Editorial Note: Scroll down the results PDF to see combined results for all three days, average top speeds on Day Three, and more.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Ducati vs Aprilia on Day 3: the timesheets tighten at Sepang

Marini top, Bagnaia second, Viñales third as Ducati & Aprilia shine on Sunday – with Marquez leading the resistance

Sunday, 12 February 2023

Slow start, hectic middle, steady end. That was the story of the third and final day of the Official MotoGP™ Sepang Test as we saw times tumble in between a couple of small rain showers that hampered the start and end of testing. Coming out on top of the timesheets was Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) thanks to a blistering 1:57.889, as reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) also broke the 1:58 barrier. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounded out the top three, the Spaniard 0.147s off Marini’s table-topping effort at the close of play.

With not too many more tech updates to discuss that we haven’t delved into already over the past couple of days, Sunday was also about having a closer look at the timing screens. Only two riders didn’t manage to improve their best times from Friday and Saturday, they were Miguel Oliveira (RNF MotoGP™ Team) and 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), as most of the full-time premier class stars did a few time attack laps.

Here’s a rundown and first… ain’t it good to see bikes on track (and some sunny skies!)?

DUCATI

Reigning Champion Bagnaia was so close to the top, and he had the new aero on both bikes but had the downwash ducts instead of the “ground-effect” side fairings, reportedly preferring them. Teammate Enea Bastianini had the new aero on both bikes but one with the downwash ducts and one with the “ground-effect” lower side fairings. The Beast was fourth overall and at the end of the day said they were still only at 70-75% of the potential of the new bike…

Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi was also pleased overall, but he did also stress that the details of the whole new bike will be decided in Portimão. He also reported that Bagnaia said there were good points to the ‘23 machine, but still “one weak point” compared to the GP22, so that will be one to ask about.

At Prima Pramac Racing, Jorge Martin was especially vocal about the step forward with the 2023 engine, and he was fifth at the end of play. Teammate Johann Zarco was also spending time on the ground effect lower side fairings, and he finishes the test in P16.

With Marini on top enjoying the still very much sublime GP22, Mooney VR46 Racing Team make it two days of three they’ve stolen some headlines at Sepang after teammate Marco Bezzecchi was also quickest on Day 1. Bezzecchi was eighth on Sunday, just 0.019 behind Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on another GP22. New Ducati rider Alex Marquez was just behind Bezzecchi, and by just we mean 0.022s.

APRILIA

Both of the Aprilia Racing stars – Aleix Espargaro and Viñales – had 2023 aero packages on them on the final day, and both bikes in each of their boxes were the 2023 machines. It looks like Aprilia have made a promising step with their new package, as both riders improved their overall lap times ahead of lunch time on Sunday.

Viñales was the busier of the two riders in terms of laps. Top Gun clocked 56 laps in total and had an enjoyable afternoon, as we saw the number 12 sling himself to the top of the timesheets. His 1:58.036 was at some stage the third fastest lap we’ve ever seen at the Sepang International Circuit, before Marini slammed in his 1:57.889 and Pecco joined his VR46 Academy counterpart in the 1:57s.

Espargaro set 32 laps on the final day and eventually ended the three-day outing in sixth place, 0.4s from top spot, but the Spaniard was happy with how Aprilia’s Test has gone. It’s “too early” to properly evaluate the 2023 package, but it’s so far, so good for the Naole factory. There’s also a newer engine spec and a few more things expected for the next test, too.

Positivity was seemingly running through the RNF MotoGP™ Team box as premier class sophomore Raul Fernandez climbed to P7 overall, but as others also improved, Fernandez eventually finished P11. His 1:58.710 was over a second quicker than he managed in qualifying at the 2022 Malaysian GP, while teammate Miguel Oliveira continued to show impressive pace on the RS-GP. The Portuguese star ended the Test in P15, his best time coming in at a 1:58.839, and said a lot of focus was on the rear of the bike and setting it up so he felt more comfortable.

HONDA

In the Honda camp, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) managed to better his overall best laptime ahead of lunch time and sat comfortably in the top 10 for a while. After having four bikes in his box for the first two days, there were only three on his side of the factory HRC garage on Sunday – and one of them had a cover on it. The two bikes the eight-time World Champion was out on were the 2023 development bikes, they each have a different chassis, but look very similar from the outside. It seems notable that Marquez and Honda concentrated mainly on the 2023 development bikes on the final day, not on the experimental bike that he was seen out on a few times this weekend.

At the end of the three days, the number 93 was P10 on the timesheets having completed a further 55 laps on the final day. Marquez was 0.777s off Marini’s pace, with teammate Joan Mir a solid P12 – just over a tenth of Marquez’s effort. Mir got another valuable 45 laps under his belt as he continues his adaptation to the RC213V.

Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig admitted Honda are “clearly” not where they want to be yet, but commented how positive Marquez’s physical condition is. Puig was also full of praise of Mir’s progress, with Mir also pleased that he’s feeling better on the bike “everyday”. Marquez on Marquez, meanwhile, was full of positives. The number 93 said the most important thing to him in the test was to assess his physical condition and he was very happy with the outcome, saying there was some tiredness in the arm on the final day but it was completely normal. Rivals, beware…

Elsewhere at Honda, Alex Rins’ (LCR Honda Castrol) best time of the test was a 1:58.932, placing him P19, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) 1.6s off top spot in P21 as he continued his testing duties for the Japanese factory.

GASGAS

That different engine noise overheard from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing earlier in the test was overheard from Pol Espargaro’s GASGAS RC16 on Sunday. He was P13 overall too, just thousandths ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Rookie Augusto Fernandez seemed to be out testing one of the newer chassis, taking on a few more parts too.

KTM

At KTM, Binder was back out testing the aero update that broke cover at the Shakedown, and the engine questions roll on. The South African was 0.015s behind Pol Espargaro in a GASGAS-KTM RC16 sandwich, in P14 after another half century of laps.

On Jack Miller’s side of the Red Bull KTM garage, both bikes looked the same as they have over the previous two days – with the Valencia aero update. He was back on the “old” engine on Sunday, and ended the day P18 after another 54 laps of settling in. He says that’s his focus, playing with geometry and finding his feet with the RC16. He also crashed at Turn 1, rider ok.

YAMAHA

In terms of tech, there wasn’t much more to report from the Iwata factory on Day 3 that hasn’t already been discussed over the past couple of days. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was seen testing a bigger version of Yamaha’s new aero that we saw his teammate Fabio Quartararo trying in Valencia, but the latter hasn’t lapped with it in Sepang.

