MotoGP, Sepang test: Fernandez on top on the first day of shakedown

With the initial shakedown at the Sepang track in Malaysia now in the bag, preparation for the 2022 MotoGP season is officially underway. Out on track until 2 February are the manufacturers’ official test riders and this season’s rookies, or rather Raul Fernandez, Remy Gardner, Darryn Binder and Italians Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi.

The fastest on day 1 was Spaniard Raul Fernandez, the 2021 Moto2 runner-up, who set a 2'00.898 aboard the Tech 3 team’s KTM RC16. He was the only rider to duck under 2'01 in fact, and was followed by the Ducati, KTM and Aprilia test riders, or rather Michele Pirro, Mika Kallio and Lorenzo Savadori, who placed second, third and fourth respectively.

Bezzecchi sixth, Di Giannantonio ninth

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Fifth, sixth and seventh for Remy Gardner, Marco Bezzecchi and Darryn Binder. The Australian closed a little under a second behind his Tech3 team-mate and ahead of the team VR46 Desmosedici ridden by the Italian and the Yamaha M1 belonging to the South African, who appears to be adapting to the power of the MotoGP quite quickly, despite having jumped directly from Moto3. Fabio Di Giannantonio embarks on his adventure with team Gresini and Ducati, the number 49 rider having closed in ninth place.

And then there are the other test riders, or rather Sylvain Guintoli for Suzuki and the Crutchlow-Nakasuga pairing for Yamaha. Missing from the line-up is the Honda Test Team, its test rider Stefan Bradl unable to ride due to a bike delivery delay, the bikes held up in Dubai on their way from Jerez where the team tested last week. Bradl should be able to ride as of tomorrow.

Translated by Heather Watson

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