Roundup: Sepang shakedown test Day 2

The second day of the Sepang shakedown test has ended as factory test riders and rookies were joined by Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), the duo able to ride due to KTM’s concessions.

Espargaro, Oliveira and KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa were putting in the mileage, just as they did on Day 1, with premier class rookies Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) getting valuable laps under their belts. Some of the KTM riders were testing a new front fairing at the Sepang International Circuit.

Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completed his final day of the shakedown test before heading to Jakarta for the team launch on Tuesday. There’ll be no Marquez on track for Day 3, but there will be a Jorge Lorenzo. The new Yamaha test rider was at the circuit to get comfortable on the YZR-M1 before heading out on track on Tuesday, and we will have an interview with the five-time World Champion on the final day of the shakedown test. 

Elsewhere, Bradley Smith continued to put in the laps on the brand-new Aprilia RS-GP. Aleix Espargaro, although present in Sepang, wasn’t riding. According to Aprilia Racing Manager Romano Albesiano, Smith is doing the important basic checks of the new machine before Espargaro jumps on board. Lorenzo Savadori was once again riding the 2019 Aprilia.

The third and final day runs on Tuesday, before the riders and teams then gear up for the Official Test on Friday-Sunday.