Photo: motogp.com
Rossi is the fastest MotoGP rider in the first day of the Sepang 2 test. Malaysian weather was quite capricious in the early stages of the second official test at the circuit of Sepang, so the results are rather disappointing compared to the previous session. With the first day debuting in a blistering heat and track surface temperatures reaching as high as 60 degrees Celsius (140 F), grip was far from ideal. And when the temperature seemed to let go a bit in the second half of the day, torrential rain came and ruined almost everything.
After the thunderstorm, only 20 minutes of testing have been left so the debut day at Sepang 2 was not exactly productive. Some 1.5 seconds off Marquez best lap in Sepang 1 and around 1 second slower than his own precious best time at the track this year, Rossi managed to end the day in the leading position, followed by Dani Pedrosa .129 s off his time.
The Espargaro brothers have been third and fourth, with the elder betting the better of the younger. Suzuki has retested aerodynamics back in Japan after the first Sepang test and it looks like the new shape of their windscreen was well worth the effort, bringing Aleix Espargaro in the third position, some .179s ahead of his brother Pol.
Lorenzo struggled a bit and ended the first day in the 5th position, but Lin Jarvis says he’s happy because The Cobra got the better of Marques which was 6th, at only 28 thousandths of a second behind. The top ten was complete with Crutchlow, Smith, Vinales and Dovizioso. The other Ducati machine was 15th, and it looks like the two Andrea (Dovizioso and Iannone) still have to adapt to the Desmosedici GP15.
This was the official track debut of Ducati’s new machine. Yamaha has also debuted a key component in the form of the new transmission. It is unknown yet whether Rossi and Lorenzo’s bikes were equipped with the final-design gearbox. Iwata officials only referred to the new transmission as being an “evolution”, but no mentions were made as to the operation of the gearbox. We will hopefully learn more as the testing continues.
Still, even though we hoped to see Troy making this weekend one to remember for both Ducati and Phillip Island, it was just not meant to be. The 45-year-old Aussie rider qualified 13th on the grid and ended Race 1 in the same position, 4 slots ahead of ex-MotoGP man Randy De Puniet, who is now involved with Suzuki in WSBK.
However, Race 2 saw De Puniet soaring into the 7th position at the end, while Bayliss slid in the 16th position. It is not sure whether we will get to see Bayliss riding for Ducati in WSBK this year, as Giugliano will most likely be substituted for by Ducati’s official test rider Michele Pirro.
Still, Bayliss is the living proof that WSBK points can be earned even at 45 and after retirement. A thing for which he deserves our full reverence, by all means.
The Espargaro brothers have been third and fourth, with the elder betting the better of the younger. Suzuki has retested aerodynamics back in Japan after the first Sepang test and it looks like the new shape of their windscreen was well worth the effort, bringing Aleix Espargaro in the third position, some .179s ahead of his brother Pol.
Lorenzo struggled a bit and ended the first day in the 5th position, but Lin Jarvis says he’s happy because The Cobra got the better of Marques which was 6th, at only 28 thousandths of a second behind. The top ten was complete with Crutchlow, Smith, Vinales and Dovizioso. The other Ducati machine was 15th, and it looks like the two Andrea (Dovizioso and Iannone) still have to adapt to the Desmosedici GP15.
This was the official track debut of Ducati’s new machine. Yamaha has also debuted a key component in the form of the new transmission. It is unknown yet whether Rossi and Lorenzo’s bikes were equipped with the final-design gearbox. Iwata officials only referred to the new transmission as being an “evolution”, but no mentions were made as to the operation of the gearbox. We will hopefully learn more as the testing continues.
Troy Bayliss can still bring WSBK points for Ducati
We reported last week that Ducati would employ the services of Superbike legend Troy Bayliss, having asked his to substitute for injured Davide Giugliano. Bayliss is a long-time Ducati rider and has also succeeded in MotoGP aboard Borgo Panigale machinery in circumstances which were totally against himStill, even though we hoped to see Troy making this weekend one to remember for both Ducati and Phillip Island, it was just not meant to be. The 45-year-old Aussie rider qualified 13th on the grid and ended Race 1 in the same position, 4 slots ahead of ex-MotoGP man Randy De Puniet, who is now involved with Suzuki in WSBK.
However, Race 2 saw De Puniet soaring into the 7th position at the end, while Bayliss slid in the 16th position. It is not sure whether we will get to see Bayliss riding for Ducati in WSBK this year, as Giugliano will most likely be substituted for by Ducati’s official test rider Michele Pirro.
Still, Bayliss is the living proof that WSBK points can be earned even at 45 and after retirement. A thing for which he deserves our full reverence, by all means.
Google News