After two days of the Official MotoGP™ Sepang Test, one thing is becoming very apparent: all six factories are looking incredibly competitive in 2020.
On the opening day in Malaysia, 0.591 was the gap between Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in P1 and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in P8. Between the Frenchman and Spaniard sat one Suzuki, one Honda, one Ducati, one Yamaha and Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. On Day 2, the six factories were separated by 0.652 as lap times improved.
Honda, Ducati, Suzuki and Yamaha were consistently competitive in 2019 and with the improvements both KTM and Aprilia have – and continue – to make early on in 2020 preseason testing, the opening round under the Qatar floodlights and beyond is quickly becoming a mouthwatering prospect. If we take a look at the wider scope on Day 2, just 0.793 covered pacesetter Quartararo and 16th place Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3).
What does Day 3 have in store? Expect the times to dip once more as riders inevitably go for some time attacks, but who will emerge on top?