the first time such a lap time had been achieved at Portimao on a WorldSBK machine.
Rea was the first rider to dip below the 1’39s bracket just before the midway point of the session with a 1’39.851s but reigning World Champion Razgatlioglu was able to better more than two tenths with just over an hour of testing remaining; the pair split by just 0.235s. Razgatlioglu’s time of 1’39.616ss beat his own pole time from 2021 by almost 0.5s. Razgatlioglu set six lap times in the 1’39s bracket, using the A557 tyre used throughout 2021, across five different runs, on laps 28, 45, 48, 49, 53 and 61, while Rea set one lap time in the 1’39s.
It meant Razgatlioglu, who had been working on electronic setup changes with his team, finished the two-day test, and his first of 2022, on top of the timesheets by 0.235s ahead of Rea after completing 66 laps. The six-time champion completed 87 laps on his ZX-10RR as he continued to test new items and components on his ZX-10RR, using the SCQ tyre for his best time.
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came home in fourth place as he looked at his outright performance on the ZX-10RR after hailing Tuesday’s running as one of his best days in Kawasaki colours.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed the top three as he continued to adjust to life back at Ducati. Despite a turn 8 crash that brought out the red flags, the Spanish rider was able to add 68 laps to his tally for the test with a best time of 1’40.055s, set on Pirelli’s SCX tyre. Bautista has been able to try a new swingarm on his Ducati Panigale V4 R and a smaller fuel tank to suit his stature throughout the test as well as trying Pirelli’s SCQ tyre to be used throughout the 2022 campaign.
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came home in fourth place as he looked at his outright performance on the ZX-10RR after hailing Tuesday’s running as one of his best days in Kawasaki colours. Lowes added 83 laps to his tally for the two-day test with a best time of 1’40.335s. The British rider also wanted to try the SCQ tyre throughout the test with the tyre supplier bringing new solutions of the tyre compared to what was available at the Jerez test.
Andrea Locatelli spend the day dialling his Yamaha before setting some scorching lap times..
Around three tenths behind Lowes was Italian rider Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) who completed 77 laps as he and his team worked on some new parts as well as the setup of electronics on his YZF-R1. Locatelli’s best time was a 1’40.674s as he prepares for his second campaign in WorldSBK.
Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) headed up the Independent riders on day two of the test despite an afternoon crash at the highspeed right-hander of turn one. The German rider was okay following the crash that brought out the red flag although cost him some valuable track time ahead of his rookie season. Oettl, who had been looking to improve his Ducati’s set up for him, completed 63 laps on Wednesday with a best time of 1’41.061s, putting in a late lap to jump up to sixth in the standings. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was able to try a new swingarm on his Ducati Panigale V4 as well as the new SCQ tyre from Pirelli, with the Italian completing 52 laps for a best time of 1’41.143s.
Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) headed up the Independent riders on day two of the test despite an afternoon crash at the highspeed right-hander of turn one.
French rider Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) was able to get his hands on some new parts for his Yamaha YZF-R1, components that had been used in 2021 by the factory squad, including a new fairing and screen. While testing these items, Ponsson racked up 51 laps with a best time of 1’42.374s.
Rookie Luca Bernardi (Barni Spark Racing Team) rounded out the WorldSBK field on his second day of action on his Ducati bike, with the Sammarinese rider adding 54 laps to his tally. On his first time with a WorldSBK machine, and his first time on track since an injury sustained at Magny-Cours, Bernardi posted a best lap time of 1’42.961s.
Nicolo Bulega topped the time sheets in WorldSSP as Aussie Oli Bayliss sat out the second day due to a broken ankle.
WorldSSP rookie Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) topped the timesheets for the second day running on his Ducati Panigale V2 machine with the Italian manufacturer returning to WorldSSP for 2022. Bulega first tested the bike in November at Jerez and added another 48 laps of experience to the bike in Portugal, with a best time of 1’43.876s. Another rookie, Maximilian Kofler (CM Racing), was second in the standings on day two of testing with the Austrian racking up 58 laps with a best time of 1’45.511s.
Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team), testing in place of Oli Bayliss who fractured his ankle in a crash on day one, added 46 laps to the team’s tally over the course of the Portimao test with a best time of 1’46.946s.
WorldSBK Day Two Top Times:
1 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 1’39.616, 66 laps 2 Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’39.851s, 87 laps
3 Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’40.055, 68 laps
With less than three weeks to the return of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK), the countdown is on for the 25th, grab your tickets now.
The ASBK riders were recently at Philip Island for the official pre-season test…
For fans who have been hanging out for a solid weekend of ASBK, tickets are on sale for the opening round at Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit from Friday the 25th – Sunday the 27th February.
The jam-packed weekend includes action from the Superbike, Supersport, Supersport 300, YMF R3 Cup and Superbike Masters competitors, along with Motorcycling Australia’s premier junior road racing academy, the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup.
All categories from the OJC to the Superbike class will be at the Island battling it out for the first points of the season.
The action and excitement doesn’t end on the track, with the chance to meet your favourite riders and grab an autograph! Introduce the kids to motorbike riding at bLU cRU Mini Moto Experience which is free for kids to come and try. Grab your tickets now before they sell out of this weekend jam packed full of action!
Pirelli have unveiled the new DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa, the high-performance hypersport tyre that raises the bar of sport riding even higher within the DIABLO ROSSO family. The new DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa represents a fiercer version of the DIABLO ROSSO IV.
Pirelli say the Diablo IV Corsa was created to satisfy the most demanding motorcyclists seeking a tyre capable of high performance, to fully utilise the potential of their bikes.
The new DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa has been released on the 150th anniversary of Pirelli and becomes an integral part of the celebrations. During 2022 a limited edition DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa pays homage to this milestone and features the Pirelli’s 150th anniversary logo on its sidewall.
During 2022 a limited edition DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa pays homage to this milestone and features the Pirelli’s 150th anniversary logo on its sidewall.
Pirelli say the DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa is the ideal choice for riders who love a dynamic riding style on winding roads and mountain passes and want a tyre to match the sporty performance of their motorcycle. Riders who are passionate about tuning, who look for performance upgrades and take care of the bike set-up and aesthetics. Overall, the new ROSSO IV Corsa is the perfect choice for riders looking for that extreme performance before going to full slicks.
The new hoops benefit from higher grip in dry conditions, thanks to a slicker tread design that guarantees a larger footprint area alongside the use of innovative compounds that increase mechanical grip levels. The innovative technologies applied to the carcass make DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa able to adhere to the micro-roughness of the asphalt, ensuring precise feedback and a feeling of control.
Pirelli have put plenty of development into making sure the new hoops talk to the rider at high speeds.
Performance consistency over multiple riding sessions is made possible by the characteristics of the tread pattern, the repetition of the grooves offers high resistance to stress and the new arrangement of the compounds, ensures optimal thermal balance.
The tread design of DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa features a calculated repetition of the central grooves and a slicker shoulder area, for a fill ratio 25% lower than the DIABLO ROSSO IV. In the central area, the longitudinal grooves ensures directional stability and water evacuation. Their position helps to evenly wear the tyres, while increasing the structural stability of the tyre to give performance consistency over multiple riding sessions.
The DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa features a large slick area on the shoulders, able to offer high levels of grip, precision and stability at maximum lean angles.
The front tyre is divided into three areas using two different compounds. The central band has a Full Silica compound that occupies around 45% of the section width and is present in the contact area used up to 25 degrees of lean angle.
The side areas have a softer compound, also Full Silica, thanks to the use of innovative resins that offer excellent grip and improves the front tyre feedback. The rear tyre also has a bi-compound scheme for excellent road performance and works in harmony with the front. The central Full Silica compound allows for a quick warm-up and excellent chemical grip on different surface conditions.
