All of the favourite teams have ended the MotoGP Sepang Test, which finished this Friday, at the Malaysian Circuit, with positive sensations. Honda dominated the first day despite a convalescent Marc Marquez. Yamaha’s Maverick Viñales was the fastest on the second day.

Finally, Ducati led the last session thanks to a sensational performance by Danilo Petrucci. After the checkered flag his teammater Andrea Dovizioso or just Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) was no very happy. Now, the eleven teams and his 22 riders will have to wait until to next appointment on the 2019 MotoGP Calendar: Qatar test on 23-25 February.

Day 3: Record from rookie Petrucci 

Danilo Petrucci, Jorge Lorenzo’s replacement in Ducati, has beaten the unofficial fastest-lap record of the Malaysian track, set by the Spaniard in the test of 2018. In his tenth lap of the day and on the back of the Desmosedici, Petrucci clocked in at 1: 58.239, six-tenths of a second less than the Spaniard’s record.

The driver from Terni was the fastest on the day, ahead of debutant Roberto Bagnaia (+0.63 seconds), Jack Miller (+127 seconds) and Andrea Dovizioso’s new partner (+299 seconds).

The first four places were Ducati-red on Friday, showing the obvious potential of the Borgo Panigale machines… as long as the Japanese army allows it (Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki).

Behind the Italian faction came the first Spaniard, Maverick Viñales, who sealed a comfortable fourth position onboard his Yamaha. Two steps below came a prominent Pol Espargaró (KTM).

Márquez, Mission accomplished

Márquez did not want to push it after suffering some pain in his left shoulder on Thursday. The current MotoGP champion preferred to ride calmly and without taking any risks, finishing the test in the eleventh position after 39 laps and with a time of 1:59.170, his best overall in the Asian test.

Over the three days, the five-time MotoGP champion has only completed 105 laps: 29 on the first day, 37 on the second and 29 on Friday, almost half of the 205 accomplished by Viñales. 

The most important thing for the Cervera champion, in any case, was to be able to test all of the basic elements of his bike without falling, particularly those related to the engine performance.

Day 2: Viñales steps ahead

Viñales is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after a dreadful 2018. He knows that this season and the next could be key in his career. and that he rides under the long shadow cast by Franco Morbidelli, Rossi’s protégé. His brand believes in him, but he cannot repeat last year’s results, where he got just one victory. 

It seems, however, that the changes he has implemented – replacing his chief mechanic, Ramón Forcada for Esteban García, and hiring Julio Simón as his new advisor, in replacement of Wilco Zeelenberg – are paying off … at least during the preseason. We’ll see what happens at the moment of truth.

Day 1: An extraterrestrial magic

Marquez displayed some of his magic once more on the inaugural day of the test. Despite his convalescing shoulder and having ridden around a lot less than the others (29 laps), he has once again demonstrated that he is capable of anything.

Along with fellow countrymen Alex Rins (Suzuki GSR-X), Maverick Viñales (Yamaha YZR-M1) and Tito Rabat (Ducati GP18); Marquez became one of the only four pilots to ride below 2:00. On the contrary, the Ducati’s performance was discreet in the first session. Rookie, Danilo Petrucci (2: 00.051), classified behind the Spanish troop, while his head of ranks, Andrea Dovizioso, only managed an eight position (2: 00.159).

MotoGP Sepang Test images : Repsol-Honda, Yamaha, Ducati & Suzuki.