Sepang MotoGP Test Results - Saturday lap times (2pm)

Lap times (and top speeds) as of 2pm, halfway through the opening day of the Official 2022 Sepang MotoGP test.
Aleix Espargaro , Sepang MotoGP test, 5 February 2022
Aleix Espargaro , Sepang MotoGP test, 5 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 1m 58.371s, set on his 9th of 22 laps and close to the all-time unofficial lap record by Danilo Petrucci.

Gresini Ducati's Enea Bastianini slotted into second at midday, ahead of the Suzukis of Alex Rins and Joan Mir, with Pol Espargaro putting the new Honda into fourth shortly afterwards by almost one-second behind his brother's best.

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 jumped to sixth on his return to the track.

Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo was fourth earlier in the day before sliding to tenth, just behind Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow, by 2pm.

The Frenchman, whose main request is for more top speed from the new M1, seems to be setting a consistent maximum of 327-328km/h, similar to the Suzukis.

The overall top speed of the day so far is a 337.5km/h by Marc Marquez, with Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia next best on 336.4km/h, then Vinales on 335.4km/h for Aprilia. Mir has set 330.2km/h for Suzuki, matched by Raul Fernandez and KTM. Quartararo's peak is a 328.2km/h, putting him joint 17th fastest through the speed trap (a speed matched by Crutchlow).

The all-time Sepang top speed is 339.6km/h, by Andrea Iannone at Ducati in 2015.

While one-off speeds can be casued by slipstreams or missed braking points, the factory Ducatis have both topped 334km/h on their fastest laps, with Honda and Aprilia also regularly above 330km/h.

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

2022 Sepang MotoGP Test - Saturday (2pm)
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=Marc MarquezSPARepsol Honda (RC213V)+1.051s
7=Maverick VinalesSPAAprilia Racing (RS-GP)+1.055s
8=Johann ZarcoFRAPramac Ducati (GP)+1.120s
9^9Cal CrutchlowGBRYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+1.187s
10˅1Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.296s
11˅1Takaaki NakagamiJPNLCR Honda (RC213V)+1.401s
12^5Miguel OliveiraPORRed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.574s
13˅2Jorge MartinSPAPramac Ducati (GP)+1.578s
14˅2Francesco BagnaiaITADucati Lenovo (GP)+1.656s
15˅2Brad BinderRSARed Bull KTM (RC16)+1.665s
16˅1Alex MarquezSPALCR Honda (RC213V)+1.677s
17˅3 Franco MorbidelliITAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.736s
18˅2Marco BezzecchiITAMooney VR46 Ducati (GP)*+1.877s
19=Andrea DoviziosoITAWithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)+1.971s
20=Raul FernandezSPAKTM Tech3 (RC16)*+2.176s
21=Jack MillerAUSDucati Lenovo (GP)+2.394s
22^3Remy GardnerAUSKTM Tech3 (RC16)*+2.415s
23˅1Fabio di GiannantonioITAGresini Ducati (GP)*+2.686s
24˅1Darryn BinderRSAWithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)*+3.034s
25˅1Sylvain GuintoliFRASuzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR)+3.085s
26=Luca MariniITAMooney VR46 Ducati (GP)+4.200s

*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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