The timesheets didn’t make pretty reading for Yamaha, but Team Manager Maio Meregalli confirmed that both Quartararo and Morbidelli like and agree on what 2023 engine was best for the upcoming season. That’s a huge positive. The rain meant Yamaha couldn’t get through all their items that “need to be evaluated” before the season, according to Meregalli, so expect the Iwata factory to be busy with chassis and swingarm testing in Portimao.

At the end of the three-day Test, Quartararo was P17 and Morbidelli was P20. Don’t read too much into that at this stage, but improvements will be sought after at the two-day Portimao Test – especially on new tyres. Quartararo branded their pace a “disaster” on new tyres, and a “complete reset” will be needed heading to Portugal in that particular area so they can get qualifying and Sprint ready.

That’s a wrap on Sepang and we’re now officially more than half-way through pre-season! We’ve learned a fair bit so far but there’s plenty more to be revealed as the countdown to the first Grand Prix continues. Check out motogp.com for a host of content from the test and get ready for more in Portugal as the clock continues ticking down!

More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:

FIRST OFFICIAL TEST OF 2023 DRAWS TO A CLOSE FOR TEAM GRESINI MOTOGP

The three-day test at the Sepang International Circuit, the first of 2023, was a successful one for Team Gresini MotoGP. Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio were able to continue – but more likely begin – the on-track work aboard the Desmosedici GP22 machines they first tried for a few laps more than three months ago at Valencia.

Despite a not-too-productive day two due to adverse weather, in which the riders #49 and #73 were still able to try their Ducati motorcycles in wet conditions, the final day allowed both riders to work on set-up and electronics, with an eye on engine braking.

With the crates ready for the return to Europe, the following test will take place at Portimao on March 10-11 with the final test of the 2023 preseason.

7th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (Best lap overall – 1’58.344s) 

“The step forward compared to last year is there and it is quite noticeable. The bike is less on the limit compared to the previous version and there is bigger margin for improvement, especially on corner exit where you can work to perfect the traction side of things. We worked well with the team and we focused on the race pace: not only to prepare for the race itself but also to understand how the bike behaves and how I behave with used tyres. We’re still haven’t hit our full potential, but it was a good start nonetheless.”

9th – ALEX MARQUEZ #73 (Best lap overall – 1’58.385s) 

“We working quite a lot on the bike and the set-up and we also did a time attack. It was important to understand which direction to take set-up wise especially considering my riding style: we’re still missing something, but generally speaking it was a very productive and constructive day. We understood a lot in these three days and at Portimao we’ll try to fine-tune some details in order to be ready for the first race.”

More, from a press release issued by GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3:

GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 riders Espargaro and Fernandez Complete Sepang Test with Success

After a tricky Saturday in Malaysia which saw the testing being disrupted by the rain, the sun was back in full force on Sunday for the third and final day of the MotoGP™ Sepang Test. However, having rained overnight, the track was still in its drying process at 10:00 (GMT+8), meaning that none of the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 riders Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez were able to go on track within the first two hours. Spanish rookie Fernandez was the first in the pit box to head out on track, just before midday, followed shortly by his teammate Espargaro.

Having made significant progress on Saturday following the trial of a new chassis and a new aero on the GASGAS RC16, Tech3’s number 44 started the day with a new set of tyres on a dry Sepang circuit, after a warm up run in used tyres. Quickly the lap times went down and his thirteenth lap of the day in 1’58.797 placed him fourth with five hours to go. After lunch break, he returned to work under some rather threatening clouds. The focus was on doing a couple of time-attack laps to confirm the settings developed over the last two days, before ending the day with the trial of a different fork. After thirty-seven laps, the Spaniard finished thirteenth in the timesheets, 0.908 seconds from the fastest man of the day, Luca Marini.

After three days of Shakedown Test and another two days of Official test, a sixth and final day was awaiting Augusto Fernandez in Sepang. In the need of as much dry time as possible, the rookie had a busy day to conclude his February testing programme. Within the first hour, he managed to go under the bar of the 2’, registering a fast lap in 1’59.883. As he continued his adaptation and preferences of settings emerged, he was able to improve again in the afternoon to 1’59.660. Step by step. He also tested aero parts and chassis, like his teammate. The MotoGP™ rookie concludes his final day of the test in Sepang twenty-seconds in the timesheets, 1,771 seconds from the top.

That’s a wrap for the preseason tests in Sepang for Pol Espargaro and Augusto Fernandez. Important information was gathered by the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 squad over the last couple of days. One month of analysis and work awaits the team until the next and last official preseason test, to be held in Portimao on March 11-12. By then, you will have discovered our new livery. Keep an eye on our team’s presentation, on March 4, 2023.

Pol Espargaro
Position: 13rd
Time: 1’58.797
Laps: 37

“Today was the best day for us. We tried various key things such as engines, some important parameters, aerodynamics, and all of them worked very well. I would like to congratulate the Pierer Mobility Group because the improvements made over the last few years are incredible. We have a bike working well, and I am happy. Of course today we ended up P13 because lap times exploded within the last hour, but we were in the top 5 all day. What matters anyway will be lap times in Portimao GP, not during the tests. It is very easy to make a fast lap after three days of testing, but it does not really mean much. Last year, I was amongst the fastest here with one the best rhythms. Same in Mandalika, and 2022 was still a disaster. Anyway, I am happy with the homework done in Sepang, and I can’t wait to head to Portimao in one month to make the final adjustments before going racing.”

Augusto Fernandez
Position: 22nd
Time: 1’59.660
Laps: 46

“I am going home with a positive feeling. Over the last three days, we made a lot of progress, including the base, the feeling on the bike, and we did good lap times. I really needed dry track time so I was happy about the weather today. We did as much as we could until the rain arrived. I managed to go under 2’, but I still have a lot to work on. Every little step matters, and I have learned so much every day. I feel more confident on the bike and I am starting to feel like a MotoGP rider! I will check carefully all the data, mine, but also the ones from the other riders. Next we will go testing in Portimao, and it will not be easy with a MotoGP machine. We will continue working, try to be patient and do things smartly.”

Nicolas Goyon

Team Manager

“It was nice seeing our two riders back to school after the winter. Sepang holds the traditional preseason test, and I have to say that it has been a very intense one for the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 team. We saw big efforts from the Pierer Mobility Group staff during the winter. There were a lot of items to test and we did almost all our homework, so the riders did a great job. Pol Espargaro had a lot of different items to test: engines, aero parts, chassis parts, and he went through all of them, which gives us a better idea of the bike we will have for the season. Augusto Fernandez needed to learn the bike, get to speed, and he also had aero and chassis items to test, which were positive for him. He improved his lap time today, although he ended up being caught by the rain towards the end of the day. Thank you to both of them for their work over the last three days. I would like to finish with saying thank you to the crew because they worked incredibly hard over the last week, with late night shifts and not much sleep, just so we can be ready each day. It has been one of the most difficult tests, but we did it, and we head home with a lot of positive comments. Thank you to all the team.”