The central band has a Full Silica compound that occupies around 45% of the section width and is present in the contact area used up to 25 degrees of lean angle.
The side areas have a softer compound, also Full Silica.
The shoulder compound is 100% Carbon Black and derives directly from the compounds of DIABLO Supercorsa SC used in racing competitions. Pirelli say this compound offers support at full lean and traction during acceleration managing the torque generated by the latest generation superbikes.
The profiles of DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa are race-derived and are characterised by a multi radius design that improves the tyre’s handling. The central area has a sharper profile to facilitate immediate lean and rapid change of direction. In the lateral areas, Pirelli say the profile curvature is less accentuated in order to increase the contact area and ensure maximum traction when cornering. Both front and rear tyres follow a similar profile design, ensuring a perfectly balanced and neutral behaviour.
“The curvature is less accentuated in order to increase the contact area and ensure maximum traction when cornering.”
With the DIABLO ROSSO IV Corsa, Pirelli uses a racing-derived structure with zero-degree steel belt, this manages to adapt perfectly to different levels of stress without compromising comfort and work with advanced electronic control systems. The stiff cord technology features structural cords that are more rigid and are distributed with less density (-20%) compared to a standard sport tyre. This scheme leaves more room for the rubber compound, which improves riding feeling and precision thanks to its damping properties, thus transmitting to the rider, a safety feeling and control of the motorcycle.
The new hoops will be available in a number of different sizing options.
Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller concluded the final pre-season test at the Mandalika Street Circuit in Lombok. The brand new Indonesian circuit was inaugurated in 2021 and will host MotoGP for the first time in March this year. The pair are looking mighty fast and are keen to battle it out on track this year!
Heavy rain made the asphalt treacherous on the first day, but conditions improved over the next two days.
Coming from two more days of testing in Sepang, Malaysia, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders could resume their busy schedule in Indonesia, having spent the first few days studying the new track. Heavy rain made the asphalt treacherous on the first day, but conditions improved over the next two days. The riders could ride consistently, gathering crucial information ahead of the race.
At the end of the three days, Bagnaia completed 215 laps, setting the sixth fastest lap time in 1:31.436. Miller, who completed 234 laps, finished in eighteenth place in 1:31.870.
The pair of Ducati Lenovo riders put in a collective effort during testing, completing over 400 laps!
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:31.436 (6th) “I’m pretty satisfied with the work we have done during these three days of testing here in Mandalika. The track is very nice, and I really like the first sector, so I’m looking forward to racing here in a month. During these days, we have mainly followed our development programme. We tested new components and worked on the tyre management and the electronics of the new bike without worrying too much about the timesheets. Today we did a race simulation, and the feedback was positive. Now we will have two more weeks off before we finally start the new Championship in Qatar! I’m looking forward to it”.
Considering there was less than half a second that separated the two. They were both at opposite sides of the overall timing sheets and results.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:31.870 (18th) “It was a tough three days of testing because we had so many things to try, but we were able to complete most of our programme and gather a lot of data for the engineers to work on. I like the new circuit, and it reminds me a little of the track in Argentina. Unfortunately, the rain and the construction site nearby made the asphalt quite dirty. We had to be careful not to go off the lines, but this allowed us to work for Qatar, where we will certainly find similar conditions because of the sand. I’m satisfied and ready to get on track for the first race of the year!”
The Ducati Lenovo Team riders will return to the track on 4th-6th March at night to contest the inaugural Grand Prix of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship at the Losail International Circuit in Doha Qatar.
On the track in Sepang (Malaysia) for the first tests of the season, the new Aprilia RS-GP provided immediate positive feedback in the able hands of tester Lorenzo Savadori, sensations which were then confirmed when Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales tested it. Check out the full test report here…
After three days dedicated to the shakedown (the first real test of the new prototypes), it was time for the entire MotoGP class to have two days of official testing.
