01/31/2022 |
Christina Bulpett |
MotoGP
Marco Bezzecchi got his first taste of Ducati MotoGP power down the Sepang straight on Monday, with the Italian ‘impressed’ but playing it cool.
The first of three shakedown days on track in Malaysia for the Mooney VR46 rookie, ahead of the full official MotoGP test this coming weekend, allowed Bezzecchi to continue fine-tuning his Desmosedici GP21 machine after November’s Jerez outing. With rider position the main focus, the Italian was positive about the opening action and eager for more as the week unfolds.
“It was a good day,” Bezzecchi confirmed from Malaysia on Monday. “Overall I felt good with the bike. I enjoyed the Ducati today. We didn’t make so many laps because we wanted to keep the energy for the other days and especially for the official test with all the riders but overall, we tried something that we didn’t have time to try in Jerez, and all these sensations were positive. So yeah, overall was a very good first day. I enjoy.
“Now is only the first test, is a bit too early to compare with everyone,” he admitted, reflecting on his progress compared to the other four rookies on track. “For the moment I’m just doing my plan of work with my team and I don’t look so much to the others for the moment. Of course during the season is normal to watch the others but for the moment, no.”
With the tight and twisty Jerez Circuit – Angel Nieto playing host to the initial 2022 test, Sepang’s vast 5.5kms layout, sweeping corners and two near-kilometre-long straights provide a different experience as the premier class new recruits get up to speed.
“The straight is impressive,” the 23-year-old commented. “The bike is very fast. I was impressed but a little bit less compared to Jerez because Jerez was really the first touch with the bike and the track is very tight. So was more impressive, but here the speed is unbelievable. I think I make 335, I don’t really know but was very good. Physically, we make a good job with our trainer Carlo but still is the first day, I have to wait a little bit to do some more laps to see how I am.
“Today I finished to work on the position for the riding, that on the Ducati is very, very important. I heard Luca all this winter that he complained a lot last year for this, so I wanted to be really sure about this and also with Ducati after Jerez they had something that they wanted me to try for the position.
“Tomorrow, honestly still I don’t know, we have to watch the data. Let’s see. We have to see how I was with the different tires and then just try to take confidence with the bike.”