Sepang. February 5, 2022.- The first Ducati on the time sheet at the start of the pre-season tests taking place this Saturday and Sunday in Sepang was a 2021 bike, the one in the hands of Enea Bastianini of the Gresini team, who was fourth, just ahead of Johann Zarco, with the first GP22, which finished more than half a second off the best time set by Aleix Espargaró.
The rest of Ducati, especially the official Pecco Bagnaia (19th) and Jack Miller (22nd) finished very late on the time sheet, as did Jorge Martín, the young Pramac team rider who with a 2022 bike could only be 17º more than 1.5 seconds from the reference.
“At first I felt good, but later, with the increase in temperature, the bike lost grip, both front and rear, and with it also confidence”, explained Martín at the end of the day to understand the results.
This Saturday’s is the first contact of the regular riders with the Ducati since the November tests in Jerez, so they expect a progressive improvement.
“We hope to go a little faster tomorrow, but we didn’t do any fast lap attacks either,” explained the Madrid native.
The very high temperatures and the oppressive humidity do not help the machinery on the track either. “These conditions are unique, not only because of the heat, but also because of the characteristics of the circuit,” he said.
Despite everything, Martin had doubts about the new prototype of the Borgo Panigale house.
“The Ducati factory riders suffer; you have to know why. You have to see how to improve, but I think I can take a step forward tomorrow,” he concluded confidently.
