2022 MotoGP Indonesia Testing Results [Final] | Espargaro tops Mandalika debut

Pol Espargaro set the pace on the first day of MotoGP testing in Indonesia as the 24 riders got their first taste of the Mandalika Circuit ahead of its debut on the 2022 MotoGP schedule.

The Indonesian MotoGP is one of two new events on the 2022 MotoGP schedule - together with the Finnish MotoGP - with the coastal Lombok Island situated getting its inauguration in WorldSBK late last year.

Though difficult weather conditions - plus an unusual spreading of mud - hampered proceedings early on, the surface would dry during the second-half of the day, with Espargaro ascending to the top of the timesheets on the Repsol Honda.

His 1m 32.466secs lap was enough to unseat his brother Aleix Espargaro, and was the only rider to actually go faster than Toprak Ragaztalioglu’s pole winning time on the Yamaha R1 from WorldSBK last year.

After a disappointing start to the year in Sepang, KTM bounced back up the order with Brad Binder securing the third fastest time, ahead of Suzuki’s Alex Rins and Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, while Ducati’s Jack Miller made it six different manufacturers inside the top six.

Maverick Vinales confirmed Aprilia’s encouraging start to testing in seventh, ahead of Joan Mir on the second Suzuki, with Andrea Dovizioso emerging as the quickest of the independents in ninth. Jorge Martin rounded out the top ten.