MotoGP, Shakedown: Pirro and Ducati lead the way on Day 3

With the third and final day of testing reserved to 2023 MotoGP test riders and rookies (or rather rookie, the only one being Augusto Fernandez with the GASGAS) the Sepang Shakedown draws to a close. The next test sessions will involve the factory riders and mark the official start of the season, but before the pre-season really gets going, let’s see how day 3 at the Malaysian track has gone.

Pirro and the Ducati set the pace

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The fastest on day three (and of the entire test in fact, considering that today was the only completely dry day) was Michele Pirro, who stopped the clock on 1’59.803 aboard the Ducati Desmosedici, ahead of Cal Crutchlow on the Yamaha M1. Michele was also the only rider to duck below two-minutes over the flying lap, setting the best time of the day during the final hour of testing.

In third place, behind Crutchlow, is the aforementioned Augusto Fernandez, this season’s only rookie rider, who is focused on adapting to the Tech3 GASGAS, a much more powerful bike than the Moto2 Kalex he was used to. The Spaniard seems to be getting on well with the RC16, but we need to wait and see how he does against his rivals to get a better idea as to his potential.

Aprilia and Honda, so much work

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Fourth for Aprilia test rider, Lorenzo Savadori, who completed a wide range of comparative tests considering the many solutions the Noale manufacturer has brought for the RS-GP. The Italian also joked on social media about having six different bikes to test this week but despite this, he was able to close less than a second from Pirro and ahead of Honda test rider, Stefan Bradl.

The German rider has also had a lot on his development plate, as he works to reverse the fortunes of a bike that even Marc Marquez has struggled to make competitive. Bradl was followed by Nakasuga with the second Yamaha and Jonas Folger, the new KTM test rider, who is still getting to grips with what is a new bike for him.