MotoGP Test: Pol Espargaro on top at Mandalika

Bengaluru, February 14: After three days of the final MotoGP pre-season test in Indonesia, the focus now shifts to the season-opening Qatar GP and heading in as the fastest rider from the Mandalika Test is Repsol Honda Team's Pol Espargaro.

The Spaniard set a 1:31:060 on Day 3 to beat reigning FIM MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) by just 0.014, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) completing the top three thanks to his Day 2 best at the brand-new, spectacular Pertamina Mandalika Circuit.

21 riders, down to Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP), were split by just 0.855 heading to Qatar, setting the scene for another spectacular season of racing.

As pre-seasons go, HRC's 2022 tests have gone incredibly well. A brand-new, reformed RC213V was brought to the table and ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, the Japanese giants look in fantastic shape.

Espargaro leading the way in Mandalika will inject the factory with a nice dose of confidence into the Spaniard and his team, with the number 44 posting a further 38 laps on the final day.

Being fastest should not be read too much into, something Espargaro was quick to point out, but it is nothing but positive for Espargaro and Honda - the changes have no doubt suited Espargaro's style, and his words speak volumes: "I've never been so fast before."

RESULTS

TOP FIVE (COMBINED)
1 Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) - Honda - 1:31.060
2 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) - Yamaha - +0.014
3 Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) - Ducati - +0.229
4 Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) - Aprilia - +0.325
5 Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP^TM) - Yamaha - +0.356

Yamaha troubles

Quartararo finished P2 in Indonesia, but the lack of improvements with the engine and top speed have certainly hindered their pre-season.

The Frenchman, however, has expressed his joy at his speed with used tyres, but something is not clicking with new, soft tyres. "We need to know why," said Quartararo on Day 2 of the Mandalika Test.

Ducati charge

Marini remains the top Ducati overall thanks to his Day 2 time, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) the next Borgo Panigale presence on the timesheets in sixth, 0.376 off the top.

Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) completed the top ten, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) took P13 on the GP21 and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) ended the test in 16th.

Suzuki hurdles

At Team Suzuki Ecstar, it was another day of hurdles - at least for one side of the garage. 2020 MotoGP champion Joan Mir began feeling unwell in the morning and ultimately returned to the hotel with suspected food poisoning. He remained relatively positive, however, and on the combined timesheets remains P12.

Team-mate Alex Rins was once again the first out on track on Day 3, and his plan for the final day was to focus on testing the Hamamatsu factory's carbon reinforced chassis. By the end of the action, the number 42 was P7 overall.

Over to Qatar

That's a wrap on the Mandalika Test. Now it's time to head to Qatar for the traditional season-opening race under lights at the the Losail International Circuit on March 6.

The MotoGP caravan will then before the field returns to Pertamina Mandalika Circuit for Round 2 of the 2022 FIM MotoGP World Championship. Catch up on everything at myKhel.com as we gear up to race in 2022!

(By a special arrangement with Dorna Sports)