After the shakedown tests of the previous three days, the Sepang track was filled with motorcycles as Marc Márquez returned on his new mount and an Aprilia 1-2 at the top of the table.
The first day of official MotoGP testing in 2022 went off without a hitch in Sepang after the shake down starred in the previous three days in Malaysia. Up to 27 pilots congregated on the track after the unique and exclusive presence of Aprilia’s rookies, testers and riders so far, thus bringing new perspectives waiting for all to display their true potential ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix in March.
Precisely Aprilia showed off its leadership with a double in the time table. This time it was Aleix Espargaro who commanded the classification with a 1:58,371 ahead of his teammate Maverick Viñales, just the opposite of what had happened in the previous days, by only 13 thousandths of a difference. The pair of the red lantern of 2021 in the constructors’ championship was just 1 tenth ahead of the third Spaniard in the race, Álex Rins, who instead enjoyed the most productive session in terms of kilometers, amassing up to 72 laps.
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While most got back on a MotoGP after the Comunitat Valenciana GP on November 14, the most anticipated return had a first and last name: Marc Márquezon the back of his RC213V after first testing with the 2021 bike, returned to its natural habitat after more than 100 days in the shade due to its injuries. Two crashes did not prevent him from finishing in eighth position with 62 laps to his credit, immediately ahead of his teammate Pol Espargaró.
Enea Bastianini and Johann Zarco preceded, in 4th and 5th position respectively, the reigning world champion fabio quartararo. The French rider set the first 1:59 of the session, remaining more than 6 tenths off the best time for the Aprilias, while Franco Morbidelli was unable to break the 2-minute barrier.
Stefan Bradl and Brad Binder also tested the escape routes of the Malaysian circuit with fallen paths, although in the same way without consequences and without diminishing the importance of the aerodynamic news of some MotoGP bikes, especially the Hondas, significantly changed compared to those that made an appearance at the Jerez tests.