After three days dedicated to the shakedown (the first real test of the new prototypes), it was time for the entire MotoGP class to have two days of official testing. It was clear by the end of the sessions that the competition is still extremely fierce, with 19 riders all within one second of one another. In any case, the stopwatch confirmed that Aprilia is on the right path, with Aleix second, just 26 thousandths of a second behind the leader and beating the track record. Maverick was also fast straight away, just 130 thousandths of a second behind, riding his RS-GP to fifth place.
However, although the times may not provide the most accurate picture of the situation, since they were achieved by all during true time attacks on soft tyres, feedback on the feeling is a different story. And this is why Aprilia is confident as they head to the new Indonesian Mandalika track for the second and final pre-season tests.
Aleix Espargaró will be looking to impress this year on the new Aprilia RS-GP bike.
Aleix Espargaró: “I must thank the staff in Noale. Albesiano and all the engineers did a good job. From the first time I swung a leg over, during a photo shoot, I noticed how sleek and compact the new RS-GP is, and I know how hard it is to achieve this result. The ergonomics, the frame and all the new features make it extremely agile, letting me improve on corners speed, especially in fast turns. However, we still need to consider that this is just the first test and that we are all extremely close. The current level of MotoGP is absolutely incredible. We’ll keep working and I can’t wait to turn laps on the new Mandalika circuit too.”
Maverick will be looking to silence to critics after his early departure of the 2021 season.
Maverick Viñales: “I’m pleased with this first test. I felt extremely comfortable on the bike. I was especially surprised by our race pace, with used tyres, whereas on the flying lap, I am still unable to fully exploit the bike’s potential. When you try to find the limit, and you have to do that often in MotoGP today, the feeling has to be more than perfect, but I am still making a few mistakes. I need to get used to the way this bike behaves when I’m looking for maximum performance and that’s a process we’re working on.”
Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller concluded the first MotoGP pre-season test of 2022 at Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia). Over the two days, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders could lap again at the Malaysian track with their Desmosedici GP bikes in 2022 configuration.
The Ducati Lenovo Team concluded MotoGP pre-season testing at Sepang with Bagnaia sixth and Miller fourteenth.
Despite the scorching temperatures, the Borgo Panigale team’s riders found good conditions to ride, except for the last few hours of the second day, which were disturbed by rain. During the Sepang test, both Bagnaia and Miller continued the testing program they began last November in Spain, at Jerez de la Frontera, testing the new solutions developed by the Ducati Corse engineers over the winter.
With 110 laps under his belt and a best time of 1:58.265, Pecco closed the test in sixth position, while Jack, who completed 92 laps, finished fourteenth with a best time of 1:58.645, 380 thousandths behind his teammate. Enea Bastianini topped the Sepang test with the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Gresini Racing team, thanks to a lap in 1:58.131, 172 thousandths faster than the current circuit record.
“With 110 laps under his belt and a best time of 1:58.265, Pecco closed the test in sixth position, while Jack, who completed 92 laps, finished fourteenth with a best time of 1:58.645.”
After these first two days on track for 2022, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders will have another three days of testing next weekend. From 11th-13th February, MotoGP will make its debut at the brand new Mandalika Street Circuit in Lombok, Indonesia, for the final official test before the season opener scheduled on 6th March in Qatar.
Francesco Bagnaia will be looking to take home more than the constructors championship for Ducati in 2022.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:58.265 (6th) “I am happy with how this second day of testing went. We are definitely not at the level I aim for yet, but I know we will get there soon. In just two days of working with the new bike, we have taken a big step forward, and with each session, we continued to improve. Now we have to keep working in this direction to be ready for the start of the Championship. These days, I did not concentrate on finding the best time. My priority now is to work on developing the bike, which has shown to have really great potential. I am satisfied and can’t wait to get on track for another three days of testing next week”.
