Sepang MotoGP Test Results - Saturday lap times (1pm)

Lap times as of 1pm during the opening day of the Official 2022 Sepang MotoGP test.
Aleix Espargaro , Sepang MotoGP tests, 2 February 2022
Aleix Espargaro , Sepang MotoGP tests, 2 February 2022
© Gold and Goose Photography

Following a Shakedown test for rookies, test riders and concession manufacturer Aprilia, the Official Sepang MotoGP test - open to all 2022 competitors - began on Saturday morning.

Aleix Espargaro, who rode on the final day of the Shakedown, continues to lead the way with a scorching 1m 58.371s, set on his 9th of 22 laps and close to the all-time unofficial lap record by Danilo Petrucci.

By midday, Gresini Ducati's Enea Bastianini had slotted into second, ahead of the Suzukis of Alex Rins and Joan Mir, with Pol Espargaro then putting the new Honda into fourth shortly afterwards.

Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo has been pushed from fourth to ninth. The Frenchman, whose main request is for more top speed from the new M1, seems to be settting a maximum of 327-328km/h, which is similar to the Suzukis but around 10km/h from the best seen so far.

The test is the first time that Marc Marquez has ridden a MotoGP bike since winning at Misano last October, after which he was sidelined by a repeat of his 2011 double-vision problems triggered by an enduro training accident.

The Repsol Honda rider suffered a small crash at around 11:30, but was reported as 'OK' by the team and has jumped to sixth on his return to the track.

KTM's Brad Binder has also made substantial gains in the past hour.

The Sepang test – which takes place from 10am to 6pm, followed by practice starts - concludes on Sunday evening…

2022 Sepang MotoGP Test - Saturday (1pm)
Pos RiderNatTeamTime
1=Aleix EspargaroSPAAprilia Racing (RS-GP)1m 58.371s
2=Enea BastianiniITAGresini Ducati (GP)+0.267s
3=Alex RinsSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+0.969s
4=Pol EspargaroSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+0.982s
5=Joan MirSPASuzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)+1.044s
6^10Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+1.051s
7˅1Maverick VinalesSPAAprilia Racing (RS-GP)+1.055s
8˅1Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP)+1.120s
9˅1Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.296s
10^2Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+1.401s
11˅2Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP)+1.578s
12˅2Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Lenovo (GP)+1.656s
13^7Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.665s
14˅3 Franco MorbidelliITAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.736s
15^3Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+1.743s
16˅3Marco BezzecchiITAMooney VR46 Ducati (GP)*+1.877s
17˅3Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.879s
18˅3Cal CrutchlowGBRYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+1.901s
19˅2Andrea DoviziosoITAWithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)+1.971s
20˅1Raul FernandezSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)*+2.176s
21=Jack MillerAUSDucati Lenovo (GP)+2.394s
22^3Fabio di GiannantonioITAGresini Ducati (GP)*+2.686s
23˅1Darryn BinderRSAWithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)*+3.034s
24˅1Sylvain GuintoliFRASuzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR)+3.085s
25˅1Remy GardnerAUSKTM Tech3 (RC16)*+3.216s
26=Luca MariniITAMooney VR46 Ducati (GP)+7.880s


*Rookie

Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than previous hour.
= Rider is same position as previous hour.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than previous hour.

Fastest Shakedown Time:
Maverick Vinales SPA Aprilia 1m 58.942s

Official Sepang MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Fabio Quartararo
FRA Yamaha 1m 58.576s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Valentino Rossi
ITA Yamaha 1m 59.661s (2019)

Unofficial Sepang MotoGP record:
Danilo Petrucci
ITA Ducati 1m 58.239s (2019 testing)

 

By Peter McLaren

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