More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:

SEPANG SPEED GETS 2023 MOTOGP™ OFF TO A FLYER

2023 MotoGP Sepang test

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing once again convened at the Sepang International Circuit and in the hot and sweaty Malaysian climate to increase the intensity of their preparation work for 2023 MotoGP. After the three-day official test, Brad Binder rested 14th fastest while new recruit Jack Miller was 18th as the team diligently threaded through an analysis program of setup for the ’23 KTM RC16.

The two-and-a-half month MotoGP winter break ended with engines refired in the sweltering pitlane of Sepang; host of the nineteenth round of 21 on the 2023 schedule. Although the threat of rain showers was typical for this time of year in Malaysia Red Bull KTM were able to give racers Brad Binder and Jack Miller plenty of work and food for thought as the crew waded through configuration options for the KTM RC16 and before the homologation window closes for the season.

The KTM Factory Racing test squad had already been busy for three days in the ‘shakedown’ test prior to the arrival of the Grand Prix race teams but both Binder and Miller had many options and evaluations to make through Friday, Saturday and Sunday where they accrued over 300 laps of the varied circuit.

The South African ended the overall session 14th fastest and less than a second from the top spot, while Miller continued his adaptation to the KTM RC16 and was close behind, only a few tenths from his new teammate.

KTM and the rest of the factories will now have one month to fabricate the second round of components and possible solutions for the 2023 settings. The final test of the MotoGP pre-season will take place at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal on March 11-12.

Brad Binder: “We got through a lot of different of things, a lot of different parts and on the last day we had something new every time we left the pitlane. So, we accumulated a lot of information going forward and data for the engineers to go through. I think we narrowed down our options quite a bit and we are getting closer to our package that we’ll start the season with. My goal in Portimao is to continue that process and I want to start the first Grand Prix with the best possible combination from all the new material we’ve tried so far. The boys worked hard here to get as much done as we can. We had good track time and so far, so good.”

Jack Miller: “By the last day we were at a point with the bike where we were making good steps with the setup and we were looking how I could get more comfortable. We continued to tweak the geometry and the last adjustment allowed me to feel decent with used tires. I was very happy with the new engine and I’m getting much more understanding of the bike and what I need from it. That’s the process. We’ll continue with that in Portimao and I think we ticked as many boxes as we could here in Malaysia.”

Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We did a massive amount of work here and everybody involved made an incredible effort. We collected all the information we could and we need to continue working as hard as we can in the next weeks to find the next step for the second test in Portugal. We’d like to find a few more tenths of a second. We had enough tires here to work on bike setup but not so much on bike development as we were restricted to quite short runs and the weather didn’t help so much, especially on the second day. Anyway, we are full gas to give our riders the best possible package, so we are happy but we know we can still do more.”

Sebastian Risse, Red Bull KTM Technical Manager MotoGP: “A very productive test here where we had many new ideas, new riders and new staff! Overall, I think we did a really good job. The bike has made a step forward and we have a clear idea of where to go now. We now need to check how the package works on what will be quite a different track and in quite different conditions in Portugal. We have more work to do in the next month but we’ll be ready for the first race.”

Sepang Official Test final combined times

1. Luca Marini (ITA) Ducati 1:57.889

2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati +0.080

3. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Aprilia +0.147

4. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Ducati +0.260

5. Jorge Martin (ESP) Ducati +0.315

14. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.923

18. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +1.012

More, from a press release issued by RNF MotoGP Team:

Adaption work is coming to fruition for Fernandez and Oliveira

RNF MotoGP Team’s Raul Fernandez made another step today, while Miguel Oliveira focused on adjusting himself and his Aprilia RS-GP.

The third and final day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia saw an early end of track action when rain set in with less than one hour to go. Yet, the RNF MotoGP Team managed to use a fair amount of time on a dry track, but also wet conditions on Saturday in order to prepare for the upcoming MotoGP World Championship season. Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira both leave Malaysia with a decent feeling.

After a total of 136 laps on board his new Aprilia RS-GP during the three days of testing at the Sepang International Circuit, Fernandez feels clearly at ease, which was obvious in a further improvement of lap time today. The Spanish youngster went 0.402 seconds quicker than on Saturday, concluding the test in a fine 11th position overall. He’s flying back home with some good sensations, missing out on the top of the timesheets by just 0.821 seconds.

Meanwhile Oliveira was working further on adapting himself to his Aprilia RS-GP, and starting to adjust more and more. The Portuguese did a total of 154 laps throughout the three days of testing with a fastest lap of 1:58.839 minutes on Saturday, which see him finishing in P15 overall. Now, the local hero can’t wait to return home, where the premier class will have a second pre-season test in 2023 at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in March ahead of the first race of the season.

MIGUEL OLIVEIRA

“I expected more from myself today to be honest, but when it came to putting it all together during the time attacks, we just couldn’t do it. There is still a bit of work to be done in the adaptation of this bike as it is truly different to ride. But we know exactly what we need to do, we will make a plan for the test in Portimao as we have another two days of testing before we get ready to start the race season. In general, today was good, I had a decent pace and worked on a few things on the bike and managed to understand it a bit more.”

RAUL FERNANDEZ

“I’m really happy to come back on the bike during the testing these three days, the team and Aprilia did a fantastic job and I’m happy with the opportunity I had with this amazing team and the manufacturer. The test was really positive, I focused on trying to understand the bike clearly, and I think we did really well this week and I definitely enjoyed riding the bike.”

Razlan Razali, Founder and Team Principal RNF MotoGP Team

“So, we come towards the end of the third day of Sepang Official Test. It has been a positive three days for both our riders Miguel and Raul and we’re happy with what they have done. Of course, with the typical Malaysian climate, we finished off the test with a slight drizzle towards the end of day three. However, we have a lot of data for us to study and prepare for the second test in Portimao which will in a couple of week’s time. It will be an exciting test in Portimao and after that the first round of the 2023 season race at Miguel Oliveira’s home Grand Prix.”
Wilco Zeelenberg, Team Manager RNF MotoGP Team

“An important and very fruitful test is finished, unfortunately it ended in rainy conditions, which was not preferred since we would have wanted to try many different things on dry surface. But overall, it’s still a positive test, of course you always want more which is in our DNA, but having both boys doing 1’58s is already very positive. Yesterday Miguel felt very good but he was feeling a bit less today since we’re missing a little bit of grip. Unluckily, at the last moment we couldn’t use the new tyre because of the rain, but overall, we’ve been testing what we wanted to. So far, we’re very happy with the laps we’ve had and managed to finish the test on a positive note.”

