With a fantastic time of 1:56.682 minutes, Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia leads the Sepang test classification ahead of his GP24 colleagues Jorge Martin (+ 0.172 sec) and Enea Bastianini (+ 0.233).
Considering that the world champion’s pole time at the 2023 Malaysian GP was 1:57.491 minutes almost three months ago, the lap times are impressive. The Ducati camp is also satisfied with the development work; the riders praised the potential of the new engine and the “ground effect” side fairing.
Alex Márquez proved with another time of 1:56 that last year’s Desmosedici model is also absolutely competitive. His brother and new Gresini teammate Marc Márquez finished 6th in the GP23, 0.588 seconds behind Bagnaia.
Aleix Espargaró broke the Ducati package in fifth and was happy with the progress, although his Aprilia teammate Maverick Viñales (12th) is still looking for the good feeling from last year with the new package. He sounded much more reserved and said he needed more time.
Red Bull KTM factory rider Brad Binder improved slightly at the end of the last day of testing in Malaysia and took 7th place. The remarkable rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was also consistently in the top 10 at the end of the Sepang test.
Only one rider didn’t improve his lap time on Thursday: VR46 Ducati star Marco Bezzecchi. Last year’s World Cup third-place finisher is only in 15th place after the first three test days of the 2024 pre-season, but this is also because he fell on Wednesday while on course for a personal best.
The fastest Honda driver in tenth place was Joan Mir, who on the lighter RC213V with an improved engine reduced his qualifying time from the Malaysia GP last November (1:58.440 min) by a good second and was thus ahead of the first Yamaha factory rider Fabio Quartararo (11th).
The new engine and aerodynamics are an improvement, confirmed Quartararo. However, the M1 pilots are still too far behind, especially on one lap. The 2021 world champion sees room for improvement primarily in the areas of electronics and mechanical grip.
MotoGP test Sepang, combined times (6th to 8th February):
1. Bagnaia, Ducati, 1:56.682 min
2. Martin, Ducati, + 0.172 sec
3. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.233
4. Alex Marquez, Ducati, + 0.256
5. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.409
6. Marc Marquez, Ducati, + 0.588
7. Binder, KTM, + 0.625
8. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 0.661
9. Acosta, KTM, +0.683
10. Mir, Honda, + 0.692
11. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0.843
12. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0.846
13. Nakagami, Honda, + 1,083
14. Miller, KTM, +1,169
15. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 1,185
16. Rins, Yamaha, + 1,197
17. Zarco, Honda, + 1,260
18. Oliveira, Aprilia, + 1,318
19. Marini, Honda, + 1,326
20. Crutchlow, Yamaha, +1,991
21. Augusto Fernández, KTM, +2,058
22. Savadori, Aprilia, + 2,132
23. Pirro, Ducati, + 2,183
MotoGP test Sepang, Thursday (February 8):
1. Bagnaia, Ducati, 1:56.682 min
2. Martin, Ducati, + 0.172 sec
3. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.233
4. Alex Marquez, Ducati, + 0.256
5. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.409
6. Marc Marquez, Ducati, + 0.588
7. Binder, KTM, + 0.625
8. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 0.661
9. Acosta, KTM, +0.683
10. Mir, Honda, + 0.692
11. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0.843
12. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0.846
13. Nakagami, Honda, + 1,083
14. Miller, KTM, +1,169
15. Rins, Yamaha, + 1,197
16. Zarco, Honda, + 1,260
17. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 1,313
18. Oliveira, Aprilia, + 1,318
19. Marini, Honda, + 1,326
20. Crutchlow, Yamaha, +1,991
21. Augusto Fernández, KTM, +2,058
22. Savadori, Aprilia, + 2,132
23. Pirro, Ducati, + 2,183