News Wrap-up

MotoGP: Fernandez Quickest On Day One Of Shakedown Test At Sepang (Updated)

January 31, 2022
Brandon Catterson

Five rookies and seven test riders were in action Monday, the first day of the MotoGP “shakedown test” preceding the official pre-season test later this week, at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia.

 

Michele Pirro (51) at speed on his Ducati Desmosedici prototype. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Michele Pirro (51) at speed on his Ducati Desmosedici prototype. Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

Rookies Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP), Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), and Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) shared the track with test riders Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki), Mika Kallio (KTM), Katsuyuki Nakasuga (Yamaha), Kohta Nozane (Yamaha), Dani Pedrosa (KTM), Michele Pirro (Ducati), and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia).

 

KTM test rider Mika Kallio (82). Photo courtesy Dorna.
KTM test rider Mika Kallio (82). Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

Cal Crutchlow did not ride although he has renewed his contract as a Yamaha test rider, and Honda tester Stefan Bradl was not on track Monday. Pedrosa rode for KTM on Monday, but his name did not appear on timing and scoring monitors.

 

Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori (32). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori (32). Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

Unofficially, Fernandez was quickest on Monday with a lap time of 2:00.898, which fell short of Fabio Quartararo’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:58.303 and Valentino Rossi’s Race Lap Record of 1:59.661, but was impressive for a rookie.

 

Rookie Remy Gardner (87) rode in spite of still recovering from a broken wrist. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Rookie Remy Gardner (87) rode in spite of still recovering from a broken wrist. Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

Both records were set in 2019, the last time MotoGP raced at Sepang.

 

Rookie Marco Bezzecchi (72) on his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Rookie Marco Bezzecchi (72) on his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati. Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

FIM MotoGP World Championship

Shakedown Test

January 31, 2022

Unofficial Day One Lap Times (all on Michelin tires):

  1. Raul Fernandez, Spain (KTM), 2:00.898
  2. Michele Pirro, Italy (Ducati), 2:01.042*
  3. Mika Kallio, Finland (KTM), 2:01.250*
  4. Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Aprilia), 2:01.676*
  5. Remy Gardner, Australia (KTM), 2:01.852
  6. Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (Ducati), 2:02.012
  7. Darryn Binder, South Africa (Yamaha), 2:02.146
  8. Sylvain Guintoli, France (Suzuki), 2:02.181*
  9. Fabio Di Giannantonio, Italy (Ducati), 2:02.596
  10. Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Japan (Yamaha), 2:03.442*
  11. Kohta Nozane, Japan (Yamaha), 2:03.616*
  12. Dani Pedrosa, Spain (KTM), no time recorded

*=test rider

 

Rookie Darryn Binder (40). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Rookie Darryn Binder (40). Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

Suzuki test rider Sylvain Guintoli (50). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Suzuki test rider Sylvain Guintoli (50). Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

Rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga (T2). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga (T2). Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

Yamaha test rider Kohta Nozane (T1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Yamaha test rider Kohta Nozane (T1). Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa (26). Photo courtesy Dorna.
KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa (26). Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Mooney VR46 Racing Team:

THE 2022 PRE SEASON BEGINS FOR MARCO BEZZECCHI AT SEPANG

Riding the Ducati Desmosedici GP, the rookie of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team completes the Day1 of the MotoGP Shakedown test with 38 laps

Sepang (Malaysia), January 31st 2022 – Day1 of the shakedown test reserved to the MotoGP rookies at the end at Sepang International circuit for Marco Bezzecchi on the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team.

Among the very first guys on the track with the special pre season helmet with a big P on the top as in Italy we use for indicated the beginners in driving (L as learner in the most of the countries), Marco inaugurates the 2022 by completing 38 laps to continue to become familiar with the power of the new bike and being ready for the first official MotoGP test. At work in the morning and in the second half of the afternoon to make the most of the more favorable temperatures on the track, he sets a best lap time of 02.02.012 and is in P6 in the combined standings.

As scheduled, Marco and the Mooney VR46 Racing Team will return at work to complete the other two days of shakedown testing session tomorrow and Wednesday.

Marco Bezzecchi 

An exciting first day: it was strange arrive at the garage and found two bikes there. Irony aside, a good Day1: we started gradually, also to keep energies for the official testing session and test my condition well. I have continued to try the material we used at Jerez and I felt comfortable. At the moment, it is difficult to compare my performance with the other guys, I will continue to follow my plan with the Team in the upcoming days. They are helping me a lot and doing an amazing job.

Pablo Nieto

Team Manager

The wait is over and I am very happy to have finished the first day of testing here in Sepang. Marco and the whole Team are ready, they did a great job today and in recent days. This is the first real test for us, we spent the entire winter preparing for the new season and for the first time we are on track at 100%. A good Day1, Marco trained a lot, he is physically fit and today he started to find the feeling with the bike, the power of the Ducati and all the automatisms of the new category. I’m satisfied.