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

LUCA MARINI IS THE FASTEST AT SEPANG

Concrete test for the riders of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team in Malaysia: Luca Marini is first, while Marco Bezzecchi eighth, in the combined standings

Sepang (Malaysia), February 12th 2023 – A more than constructive first approach to the Ducati Desmosedici GP for the duo of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team: Luca Marini leaves behind the first official test of the 2023 season with the absolute best lap time (he was the fastest also in Valencia last November). Three demanding days and uncertain weather with Marco Bezzecchi in P8.

In the slipstream of the strongest guys after the Day1 and very fast under the rain yesterday, Luca is the protagonist of a last and significant step forward today. At the end of the day, after dedicating himself to a positive sprint race simulation, he scores an excellent 1.57.889.

Leader after the first two days thanks to the lap signed on Friday (1’58.470), Marco closes in crescendo, satisfied with the progress made during the test and managing to improve his best up to 1.58.363.

For both, the next appointment, in three weeks, is in Portimao for the last MotoGP test before the first race, also in Portugal, on March 26th.

Luca Marini

A good start and a fantastic test: we followed the program and we fully done it. We made some good steps forward in terms of engine brake, traction and front feeling. If I had to describe it, but not only for the lap time, the perfect test! I also kept a good pace in the sprint race, low 59, and I also attempted some overtaking simulations. We needed to better understand how to deal with this type of distance because it will be a demanding race. The standings amazed me, there are 20 riders in 1 second of gap. The level is very high, anyone can win, but the important thing is to stay there.

Marco Bezzecchi

I’m really happy with how much work we were able to do over the three days. Yesterday the rain changed our plans a bit, but today we were able to try many things on the bike. I have gathered important and meaningful information and I am happy. I found a good setup base and then I just made a few modifications to understand the sensations that came from the bike and that I could also exploit in other tracks. I didn’t do the simulation, it was scheduled, but in the end we preferred to avoid it.

Pablo Nieto, Team Manager

I’m very satisfied with this test: we worked hard and were fast in all conditions. The whole team and Ducati supported Luca and Marco in the best possible way. Luca, in particular, immediately refund the sensations of Valencia and finished in a crescendo with the absolute best lap time. He made a step forward in terms of settings, tried new solutions and used the three days to attempt a race simulation. Marco also did very well, he was the strongest guy on Friday, and capable of improving his best again today. Let’s go home, let’s concentrate fully on these three weeks to then face the busy test and the race in Portugal. We can’t wait!

More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:

Busy end to the Sepang Test for focused Repsol Honda Team

With a total of 283 laps between them, Marc Marquez and Joan Mir completed a productive three days in Malaysia and set the tenth and 12th fastest times respectively.

The final day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit saw a later start to proceedings as the field waited for the track to dry. A shower of rain in the closing hour of action reduced running by only a marginal amount.

A third day of riding produced 55 laps for Marc Marquez as he gathered yet more data for Honda HRC ahead of the Portimao Test. Continuing to experiment with a number of setups and technical pieces, the #93 helped to define a clear direction of work for the coming weeks. A fruitful test, Marquez ended the event as the tenth fastest rider thanks to a 1’58.666 set on the final day – 0.777s behind Luca Marini, quickest at the Sepang Test.

On the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage, Joan Mir completed his fourth day on the Honda RC213V. A time of 1’59.832 from the first day improved to a best time of 1’58.784 on Sunday, over a second faster. Mir and his team are aware that there is still work to be done in the coming test and across the opening races, but the double-World Champion is content with the progress made in three days of running in Malaysia. Mir leaves Sepang as the 12th fastest rider.

The engineers now return back to Honda HRC’s base in Japan to continue development and progressing through the pre-season plan. The Repsol Honda Team will next be on track at the Portimao Test, March 11 – 12, for the final test before the season begins.

Marc Marquez

10TH  1’58.666

“It was a more positive day today, it was the first day where I was able to start working in the smaller areas. This is when I was able to start getting faster, step by step. But we still had to continue on the schedule and keep trying new items and new things. I want to say thanks to the team for organising everything well and working well all weekend. Today was a big day for testing concepts as well. We did everything that we needed to and the feeling did improve, but we still need to make a step.”

Joan Mir

12TH  1’58.784

“I’m happy with how we have progressed at this test and I have felt strong every day on the bike. The bike feels more like my bike and I am able to ride in a better way than yesterday – this is what is important. My Repsol Honda Team has worked really well across all these three days. For sure we need to make progress, but every day we are making steps forward and getting closer and more comfortable. I am adapting more to the Honda style and I am enjoying riding like this, I’ve learned a lot across these three days.”

More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:

MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP CONCLUDE SEPANG TEST WITH FULL-ON DAY 3

Sepang (Malaysia), 12th February 2023

SEPANG MOTOGP OFFICIAL TEST

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP wrapped up the first official IRTA test of the 2023 season today at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli ended the outing with an intense final day of testing. They finished 17th and 20th respectively in the overall standings.

17th FABIO QUARTARARO 1’58.897 / 58+34+63 LAPS

20th FRANCO MORBIDELLI 1’58.986 / 59+44+44 LAPS

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team‘s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli put in loads of effort on the third and final day of the Sepang MotoGP Official Test. It was all hands on deck today to make up for lost time on Day 2 due to rainy conditions. The third consecutive eight-hour practice session was crucial to collect some final data in preparation for the 2023 season. They ultimately took 17th and 20th place respectively in the overall test results.

Quartararo showed his typical determination and dedication today. He completed 63 laps in total on Day 3, more than any other rider, in an effort to gather as much data as possible on the final testing day in Sepang. His best time, a 1‘58.943s, set on lap 48 put him in 19th position in today‘s timesheets, 1.054s from first. His faster Day-2 time, a 1‘58.897s, saw him finish the test in 17th place overall, 1.008s from the top.

Similar to his teammate, Morbidelli used the final day in Malaysia to work on completing his testing programme as much as possible to help the Yamaha engineers gain further insights about the updated items. His fastest lap was a 1‘58.986s, set on lap 38/44, that had him end the day in 20th place in both the Day-3 rankings and the combined results, 1.097s off the fastest time.

The team will now return to Europe whilst the Yamaha engineers in Japan process the testing data. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will regroup in Portugal from 11-12 March for the Portimão MotoGP Official Test.

