Just four days since an emotional final Sunday of the 2021 season in Valencia, the MotoGP™ riders are back on track at the Official 2022 Jerez Test as preparations for next season begin. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) currently tops the times with a 1:37.713, as five rookies make their debuts.
First run for 2022 us already in ✔️ #KTM #Tech3 #MotoGP #Tech3KTMFactoryRacing @MotoGP #RF25 #RG87 #2022Loading pic.twitter.com/rskWF8aA8r
— Tech3 Racing (@Tech3Racing) November 18, 2021
Plenty of new parts have already been given a run out on a windy but sunny opening few hours at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, with riders such as Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team), Enea Bastianini (Team Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Luca Marini (VR46 Racing Team) all making steps up to newer machinery with their respective factories.
Meanwhile, all five rookies have been on track. The fastest of those so far is Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), with Moto2™ World Champion Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Team Gresini Racing MotoGP), Marco Bezzecchi (VR46 Racing Team) and Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team) all completing at least 17 laps.
First laps done on the #DesmosediciGP also for Bezzecchi ???????? #2022loading #ForzaDucati @MotoGP @DucatiMotor pic.twitter.com/gFnP5CUSfc
— Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) November 18, 2021
Let’s go, @GresiniRacing @FabioDiggia21 ???????? #2022Loading #ForzaDucati@MotoGP @DucatiMotor pic.twitter.com/lSsrVi9a1J
— Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) November 18, 2021
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) is back on track after his huge Valencia GP crash, fantastic news for the Spaniard and HRC, who have a brand-new 2022 bike to refine in Jerez.
Happy to be back!@polespargaro is back in the saddle and making the most of the first day of testing. A steady start but ticking items off.#2022Loading pic.twitter.com/RlPlIfIvuG
— Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) November 18, 2021
Make sure you tune into After the Flag live at 17:30 local time (GMT+1) to get the full rundown on events from Day 1 at the Jerez Test, as well as sticking around on motogp.com for a report, highlights and interviews with the riders.
Top 10 (as of 14:00 local time):
1. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) – 1:37.713
2. Enea Bastianini (Team Gresini Racing MotoGP) + 0.084
3. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.097
4. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 0.148
5. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.307
6. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.329
7. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 0.372
8. Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.419
9. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.452
10. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) + 0.494