Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol Espargaro currently tops the Misano Test timesheets with a 1:32.054, with San Marino GP podium finishers Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) second and third as half a second covers the top 13.
Petronas Yamaha SRT rider and San Marino GP winner Franco Morbidelli is sitting out the test due to an upset stomach, the team confirmed this morning. In addition, Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech3) is also not riding. In the Yamaha camp, Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) had a new, radical exhaust pipe fitted to both his YZR-M1s. Repsol Honda Team have also said that Alex Marquez is trying out a new exhaust pipe too.
Fabio has been hard at work this morning ????#MisanoTest | @PET_Motorsports pic.twitter.com/bdb8HctYWM
— PETRONAS SRT (@sepangracing) September 15, 2020
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) was donning HRC colours before he crashed – unhurt – in the opening session, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder experiencing an issue with his bike during the morning. According to our man on the ground Simon Crafar, the factory KTMs have a strange new white cover over some cables that come out from the tank cover, go around the steering head and back under the tank cover on the other side – look out for those. Moreover, the riders have been testing the Race Direction radio communication software that Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda Team) tried over the San Marino GP weekend.
A quick one hour stop for the lunch break, @alexmarquez73 with a best time of 1'32.516. Meanwhile @takanakagami30 is going well and holds a best lap of 1'32.298 from this morning's running.#MisanoTest pic.twitter.com/sZyF6uoMx6
— Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) September 15, 2020
Simon Crafar and Amy Reynolds will be bringing you a Facebook Live at 14:30 to give you all the lowdown from what has happened so far at Misano. At 16:30, VideoPass subscribers can watch the final 90 minutes of the test LIVE with Matt Birt, Steve Day and Crafar, before fans can watch After the Flag for free at 18:20 local time (GMT+2).
Miguel is our testing a bit today, while Iker is watching him on track ????#KTM #Tech3 #MO88 #MotoGP #Racing @MotoGP #SanMarinoTest pic.twitter.com/S4rcp02Wik
— Red Bull KTM Tech3 (@Tech3Racing) September 15, 2020
Keep your eyes peeled for an end of day report, highlights and interviews from the Misano Test after the action has ended.
Top 10 as of 13:00 local time:
1. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – 1:32.054
2. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.128
3. Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) + 0.153
4. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.179
5. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) + 0.236
6. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) + 0.244
7. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.265
8. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.299
9. Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) + 0.391
10. Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.462
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