MASSIMO MEREGALLI

TEAM DIRECTOR

This test was very important for us. We had a lot of items to evaluate over the last three days. It was a shame that rain cut into our track time over the course of the Sepang Test. We worked as much as we could and gathered a good amount of data, but it has not been easy to evaluate all those items in a really short time. Fortunately, we could decide on the most important items that we needed to assess during this test. For other items, like some parts of the aero package and chassis, we were not able to decide on them here, and we will have to try them again in Portimão. We are happy with the improvement we have made in terms of top speed. But unfortunately we couldn’t finish the entire testing plan. The list of items to test was so long, and the dry track time was so short, that we weren’t able to get the job done entirely. We will now go over all the data that we couldn’t analyse here to prepare for the last and very important test in Portimão in March.

FABIO QUARTARARO

I’m very happy with the top speed. This is something I asked for for a long time. We had many things to try, and I’m happy about that too, because we asked for this as well. Overall, the pace on used tyres is good, I’m feeling super happy, but we need to improve on riding with new tyres. Today, the feeling wasn’t great during the time attack. We will have a look at all the data and then have a think on how to ’reset‘ for Portimão. Let’s see if we can make a big step.

FRANCO MORBIDELLI

So, finally, we ran through the aero options. We really needed to do that, and we found some interesting stuff that we will need to confirm in Portimão. We back-to-backed some other things that we needed to test consecutively. Finally, we also did a time attack, but that wasn’t so positive. So, we need to dig deeper on that side. We will work on that and arrive more prepared in Portimão.

More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:

APRILIA DOES WELL STRAIGHT AWAY IN SEPANG

FIRST TESTS FOR ALEIX, MAVERICK, AND THE NEW RS-GP: APRILIA’S WORK OVER THE WINTER BREAK PASSES WITH FLYING COLOURS

One of the most highly anticipated events of the year came to a close today with the chequered flag over the first of the 2023 MotoGP tests. Three days that riders and techs exploited to test and analyse the new technical solutions developed over the winter break.

All exams were passed in the Aprilia camp. Both Aleix and Maverick approved the new RS-GP, considering it a positive step in all the major areas. From the most visible aerodynamics – the feather in the Italian racing department’s cap – to equally fundamental details such as the engine, the chassis and the electronics package.

The information gathered during the six days of testing (if we also consider the three shakedown sessions done by tester Lorenzo Savadori), will be analysed and assessed ahead of the Portimão tests. Four weeks of intense work to introduce more new features and to confirm the technical package for the season start.

Aleix Espargaró

“I can consider myself satisfied with this first test, despite the weather costing us time yesterday. The new RS-GP is definitely faster than the previous version. It has improved a bit in every area and if we add up many small improvements, the end result is good. This doesn’t change the fact that it’s still too early to form a definitive opinion. The engineers will have a month before the next test in Portimão and much can still change.”

Maverick Viñales

“I’m pleased. Aprilia did a lot of work over the winter and I already feel much more comfortable on the RS-GP. There are clearly still things to improve, also because in these first tests we tried a lot of different components without going in depth into the setting details. But overall, I think we have higher technical potential than we did at the end of last season and that is an outstanding sensation to have for the first test.”

More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

Positive feelings for Bagnaia and Bastianini in the first official 2023 MotoGP test at Sepang (Malaysia)

Luca Marini (VR46 Racing Team) ends the Sepang test on top

Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini concluded the first pre-season test of 2023 at the Sepang International Circuit this afternoon. During the three days at the Malaysian track, the two Ducati Lenovo Team riders could continue the development work on the 2023 version of the Desmosedici GP, which had already begun with official test rider Michele Pirro in the shakedown earlier in the week.

Despite the scorching temperatures and less-than-optimal track conditions, both Bagnaia and Bastianini covered numerous kilometres. On Friday, the only day in which the track was consistently dry, the two Ducati factory riders first completed a few runs with the bikes in 2022 configuration before moving on to test the new items developed by the Ducati Corse engineers over the winter, which, in addition to an evolution of last year’s engine, also included two new aerodynamic packages.

After initial positive feedback in the dry, Bagnaia and Bastianini confirmed their sensations in the wet on Saturday afternoon. At the same time, the rain that fell during the night between Friday and Saturday, and then between Saturday and Sunday, did not allow them to take full advantage of the morning of the last two days. At the end of Sunday’s final session, Pecco closed the test in second position (1:57.969) with a total of 136 laps completed, while Enea, 4th in 1:58.149, completed 128 laps over the three days.

Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:57.969 (2nd)

“I’m happy and proud of the work completed in this test. After the lunch break today, we made a modification to the new bike that allowed us to bring it up to the same level as last year’s. That was my goal, so we can only be satisfied. Of course, we have to continue working to improve other aspects of it and make it more rideable, but we still have two more days of testing in Portugal to do that. In Portimão, it will also be important to try the two aerodynamic solutions tested here again. I already have a preference, but I also want to try them on a different track. In Portimão, we will definitely focus on developing the GP23, and we will also have to try to simulate a Sprint Race, so the last two days of testing will be very important.”

Enea Bastianini (#23, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:58.149 (4th)

“It was a very demanding three days of work, but also very productive, and I am satisfied with the work completed over these three days. In the beginning, I struggled to adapt to the new bike, but this afternoon, we understood what needed improvement, allowing me to be fast on the time attack and the race pace. Pecco had the same feeling as me, making it easier to compare data and speak with the engineers. We still haven’t decided which fairing we will use this year from the ones we tried here at Sepang, and we will try them again at Portimão. It will be the last test before the opening race of the season so it will be crucial. We have yet to reach 100 per cent of our potential, but we’re very close to it”.

The Ducati Lenovo Team riders will have two more days of testing from 11th- 12th March at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão before tackling the first GP of the season at the same track from 24th-26th March.

More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Idemitsu:

LCR Honda IDEMITSU rider Takaaki Nakagami concludes the first 2023 official test 

12 February 2023 | Sepang Test

Three intense testing days have ended at the Sepang International Circuit, where the LCR Honda IDEMITSU rider Takaaki Nakagami has carried out the first of the two official tests scheduled before the start of the 2023 season. On the combined standings of the Sepang Test, Nakagami occupies the 21st position.

The Japanese rider is still recovering from the severe injury he suffered on his right hand at Aragon last year. After completing the three days, Takaaki admits the hand is reacting positively to the stress of the riding.

An amount of 100 exact laps have contributed to the understanding that the 2023 bike’s potential is superior to last year’s specification. Takaaki has been testing, assessing, and comparing several elements on the bike to provide HRC with valuable information to improve to find the appropriate setup.

