Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller leads the way at 14:00 local time thanks to a best lap of the Official MotoGP™ Sepang Test so far. The Australian’s 1:58.641 – over half a second quicker than he went on Day 1 – places him 0.090 ahead of second place Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) 0.190 back in P3.
Glorious sunshine greeted the MotoGP™ riders again and after spending Day 1 on the 2019 YZR-M1, Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) is on the 2020 machine for the first time today, with teammate Morbidelli testing new developments on the 2019 version. On the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP side, both Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi have three bikes each – just as they did on Day 1.
Team Suzuki Ecstar are testing new aero updates, with both Alex Rins and Joan Mir having a new chassis to try too. At a quick glance, it seems they have just removed the carbon cover, but there is sure to be differences that can’t be seen.
Talking of chassis, KTM’s hybrid chassis now seems to be the standard fit in the factory box, but Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is trying a second version on Day 2. Espargaro crashed at Turn 1 during the morning, with Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) going down at Turn 9 - riders ok. All four KTM riders are using the 2020 spec, with factory rider Brad Binder improving his time significantly from Day 1 – a 2:00.519 has been chopped down to a 1:59.780.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was an early pacesetter before Miller set the quickest time of the test, the eight-time Champion completing 33 laps in the opening half of Day 2. Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has improved his time by three tenths from yesterday, he currently sits P16 (+ 1.020) with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) doing plenty of testing work again – the British rider setting his best time on Lap 4.
Working, working, working...
— Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) February 8, 2020
27 laps each so far. #SepangTest pic.twitter.com/J9ambqUETU
Bradley Smith joins Aprilia Racing Team Gresini teammate Aleix Espargaro on track today, the latter setting a 1:59.224, two tenths quicker than he went yesterday. All six manufacturers sit in the top 10 at the midday point on Day 2, with the top 15 split by just 0.7.
It’s safe to say testing is intensifying. Don’t forget to get all the low down from Sepang with After the Flag LIVE at 10:30 CET, and keep up to date with the lap times with Live Timing throughout the afternoon.
Top 10 (as of 14:00 LT):
1. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) – 1:58.641
2. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.090
3. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.190
4. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.252
5. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.337
6. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.348
7. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.456
8. Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.475
9. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.516
10. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 0.583