Rigorous testing at the Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia has produced interesting data and plenty of knowledge for all the top title contenders.
The Mandalika International Street Circuit (known as Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit) is located in the Mandalika resort area on the Central Lombok Regency in the West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia.
The circuit is a venue for Asia Talent Cup, Superbike World Championships and Grand Prix motorcycle races.
After Friday’s interrupted running due to wet weather conditions, the MotoGP paddock’s weather worries were eased as the rain stayed away from the Lombok circuit, despite dark clouds building just behind the back of the circuit.
Another day of running continued to improve the track condition as riders began to dip into the 1’31s throughout the day.
Saturday was another day of steady improvements and progress for Spanish multi-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, on his way to second place on the time sheets, just behind Italian Ducati rider Luca Marini (pictured here).
Honda’s Marquez said his finishing position was not important to him, instead enjoying an ever-improving feeling with the bike and in turn an improved ability to produce quick laps.
His team-mate, Pol Espargaro, was again busy as he set about his testing plan, completing 76 laps on the second day and setting a best time of 1’31.605, good enough to be fourth quickest, although all of this is purely academic as testing will continue and none of it really matters anyway until the flag drops on the first race of the championship season.
This time came in the closing half an hour of the day as the MotoGP grid switched into time attack mode for the first time this test. Ending the day eighth overall, Espargaro was pleased with his work on the penultimate day of testing – especially with his speed over longer runs.
The riders will now prepare for the season-opening Qatar GP. Practice for the first race of the year will begin on Friday, March 4.
Mandalika Test Day Two:
Pos. Rider Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 MARINI Luca ITA Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati 1’31.289
2 MARQUEZ Marc SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 0.192
3 VINALES Maverick SPA Aprilia Racing Aprilia 0.227
4 QUARTARARO Fabio FRA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 0.275
5 MIR Joan SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 0.297
6 ZARCO Johann FRA Pramac Racing Ducati 0.297
7 BASTIANINI Enea ITA Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati 0.310
8 ESPARGARO Pol SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 0.316
9 MARTIN Jorge SPA Pramac Racing Ducati 0.376
10 BAGNAIA Francesco ITA Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 0.436
11 BINDER Brad RSA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0.525
12 MORBIDELLI Franco ITA Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 0.560
13 RINS Alex SPA Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki 0.595
14 ESPARGARO Aleix SPA Aprilia Racing Aprilia 0.617
15 NAKAGAMI Takaaki JPN LCR Honda Honda 0.629
16 MARQUEZ Alex SPA LCR Honda Honda 0.691
17 DI GIANNANTONIO Fabio ITA Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati 0.758
18 OLIVEIRA Miguel POR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0.911
19 DOVIZIOSO Andrea ITA WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team Yamaha 1.014
20 MILLER Jack AUS Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 1.029
21 FERNANDEZ Raul SPA Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing KTM 1.112
22 BEZZECCHI Marco ITA Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati 1.182
23 GARDNER Remy AUS Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing KTM 1.309
24 BINDER Darryn RSA WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team Yamaha 1.764
2022 PROVISIONAL MOTOGP DATES:
Rd 1: March 6: Losail International Circuit / Qatar.
Rd 2: March 20: Mandalika International Street Circuit / Indonesia.
Rd 3: April 3: Termas de Río Hondo / Argentina.
Rd 4: April 10: Circuit of the Americas / Texas.
Rd 5: April 24: Algarve International Circuit / Portugal.
Rd 6: May 1: Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto / Spain.
Rd 7: May 15: Le Mans / France.
Rd 8: May 29: Autodromo del Mugello / Italy.
Rd 9: June 5: Barcelona-Catalunya / Spain.
Rd 10: June 19: Sachsenring / Germany.
Rd 11: June 26: TYT Circuit Assen / Netherlands.
Rd 12: July 10: KymiRing / Finland.
Rd 13: August 7 : Silverstone Circuit / GB.
Rd 14: August 21: Red Bull Ring-Spielberg / Austria.
Rd 15: September 4: Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli/ San Marino.
Rd 16: September 18: Motorland Aragon / Spain.
Rd 17: September 25: Twin Ring Motegi / Japan.
Rd 18: October 2: Chang International Circuit / Thailand.
Rd 19: October 16: Phillip Island / Australia.
Rd 20: October 23: Sepang International Circuit / Malaysia.
Rd 21: November 6: Comunitat Valenciana-Ricardo Tormo / Spain.
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