The outcome of the test and the final assessments have helped determine that traction, grip, and braking stability are the areas to strengthen.

Takaaki will now have a month to keep recovering until the next test, scheduled for the 11th and 12th of March in Portimao.

Takaaki Nakagami – 21st

(1’59.535) 

“It’s been a very busy test; we’ve tried many parts and gathered many important data. We still have work to do, but I’m happy because my physical condition has improved, and I feel good with my hand. Let’s keep working, we’ll have many things to try in Portimao. I want to thank my team for working as hard as always in this first test”.

More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Castrol:

Alex Rins completes his first 2023 official test with LCR Honda CASTROL 

12 February 2023 | Sepang Test

Three intense testing days have ended at the Sepang International Circuit. LCR Honda CASTROL rider Alex Rins has completed the first of the two official tests scheduled before the start of the 2023 season.

Alex Rins has finished 19th on the combined standings of the Sepang Test after trying different parts of his Honda specification while getting used to his new machine and crew. To underline that the second day, Rins and the Honda proved their potential together: he finished 8th, less than half a second far from the first on the timesheets. Following his impressions and the comments from the crew, the 2023 specification seems superior to last year’s. Besides, Alex admits to noticing significant changes compared to the touchdown in Valencia (last November).

There is room for improvement: the days in Sepang and 149 laps have helped to provide HRC with valuable information to find the best path to follow. The final assessments have determined that traction, edge grip, and braking stability are the areas to strengthen.

Ahead of the 2023 season-opening round, the next test will take place in Portimao on the 11th and 12th of March.

Alex Rins – 19th

(1’58.932)

“I’m pleased with our work; the rain has jeopardized our plans, but overall I’m satisfied. We’ve been testing some parts and even a race simulation, and being the third time with this bike; we’ve found interesting things. The bike’s base isn’t clear yet, but we are working hard. From what I’ve heard, the four Honda riders have similar opinions, so let’s hope to try different things in Portimao”.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Martin fastest, Aprilia and GASGAS shine despite rain delays on Day 2

A few more puzzle pieces seem to slot into place for a couple of factories on Saturday, with plenty to see in pitlane despite rain curtailing play

Saturday, 11 February 2023

It was a largely rain-affected second day of Official MotoGP™ testing at Sepang International Circuit, with the riders only getting a couple of hours of dry running time under their belts. Overnight rain meant a damp track in the morning, before heavy rain just after midday put any hopes of getting more dry weather testing to one side. However, there are still stories to be told!

Jorge Martin’s (Prima Pramac Racing) 1:58.736 saw the Spaniard claim top spot, with Miguel Oliveira’s (RNF MotoGP™ Team) fastest time of the weekend putting him second on Day 2. Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) was third and also set his fastest time of the test so far, the Spaniard sitting well inside the top 10 heading into the third and final day.

Here’s a rundown of what was seen tech-wise, starting with Ducati after Martin’s table-topping performance. And first, a smile for the vibes… despite the rain.

DUCATI

Martin topped the timesheets and, despite a crash at Turn 7 and some tape on his hand, was positive at the end of the day – saying he hopes to ride in the final Sunday session without any issues. He compared aero but said the crash affected whether he can be fully sure of the differences as yet. Both he and teammate Johann Zarco had a new swingarm each to try, with small differences. Zarco was P15 and on the Frenchman’s role, new Pramac Team Manager Gino Borsoi added that Zarco remains on testing duty but the work will be spread little more across other Ducati riders now too.

Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was the second Ducati and slotted into fifth, and both his machines sported the updated aero fairing. New teammate Enea Bastianini was also trying aero but seemed to also be focusing on engine specification, ending Saturday in ninth.

Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) was seventh, with Friday’s fastest, his teammate Marco Bezzecchi, a bit further down the order in P12 and suffering a crash at Turn 5, rider ok. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was in P14 and his new teammate, Ducati newcomer Alex Marquez, was P17.

APRILIA

The leading RS-GP rider on Day 2 was the aforementioned Oliveira, whose 1:58.839 puts him into the top five overall on the combined standings. What’s more, that lap time is just a tenth off his fastest lap time aboard the KTM at last year’s Sepang Test. Impressive again from the Portuguese star, while RNF MotoGP™ Team teammate Raul Fernandez ended up climbing to P6 before the afternoon rain fell. Both Oliveira and Raul Fernandez had two 2022-spec Aprilias to work with.

Over in the factory Aprilia Racing ranks, Maverick Viñales tested a small variation of the new aero wings that we’ve seen on the Aprilias this week. The difference is they have a third element underneath them, something that test rider Lorenzo Savadori has been running. Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro had a complicated day at the office. The number 41 crashed at Turn 12 ahead of lunch before then suffering a technical issue in the final hour of the day.

GASGAS

Pol Espargaro had one bike with a new chassis and was seen using the aero update tested by Binder and Miller in Valencia – plus those downwash ducts to add those to the “ground-effect” side fairings. He was positive about the aero and the top speed trap numbers, saying the running may have been short but it was valuable. He also had a coming together with Bagnaia earlier in the day, going past the reigning Champion and then heading a little wide, but both riders stayed on and continued with their running after a couple of gesticulations.

2023 rookie Augusto Fernandez continued with the new seat and tail unit, and he was working on testing out parts as well as “simply” settling in.

KTM

At Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Jack Miller was first out on track, as he was on Friday, and it was his laptimes coming down that proved the conditions by around lunchtime. One of his machines sounded different to pitlane reporter Simon Crafar, a difference he noted yesterday in one of Binder’s machines, so that will be a key area of interest going forward once there’s more dry running. Miller was P19 by the end of play.

Brad Binder, meanwhile, ended the day in P10 and spent much of his time on aero. He was seen on the initial update seen in Valencia and also headed out on the package debuted by test rider Dani Pedrosa on the third day of the Shakedown – with the addition of the downwash ducts on the lower side fairing, also seen on the GASGAS RC16 of Pol Espargaro.

YAMAHA

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) began the day with Yamaha’s new aero package on both bikes in his garage, while the Frenchman was also running through some of the parts he tested on Day 1 to get another feel for them. Quartararo – who was positive about his day’s work – also tried the downwash ducts that were debuted by test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga on Day 1, and he clocked a 335.4km/h top speed – the third fastest behind the Ducatis of Bagnaia and Martin. Yamaha have two 2023 engine specifications in Sepang, so a decision needs to be made as to which one gets the nod for the season.

Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) also had Yamaha’s new aero package on two bikes, but the Italian also did some work on the older aero on Day 2 – back-to-back testing. Cal Crutchlow joined the fray again after sitting out the opening day of the Official Test, as Quartararo and Morbidelli finished P4 and P11 respectively.

HONDA

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) continued with four RC213Vs in his side of the garage, including HRC’s ‘experimental bike’ seen yesterday. His two 2023 development bikes have different chassis from one another, one is the standard 2023 chassis that we’ve seen a lot, while the other is a chassis Stefan Bradl has been seen testing.

Honda newcomers Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) – who said he’s more comfortable on the Honda despite a lack of dry action on Day 2 – and Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) both have two 2023 development bikes to play with. Mir’s bikes having two different chassis – the same as teammate Marquez. Rins, on the other hand, has the same chassis in both of his RC213Vs and had a positive day after climbing into the top 10, also stating at the end of the day that his riding style is meshing pretty well with his new machinery. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), meanwhile, also had two different chassis like Marquez and Mir.

That’s it from Day 2, with one day at Sepang remaining. There’s live timing on motogp.com throughout the day, before our special After the Flag broadcasts from 17:30 local time (GMT +8). Pitlane reporter Simon Crafar is joined by Jack Gorst in Malaysia, with Louis Suddaby and Neil Morrison anchoring the show in Barcelona as the team run through a host of analysis, insights and interviews. Join us on Sunday for the final day of the first Official Test!

More, from a press release issued by GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3:

Espargaro Third of Rain-Affected Day 2 of Sepang Test, Fernandez Continues Progress in the Wet

The Sepang Test action resumed on Saturday in Malaysia after a very intense and hot first day yesterday, which was the first school day of 2023 for the MotoGP™ class. If rookie Augusto Fernandez continued his progression following his Shakedown Test, the experienced Pol Espargaro rode his GASGAS RC16 for the first time in three months yesterday, with a busy testing schedule on the menu. Unfortunately, the plans faced consequent disruptions today with the rain being part of the party all day. The rainfall from the morning made it difficult for any rider to go out for the first two hours of day 2.

GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 rider Pol Espargaro gave it a go at lunch time, and was followed shortly by a few other riders. Before that, only four riders had adventured themselves to the drying Sepang Circuit. Today, he continued to try different settings, some aero in yesterday’s continuity, and the trial of a different chassis was in the plans. The Spaniard improved quickly from his Friday’s fastest lap (2’00.078), in 1’59.205. Shortly after, he reached 1’58.881, a time placing him third in the timesheets, 0.042 seconds from the fastest man of the day, Jorge Martin. With two hours to go, an intense rain took over the circuit. Pol went on track to get a few laps in the wet, but the aquaplaning forced team number 44 to call it a day.

The conditions were not ideal for the Moto2™ World champion Augusto Fernandez, in need of as much dry track time as possible. He did not ride all morning and started his programme at 13:30 local time (GMT+8). He continued to progress behind the other MotoGP™ riders at lunch time, before he was able to get wet track conditions again following his first experience in the Shakedown. Appearing comfortable with the wet Michelin tyres, he registered interesting lap times towards the end of the afternoon under the rain. Just like his teammate’s, Augusto’s side ended the day once the track was too soaked to do anything else relevant. His fastest lap of the thirty-two of the day in 2’00.732 placed him twenty-third. There is only one day left for the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 riders to complete their testing programs, so we will be hoping for better conditions on Sunday before heading back home.

Pol Espargaro

Position: 3rd

Time: 1’58.881

Laps: 29

“Tricky day today with the weather, especially on the second day which is very important because we have a big programme. We had many things to try today. Unfortunately, we were unable to check all our to-do list, but the few things we worked on were positive. We tried a new chassis and a few new parts. For the chassis, we need to find a balance between the old and the new one, so we will work on that. For the new parts aiming to improve the turns and the top speed, I think that we got good information today. We were a bit behind yesterday because we worked mainly with medium tyres, but today we are in the Top 5. I am happy because we are improving, and hopefully tomorrow we can push more because I have one more set of soft tyres that I did not use today.”

Augusto Fernandez

Position: 23rd

Time: 2’00.732

Laps: 32

“We already had one wet day during the Shakedown Test, but today was a proper wet day because the rain was quite intense. It was very interesting to learn about the Michelin wet tyres, because they are one of the biggest differences with Moto2. I was surprised that we were able to turn and brake more or less in the same way than in dry conditions. We tried different things today, such as settings and electronics, so the time is not as good as yesterday, but I look forward to dry conditions tomorrow so we can continue our progress.”

More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:

DAMP BUT POSITIVE DAY 2 FOR MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP AT SEPANG TEST

Sepang (Malaysia), 11th February 2023

SEPANG MOTOGP OFFICIAL TEST

Fabio Quartararo’s and Franco Morbidelli‘s patience was tested on the second day of the Sepang MotoGP Official Test. The eight-hour session was repeatedly halted by rain both in the morning and the afternoon. Still, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates put in numerous laps and took 4th and 11th place respectively in today‘s timesheets.

4th FABIO QUARTARARO 1’58.897 / 34 LAPS

11th FRANCO MORBIDELLI 1’59.289 / 44 LAPS

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were back on track today for a second day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit, but rain showers in the morning and afternoon impeded their schedule. Still, the duo managed to get some laps in and work through a number of different items, taking 4th and 11th place respectively in today‘s rankings.

Quartararo had hoped to get more laps in at the Sepang circuit today, but wet track conditions meant he had to be patient. Once a dry line had formed, the Frenchman was able to go out and test various items, and he ended the day with a good feeling. His best time of 1’58.897s, set on lap 8/34, put him in fourth place in today‘s results, 0.161s from first, and in eighth in the Day 1 + Day 2 timesheets, 0.427s from the top.

After a solid first day of testing, Morbidelli was extra motivated to resume his work. As with his teammate, rain disrupted the testing plans he had scheduled for Day 2, but the Italian still got plenty of laps in. A 1‘59.289s set on lap 8/44 saw him end FP2 in 11th place, 0.553s off today‘s fastest time. His Day-1 time, a 1‘59.118s, was faster though and put him in joint 14th position in the combined results, with a 0.648s margin to first.

FABIO QUARTARARO

I‘m pretty happy. Analysing the data yesterday, I was not riding really well from my side. I tested a lot of things then. Today I was riding in a much better way, and it was a positive test. I‘m happy about what we have tested today. I‘m looking forward to tomorrow; hopefully the weather will be better than today. We haven‘t fully decided about the aero package yet. But we tried something yesterday that we didn‘t really like, and we tried it again today, and it was much better. I’m feeling happy today.

