Sepang. February 5, 2022.- Noale’s house is already the only one left on the MotoGP grid that applies for concessions in its development, a compensation that the team’s official riders took advantage of by riding in the three test days for testers, this week, on the Malaysian track.
Aleix only went out on the track on Wednesday, but this Saturday, at the start of the official tests with all the drivers on track, he showed that he is in top form by setting the time at 1.58.371, very close to the 1.58.303 with which Fabio Quartararo achieved pole position in 2019, the last race held on this track, setting the best lap on the circuit.
“I am satisfied with the work done in Noale during the winter. The bike is somewhat better than the 2022 one. We were here at the beginning of the week, and both Savadori and Viñales have lapped much more than me. I know that the bike is better in handling , it turns better. There is room for improvement, this is only the first day,” Aleix explained at the end of the day.
In addition to Granollers, his teammate Maverick Viñales achieved the second fastest time to do an Aprilia double on the time sheet, which confirms the good work at the factory.
“For the next few days we have to continue comparing the two chassis we have. Our idea is to decide which chassis we will use during the season, and if we still have doubts, take both to Mandalika. Tomorrow I would like to be able to do a long run to see how it reacts the bike”, Aleix valued.
After leading the day, Espargaró sets bigger challenges and hopes to close the test this Sunday below the record. “Having finished very close to the absolute best time means that the bike is going in the right direction. Let’s see if we can destroy that record tomorrow,” he concluded.
