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      Day 1 midday: Aleix Espargaro flying as Sepang Test begins

      motogp.com
      https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2022/02/05/day-1-midday-aleix-espargaro-flying-as-sepang-test-begins/178909

      The Aprilia star’s blistering 1:58.371 is the fastest time so far as Official pre-season testing gets underway in Malaysia

      Official pre-season testing at the Sepang International Circuit has burst into life and at the halfway point on Day 1, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) has set a blistering 1:58.371 – one of the fastest ever two-wheel laps around the Malaysian layout.

      Eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez is back on a MotoGP™ machine for the first time since his victory at the Emilia-Romagna GP back in October 2021. Honda is a huge talking point during testing as the Japanese giants roll out a very different looking RC213V for 2022, with one spec of the bike in Sepang updated from what we saw at the Jerez Test. Marc Marquez crashed unhurt at Turn 9 during the morning, as did Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – the latter is third quickest so far.

       

      Fabio Quartararo, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™, Sepang MotoGP™ Official Test

      Every factory is busy testing their 2022 prototypes, with more new parts being rolled out on Day 1 than we saw during the Jerez Test and Shakedown earlier this week. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) is only a couple of tenths behind Aleix Espargaro’s time, with Rins and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) – who was straight out on the 2022 Honda – the only two riders, so far, within a second of top spot.

      Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed unhurt after running wide at Turn 7, while Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) suffered a technical issue with his Ducati. 

      A full rundown of events and what the teams have been testing will be coming later on today, with highlights, interviews and After the Flag live (10:30 CET) on the way too.

      Top 10 (times as of 14:00 local time):
      1. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – 1:58.371
      2. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) + 0.267
      3. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.969
      4. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.982
      5. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 1.044
      6. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) + 1.051
      7. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 1.055
      8. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 1.120
      9. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Factory) + 1.187
      10. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 1.296

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