Mixed feels for Yamaha, Marc Marquez’s fitness & more – check out some of the things we learnt from the three days in Malaysia
The ever-intriguing MotoGP™ Sepang Test has drawn to a close. But what did we learn? The answer to that question is a lot. However, we also leave Malaysia with plenty of questions left on the table.
As we look back on the three-day Official Test, here’s five of the things we learnt as we now look forward to the two-day Portimao Test in March.
Mixed emotions for Quartararo & Yamaha
The 2021 World Champion was left with mixed emotions at the end of Day 3 in Sepang. One big positive for Fabio Quartararo and his Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ teammate Franco Morbidelli is that they’ve found a good step forward with the 2023 engine. That was one of the major talking points coming into the Sepang Test.
However, when heading out on fresh rubber to get back into the groove of time attacks, Quartararo branded the performance of his YZR-M1 a “disaster”. The Frenchman, nor Yamaha, were able to pinpoint exactly why this was the case. Something to keep a close eye on at the second and final pre-season Test in Portimao.
“I feel really good” – no physical issues for Marc Marquez
Having endured the toughest couple of years of his racing career, the Sepang Test proved Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was nearing peak fitness. Marquez clocked a total of 149 laps across the three days, and admitted the most important thing to come out of this Test was his physical condition. “I feel really good… I was able to ride in a normal way.” Fantastic news for Marquez, Honda, his fans and the sport in general.
Marini: the rider to beat so far in 2023
Fastest at the Valencia Test. Fastest at the Sepang Test. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) was – unsurprisingly – all smiles after he topped the combined timesheets in Malaysia with the second-ever fastest lap we’ve seen at the Sepang International Circuit.
Staying on Ducati’s world-beating GP22 for a second year, Marini has the talent and tools to make top fives and podiums a regular occurrence this season, and declared that he’s ready to do just that. The Italian described his Test as…