Sepang MotoGP test times – Day 1

CURRENT MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez set the fastest lap around the Sepang circuit on day one of the first pre-season test.

Marquez achieved a lap time of 2:00.286 on-board the RC213V on his 52nd lap which now includes a larger air intake to increase top speed and improve throttle response. The time set by the Spaniard was 1.129s quicker than the official fastest race lap at Sepang set in 2013.

Valentino Rossi picked up the pace after the lunch break on the Factory Yamaha to finish half a second slower than the 20-year-old. Marquez’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa followed suit moving ahead of Jorge Lorenzo by 0.176s with only minutes to spare of the session.

NGM Forward rider Aleix Espargaro impressed on the Open Class Yamaha FTR after finishing only 1.133s off Marquez’s pace which left him in 7th overall behind Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl. However, Espargaro’s team-mate Colin Edwards suffered from technical issues with his machine early on in the day, but still managed to finish ahead of all three Factory-spec Ducati’s.

Aleix Espargaro finished two seconds ahead of his brother Pol Espargaro who is starting his rookie season on-board the Monster Yamaha Tech 3.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow ended in 14th despite a small crash in the session due to an issue with gear change. Crutchlow finished 2.574s off the pace of Marquez and 0.36s behind team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

Suzuki are also present at the test as they continue their development before their official return in 2015. 

Final times at the end of day one:

1. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 2:00.286 (Lap 52/62)
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 2:00.804 | +0.518s (58/61)
3. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 2:00.906 | +0.620s (73/75)
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 2:01.082 | +0.796s (26/47)
5. Alvaro Bautista ESP GO&FUN Honda Gresini (RC213V) 2:01.240 | +0.954s (48/52)
6. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 2:01.320 | +1.034s (10/25)
7. Aleix Espargaro ESP NGM Mobile Forward Racing (FTR-M1)* 2:01.419 | +1.133s (19/26)
8. Andrea Iannone ITA Pramac Racing (Desmosedici) 2:01.538 | +1.252s (38/44)
9. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2:01.634 | +1.348s (42/48)
10. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2:01.876 | +1.590s (54/55)
11. Colin Edwards USA NGM Mobile Forward Racing (FTR-M1)* 2:02.483 | +2.197s (25/26)
12. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici) 2:02.497 | +2.211s (21/27)
13. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Rider (Desmosedici)** 2:02.552 | +2.266s (47/48)
14. Cal Crutchlow GBR Ducati Team (Desmosedici) 2:02.860 | +2.574s (16/38)
15. Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici)* 2:02.891 | +2.605s (28/49)
16. Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)** 2:03.126 | +2.840s (14/35)
17. Nicky Hayden USA Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R)* 2:03.319 | +3.033s (53/56)
18. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R)* 2:03.328 | +3.042s (49/51)
19. Randy de Puniet FRA Suzuki Test Rider (XRH-1)** 2:03.893 | +3.607s (47/75)
20. Kosuke Akiyoshi JPN Honda Test Rider 2:04.267 | +3.981s (27/64)
21. Scott Redding GBR Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R)* 2:04.431 | +4.145s (41/48)
22. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki)* 2:04.922 | +4.636s (34/44)
23. Mike di Meglio FRA Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki)* 2:05.825 | +5.539s (50/51)
24. Broc Parkes AUS Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)* 2:05.889 | +5.603s (32/40)
25. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART)* 2:06.070 | +5.784s (14/14)
26. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RCV1000R)* 2:06.755 | +6.469s (21/41)

* = Open Class

** = Test Rider