Source: Supplied.

After Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) took his first win of the year on Sunday, bikes were back out on track the following day for the Jerez test in the first post-race test of the year.

The tyre allocation for the test was the same as available throughout the weekend, plus an extra front option with a stiffer construction, in a medium and hard compound – a key component for the grid to evaluate.

Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was top, but by only 0.002s from championship rival Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Viñales put in 84 laps throughout the day, with a best of 1m38.635s to go top.

Teammate Valentino Rossi did 62 laps and a best of 1m40.463s in P21, as both Yamaha riders focusing on a new chassis as well as tyre testing.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 riders Johann Zarco and Jonas Folger ended the day in ninth and 14th with bests of 1m39.528s and 1m39.797s respectively, with the Frenchman putting in 42 laps and the German 39. Folger focused on setting, and working with the front.

The Repsol Honda Team ended the day in second and third. Marquez was in P2 with a 1m38.637s after 96 laps and race-winner Pedrosa on a 1m38.716s after 52 laps. Both tested a new exhaust used by LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow throughout the Spanish GP, with tyres also a key point of interest.

Crutchlow focused on the exhaust, electronics and rear suspension over his day of 70 laps and the Brit posted the seventh quickest time of the day at a 1m39.319s. Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS riders also had some small parts to try from Honda, with Jack Miller ending the day in 11th with a 1m39.548s and Rabat just behind with a 1m39.576s.

The Ducati Team of Andrea Dovizioso and Spanish GP podium finisher Jorge Lorenzo ended the day in fifth and sixth respectively, with best laps of 1m39.030s and 1m39.124s. The Borgo Panigale factory brought no new parts, focusing on the rubber.

Octo Pramac Racing Ducati riders Scott Redding and Danilo Petrucci had two distinct days of testing, with the Brit in P10 as a later improver and the Italian in P15. Redding focused on early race pace with a full tank and new tyres, with Petrucci trying a new front fork to improve turning on his GP17.

Reale Avintia Racing’s Hector Barbera was another improver in the afternoon up to eighth. The Spaniard raised the seat and foot-peg height on his GP16 in the test, trying to find more front feeling, as teammate Loris Baz worked on the front end to get more comfortable on his GP15.

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was an impressive performer, in fourth on the time-sheets with a best of 1m38.999s after 69 laps. He was one of those with the most additions to test, including a new swing-arm and internal cooling ducts for the fuel tank, as well working on electronics and testing a new fairing. Teammate Sam Lowes did over 60 laps as he continues his progression, ending the day in 22nd.

Team Suzuki Ecstar brought no new parts, but focused on front-end feeling, especially given the new front tyre to evaluate. Andrea Iannone was P12 with a 1m39.654s, with test rider Takuya Tsuda in P18. Next replacement rider for injured Alex Rins, Sylvain Guintoli, rode in the afternoon as he gets back in the GP groove and will remain at Jerez on Tuesday alongside Andrea Iannone for another day of track action after 37 initial laps on first contact.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had race riders Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith at the test, as well as test rider Mika Kallio. Espargaro focused on reconfirming results so far for the Austrian factory, checking previous data was correct. The three men were P16, P17 and P20 respectively.

Next up is Le Mans for the French GP, with even more data gathered and steps made as the early stages of the Championship this year begin to take shape. Action gets underway on the Bugatti circuit on May 19th.