Raúl Fernández resets the countdown to 2022 with the best shakedown time in Sepang. The Tech3 team rider posted the best time of the day (2’00”898) in the run-up to the first official pre-season tests.
As far as Ducati is concerned, Michele Pirro (2’01”042) was the representative of the brand with the most bikes on the grid. The test driver rode in Sepang with the aim of thoroughly studying the Desmosedici and his difference with respect to Raúl (0.144) has left interesting touches in this shakedown.
Mika Kallio also rode in search of suggestive information for the Austrian team, managing to occupy third place on the time sheet together with Dani Pedrosa, who has also been seen collaborating with KTM in this shakedown.
Behind Pirro and Kallio is Aprilia’s ace . Former driver Lorenzo Savadori has completed 24 laps and has managed to sign a record of 2’01”676, ahead of Remy Gardner.
The Australian arrived in Sepang after a broken right wrist sustained in a motocross accident less than two weeks ago. Fernández and Gardner have been postulated as the fastest rookies during this day of seven and a half hours of testing where rookies, test drivers and teams with concessions have had the right to go out on the track before the arrival of the official pre-season tests.
Along these lines, Sylvain Guintoli was the one who completed the most laps on this first day of shakedown. With a total of 66, the Suzuki tester ends the first shakedown day as the most consistent rider.
Marco Bezzecchi finishes Monday from sixth position, achieved after 38 laps on behalf of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. On the other hand, Darryn Binder was one of the first debutants to hit the track. With 51 laps on paper, the rookie and brother of Brad Binder ends Monday with good feelings and a seventh place.
Fabio Di Giannantonio also made his debut in Sepang, occupying tenth position on Monday’s time sheet, behind the KTM tester.
Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Kohta Nozane reunited with the Yamaha this Monday and, signing a record of 2’03”442, represented the Iwata brand on this first day. In addition, its test driver until 2023, Cal Crutchlow will be present on Wednesday, the last day of testing for rookies and teams with concessions.
Finally, Honda does not expect the RC213V with which Bradl rode in Jerez and which has 2022 specifications, to arrive in time for the last two days of this first contact.
Results of the MotoGP shakedown at Sepang 2022
| Pos | Pilot | Motorbike | Tiempo | Vueltas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raul Fernandez | KTM | 2:00:898 | 46 |
| 2 | Michele Pirro (1) | Ducati | 2:01:042 | 47 |
| 3 | Mika Kallio (1) | KTM | 2:01:250 | 32 |
| 4 | Lorenzo Savadori | APRILIA | 2:01:676 | 24 |
| 5 | Remy Gardner | KTM | 2:01:852 | 42 |
| 6 | Marco Bezzecchi | Ducati | 2:02:012 | 38 |
| 7 | Darryn Binder | Yamaha | 2:02:146 | 51 |
| 8 | Sylvain Guintoli | Suzuki | 2:02:181 | 66 |
| 9 | Mika Kallio (2) | KTM | 2:02:297 | 19 |
| 10 | Fabio DiGiannantonio | Ducati | 2:02:596 | 38 |