Jack is no longer the only Aussie on the grid this year, hopefully Miller and Gardner will be able to ride in front of a home crowd at Philip Island this season.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:58.645 (14th) “Thanks to the data we gathered on the first day, we were able to take a big step forward today, and I also felt more comfortable on the bike. Unfortunately, we missed the afternoon because of the rain, but we could still carry out most of our program. I have been busy testing some new components, and maybe if we had pushed harder, we could have been even faster, but we are still not far off the front. In general, I’m satisfied with these first two days of work, and I can’t wait to get back on track in a few days at Mandalika”.
The two-day Official MotoGP Sepang Test concluded on Sunday, and with a new searing fastest ever lap of the venue. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing), on only his second day riding a MotoGP bike at Sepang International Circuit, set a scorching 1:58.131 to beat Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) by just 0.026.
Enea and Aleix were both under the previous fastest lap of the track. We saw 20 riders within 1.066 by the end of play, with Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) third quickest and only 0.112 off the top.
Bastianini was the top Ducati on Day 2 – on the GP21 – as the ‘Beast’ hit back to topple Aprilia’s Saturday dominance. Martin, the rider who duelled and beat Bastianini in the fight for Rookie of the Year last season, leapt up the timesheets too – the Spaniard slotting into third and just 0.112 off the top. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) made a big move up the timesheets into sixth on Sunday, 0.134 off Bastianini, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) in ninth. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was P14.
On rookie watch, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) came out on top once again, despite a crash. Just over half a second off the fastest ever lap of the track is a feat in itself, and the number 72 ends the test in P16. Teammate Luca Marini also had a good day and was P11 by the end of play. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was P20, the number 49 having missed two days of the Shakedown but still able to get within 1.066 of his teammate’s record-breaker at the top.
Pramac Racing looked comfortable by the end of the day.
Ducati, which has eight podiums, including two wins at Jerez, remains in first place in the manufacturers’ standings with a 36-point advantage over KTM in second.
Gresini Racing
MotoGP™ pitlane reporter Simon Crafar reported a concern shared with him by Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi: the throttle connection, and rideability. The new engine has made gains in top speed and at Jerez the feedback was all positive, but Sepang has shown there remains margin for improvement. Martin, as he begins his sophomore season, framed that more in terms of still having a big margin to improve the new bike – so pausing the ‘Jaws’ music may prove premature.
The GP22 machines appear to have settled with the new aero and updated air intake, and the updated ride-height device continues to make a splash as Borgo Panigale push the boundaries of innovation.
Aprilia will be on the full attack for 2022 as they re-enter the spot as a factory team.
After taking a fantastic 1-2 on the opening day, Aprilia Racing end the Sepang Test in P2 and P5 thanks to the efforts of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales. The new 2022 bike – with updates across the board – has been very well received by both riders. Aleix Espargaro has praised the turning and corner speed improvements, although the Spaniard does remain undecided on which chassis is best.
Technical Director Romano Albesiano explained that Aprilia’s longer runs at the Sepang Test, which included a 12-lap run for Espargaro, have been “to measure the temperature of the working components,” not seeing how fast Espargaro and Viñales can go. Whichever way you look at things, Noale have started 2022 on the front foot. Both Espargaro and Viñales are within 0.130s of Bastianini’s quickest time, so three more days in Mandalika should be enough time to iron out any remaining issues they have before the Qatar GP.
Joan Mir
Alex Rins
Suzuki confirmed they had “significantly improved the engine”, which was a real key for the Hamamatsu factory as the inline-four machines – Suzuki and Yamaha – look to gain top speed without compromising elsewhere. There was more mixed feedback for aero and chassis updates but plenty that did work, making for some more good news.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was the fastest Suzuki once again, slotting into fourth and less than a tenth and a half off the top. 2020 MotoGP™ Champion Joan Mir was P12, still within four tenths of Bastianini as the timesheets were split more often by hundredths and thousandths. Mir also crashed, rider ok.
All eyes will be on 2021 world champion, Fabio Quartararo, as he defends his title against a very capable field.