FRANCO MORBIDELLI

Finally, we were also able to ride in the rain with the new engine, and it’s important. With the updated engine, we needed to check how it was behaving on the wet. There are some things to work on that we can adjust, so it was good to have the chance to ride in wet conditions. I personally didn’t have the chance to try the new aero combinations today, because right at the moment that I was going to try it, it started raining. But I will be able to try it tomorrow hopefully.

More, from a press release issued by RNF MotoGP Team:

Oliveira second fastest, Fernandez in P6 on Saturday in Sepang

Rain affected the second day of testing in Malaysia, yet the RNF MotoGP Team duo improved noticeably.

The second day of the official MotoGP testing at the Sepang International Circuit started on a damp track this morning. Some rain showers interrupted proceedings throughout the day, but Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez did not only just set fast dry lap times, but also learned to ride their new Aprilia RS-GP in the wet.

Although time on a dry track was limited due to some drops of rain and some heavier showers towards the end of the day, Oliveira managed to improve on his personal best lap time from day one by 0.891 seconds. Thereby, the Portuguese star moved up to second place in the test standings of the day, just 0.103 seconds behind the fastest rider after doing 52 laps today.

His teammate Fernandez followed Oliveira in stepping up. He went 0.701 seconds faster than on Friday, which was just his second day aboard the Aprilia RS-GP. The young Spaniard did 35 laps during Saturday, clocked the sixth fastest time of the day and missed out on the top by only 0.376 seconds, significantly building on his feeling.

Tomorrow will be the final test day at the Sepang International Circuit, before the entire paddock moves over to Europe for two further days of testing at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal, in March ahead of the first of 21 rounds of 2023 at the same venue.

MIGUEL OLIVEIRA

“Today was a good day! It’s true that we didn’t get as much dry time as we wanted. Actually, we wanted to test a couple more things with the bike, but we couldn’t. That was a shame. But we still enjoyed ourselves throughout today. Hopefully, we get the chance to have some more track time in dry conditions tomorrow.”

RAUL FERNANDEZ

“We had a nice plan but because of the weather, we had to change everything. But in general, I am really happy. We worked really hard on the pace, and this is important for me to understand the bike more. We also managed to work in the wet conditions, it’s complicated with the weather but I’m really happy with the result of what we did today. I had a better feeling, a smile on my face and enjoyed the session today. Tomorrow, we will try to do a lot more laps and work more on myself.”

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

MARINI CLOSE TO THE TOP UNDER THE RAIN AT SEPANG

In a Day2 characterised by uncertain weather, Luca is among the most competitive in the wet. Bezzecchi also did well, maintaining the provisional P1 with yesterday’s lap time

Sepang (Malaysia), February 11th 2023 – Despite the rain, which hit the circuit area from the early hours of the morning and then in the afternoon, the positive sensations of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team duo continue at the Sepang International Circuit where they are busy in the first tests of the 2023 season. Luca Marini set the seventh best lap time of the day in dry conditions, P14 in the combined standings, while Marco Bezzecchi finished 12th (P1 in the combined with yesterday’s lap time, 1:58.470).

Really comfortable on the Ducati Desmosedici GP in wet conditions and on the track to gain confidence with the new rain compound, Luca – 50 laps completed – set a good 1:59.118, improving by over two tenths compared to Day1.

Marco also did well, leading the group with yesterday’s lap time, with a good 1:59.361 (31 total laps ) and is only six tenths behind the very first guys. Step forward in the wet and overall positive feedbacks on the eve of the final day of testing, tomorrow from 10.00am to 06.15pm local time.

 Luca Marini

A day conditioned by the weather: we had planned to test material to improve the performance, but there was not enough time in the dry. The feeling is still good and so is the pace, especially in the wet. I’m happy, even if we weren’t able to make the most of the day. I hope for better weather to be able to use all the tires we have and improve the flying lap. With the rain, we removed all the rubber from the asphalt and tomorrow, if it’s good, the conditions will be more realistic in terms of the race weekend.

Marco Bezzecchi

Despite the crash, we had a good day. I was on the track for a long time with used tires and I also kept a good pace throughout the race. Too bad about the crash, I stayed in the garage for a while because it was important to get back on track with the same bike. In the wet then, I can’t complain, I felt comfortable. Compared to the GP21, I have more support on the rear and this helps me a lot.

More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:

Rain hits Sepang for Day Two of the Sepang Test

Showers throughout the day saw reduced running on the second day of the MotoGP test in Malaysia, Marc Marquez making the most of dry track time as Joan Mir took the opportunity to find some speed in the wet.

Early morning showers left the Sepang circuit damp when it opened at 10am local time, the majority of the MotoGP field waiting to venture out. After an early lunch, both the Repsol Honda Team riders entered the track to start working through their plan. More rain arrived in the afternoon and ended any chance of dry running in the second half of the day as a persistent drizzle remained.

Adding to his 58 laps from the previous day, Marc Marquez did a further 36 laps aboard various configurations of the RC213V. As the track remained completely wet in the afternoon, Marquez used the opportunity to assess the Honda machines in the wet and continue to gather data in a variety of conditions. Ending the day in 13th, the #93 continued through his and Honda HRC’s testing plan in order to prepare for the coming season.

Despite the weather, Joan Mir continued to make the most of all available track time and completed another 36 laps. A best time of 1’59.631 put the newest Repsol Honda Team rider in 16th place, less than 0.2s behind Marquez on the other Repsol Honda Team machine. The #36 was pleased with the progress he made, able to make a step and continue improving his feeling on the Honda RC213V.

Just a final day of running remains in Malaysia before the Repsol Honda Team return to Japan to continue their preparations for the Portimao Test, March 11 – 12, and the start of the season less than two weeks later at the same venue.

Marc Marquez

13TH  1’59.450

“Unfortunately today we couldn’t ride a lot and we had to change our schedule as a result. We were able to do about 25 laps in the dry and then in the wet we were able to confirm a few points. I am working a lot and I am trying to get a lot of information for Honda and to be as clear as possible with my comments. Since it rained today we will have to move our plan for the second day to tomorrow where we are aiming to make a step with the lap time.”

Joan Mir

16TH  1’59.632

“The rain today was a pity because it meant we had to change our plan completely. We had a lot of things to try but we only got a few laps in the dry. Still we made the most of what we could and got some laps in the rain where the feeling was not so bad. I was able to improve with each lap and each exit which is the really important thing. We were faster than yesterday and I’m feeling more comfortable on the Honda. There’s still a lot of work to do so let’s hope the weather is good tomorrow and focus on what we have to try.”