Image: Supplied.

Gresini Racing MotoGP’s Enea Bastianini concluded the two-day pre-season test at the Sepang International Circuit on top, setting a new fastest lap of the Malaysian circuit.

Equipped with the Ducati GP21, Bastianini posted a 1m58.131s to finish just 0.026s clear of Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espagaro – the day one pace-setter – who benefited from cutting laps earlier in the week during the shakedown test due to Aprilia’s concessions.

Third was Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing Ducati), last year’s MotoGP rookie of the year notching a 1m58.243s on the second day, 0.086s ahead of Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins who was testing a variety of aero and chassis updates, with Suzuki also confirming they had significantly improved their engine in terms of gaining top speed without compromising elsewhere.

Maverick Vinales (Aprilla Racing) completed the top five courtesy of a 1m58.261s, with 2021 runner-up Francesco Bagnia in P6 – throttle connection and rideability a concern within the Ducati Lenovo team as the Italian posted a 1m58.265s.

MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo finished the test in seventh, the Monster Energy Yamaha rider wanting more top speed out of YZR-M1, indicating there was a small step, however the improvement wasn’t as great as he and the team were expecting.

Returning Respol Honda rider Marc Marquez was eighth, 0.201s from Bastianini’s quickest time as he completed 101 laps on a revolutionised 2022 RC213V, indicating he felt good with the new package despite needing time to find the limits of the new bike. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Pol Espagaro (Respol Honda) completed the top 10, the pair posting a 1m58.413s and 1’58.420 to finish ninth and 10th respectively.

Australia’s Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) ended the test in 14th, just over half a tenth from the fastest lap with a 1m58.701s, as countryman Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) pushed through the discomfort of a broken wrist to post a best lap of 1m59.348s to finish 23rd.

As preparations continue for the 2022 MotoGP World Championship, riders and team’s will be on track at Pertamina Mandalika Circuit for the second and final pre-season official test, the three days of testing commencing on 11 February.

Detailed results