Yamaha’s engine has been a talking point for a few seasons now and after winning the World Championship in 2021, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) wanted more top speed. There has been a small step, but both Quartararo and Team Manager Maio Meregalli explained they expected a bigger improvement, so they’re focusing hard on other areas – mainly aerodynamics – to get the best out of the updated YZR-M1.
“We didn’t make any revolution, we tried to improve the bike we used last year and we mainly focused on aerodynamics, we started to compare two chassis and in my opinion the ‘real test’ will be in Mandalika, where the riders have their speed and confidence back,” said Meregalli to MotoGP™’s Jack Appleyard and Simon Crafar. “There we will spend three days working and testing all the items we’ve tested here. To take a decision on which way we can go is too early, we would prefer to wait in one weeks’ time to have a better overview of what is working better.”
Darryn Binder
Andrea Dovizioso
Franco Morbidelli
Fabio Quartararo
Quartararo’s best time at the end of the test was a 1:58.313, 0.182s down on Bastianini’s effort, but he sounded pleased with his pace. The Frenchman also saved a couple of sets of tyres for the afternoon, but rain put a stop to him heading out to try and go faster. Overall, it was an upbeat Quartararo by the end of the Sepang Test though. His lap time put him in seventh place, with the next best Yamaha down in P22. Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) completed 55 laps as he continues his adaptation to the latest-spec Yamaha, with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and rookie Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) 24th and 25th respectively. Test Rider Cal Crutchlow was on track too, and we’ll be seeing more of the British rider in Mandalika.
Darryn Binder was able to get some wet weather laps under his belt in the afternoon on Day 2 as well, and finished 1.7s away from the fastest time at the Test. Very respectable from the South African, who now has three more days to get acquainted with his new bike in Mandalika.
“Work on the completely new RC213V continued on Day 2 for the HRC quartet of Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda teammate Pol Espargaro, Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu).”
Work on the completely new RC213V continued on Day 2 for the HRC quartet of Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda teammate Pol Espargaro, Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), with the number 93 ending the Test as the quickest Honda.
Marc Marquez ended the Test with a 1:58.332 in P8 as the Spaniard got an important 101 laps under his belt overall. The new bike is a “big change” from the previous RC213V and Marc Marquez admitted he needs time to find the limits with the new bike, and at the end of Day 1 he was “very tired”. However, he did feel good with the package. Two crashes on Day 1 didn’t affect his preparations for the new season, and the three days coming up in Indonesia will be vital for the eight-time Champion.
Pol Espargaro
Taka Nakagami
Pol Espargaro was into the top 10 with a 1:58.420 to finish a couple of tenths away from the best pace, with Nakagami and Alex Marquez also in the 1:58 bracket. All three riders have been testing the 2022 RC213V from the get-go in Sepang and the signs are positive from the Japanese manufacturer.
For KTM it remained a more muted test on the timesheets, but new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Francesco Guidotti said the focus for now, after a tougher 2021, is getting a good base to begin the season, and one from which the Austrian factory can then further develop. Guidotti said they’d had a lot of work to do and plenty of new parts, as well as a lot from 2021 to evaluate better. Some parts were “much better than expected”, and some things “so-so”, according to the Italian.
2021 Moto2™ Champion Remy Gardner, still pushing through the pain barrier after breaking his wrist in training, put in a best lap of 1:59.348.
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the fastest of the Mattighofen contingent in 15th but still within 0.570 of the fastest ever lap of the track, and Brad Binder was only a few places and a few tenths behind his teammate. On rookie watch, Raul Fernandez (Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing) was right behind Brad Binder and got down to a 1:59.180, 0.164 off the South African. 2021 Moto2™ Champion Remy Gardner, still pushing through the pain barrier after breaking his wrist in training, put in a best lap of 1:59.348.
That’s it from Sepang until the paddock returns later in the season to go racing. Now it’s time to pack up and head for the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit for the second and final pre-season Official Test, with three days of action on the cards in Indonesia.
