Shakedown Lowdown: Day 3
Acosta ends Saturday on high as the ultimate day of Shakedown testing concludes
Saturday, 03 February 2024
The curtain got here down on the 2024 MotoGP Sepang Shakedown with rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Purple Bull GASGAS Tech3) on high, with the quantity 31 content material to proceed making headlines. A very good 1:58.189 on the ultimate day noticed him lead check rider Pol Espargaro (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) by 0.066s, with CASTROL Honda LCR’s new recruit Johann Zarco finishing the highest three.
Acosta dazzles
Regardless of a few small crashes on the ultimate day – one within the dry at Flip 11 and one within the moist at Flip 15 – Acosta solely continues to impress. His time would have positioned him P5 in final yr’s Sepang Check general standings, and there are nonetheless three extra days to go in that occasion subsequent week.
On the ultimate day, Acosta was lapping with KTM’s carbon chassis on each of his GASGAS bikes, indicating this could be the route they’ll be heading in for the season. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see what new elements Acosta will check on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Malaysia, as he’s joined by teammate Augusto Fernandez and the 2 Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller.
And talking of the orange squad, Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing’s Pol Espargaro mentioned in a video the workforce posted on social media that he feels “excellent” on the bike after a winter of coaching sees the Check Rider come into 2024 in a a lot better bodily situation. Espargaro additionally feedback on how effectively Acosta is adapting to the bike.
Aero sport stepped up forward of Sepang Check
As we noticed throughout the earlier two days of Shakedown motion, the factories have ramped up the aerodynamics sport in 2024. You possibly can see KTM’s entrance fender wing, Aprilia’s ‘Batmobile’ rear wing and Ducati’s extra floor impact facet panel fairing updates HERE, with the respective check riders working all of those additions on the ultimate day. Honda’s upgraded ‘stegosaurus’ rear wing may be seen beneath.
Honda and Yamaha: all fingers on deck
On Day 3, Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) was noticed testing a unique swingarm, and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Staff) has confirmed that Honda’s 2023 bike isn’t in Sepang. Honda are specializing in the bundle they’d on the Valencia Check and on a brand new prototype they’ve bought. A “change in route”.
Zarco was the quickest Honda on Saturday, forward of Mir after which Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Staff) and Nakagami, peppered all through the highest ten.
In the meantime, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP
) completed the Shakedown in P4, whereas new teammate Alex Rins was a tenth off him in P7. When it comes to novelties, Yamaha Check Rider Cal Crutchlow ventured out with a brand new, longer exhaust and an up to date aero physique.
Extra to come back?
For Ducati and Aprilia, repped on the Shakedown by Michele Pirro and Lorenzo Savadori, respectively, there have been the beforehand talked about aero updates on apparent present, and the occasion noticed loads of prep for the remainder of their riders to affix the fray on the Sepang Check.
That may embrace reigning Champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Staff) assembly his new steed forward of one other title defence marketing campaign, and 2023 challenger Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). It’s additionally one other likelihood to see Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) heading out, though that’s not on a 2024-spec bike…
In the meantime, alongside Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaro at Aprilia, there’s additionally an entire novelty of a unique type within the Noale camp as Trackhouse Racing put together to land in MotoGP, with Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez doubtless quickly to look of their new colors on observe for the primary time.
That’s a wrap on one of the crucial star-studded Shakedowns we’ve seen for a while. Subsequent up it’s the official #SepangTest from the sixth to the eighth of February, the place we’ll see everybody again out and again in enterprise forward of their assault on 2024.
Within the meantime take a look at all our updates on motogp.com, and be part of us on social for extra snippets and content material from the very begin of what’s certain to be one other history-making season!
BEST LAPS BY RIDER: DAY 3
1 Pedro Acosta (Purple Bull GASGAS Tech3) 1:58.189
2 Pol Espargaro (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) +0.066
3 Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) +0.211
4 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP) +0.249
5 Dani Pedrosa (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) + 0.289
6 Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Staff) +0.328
7 Alex Rins (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.354
8 Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Staff) +0.746
9 Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing) +0.794
10 Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) +0.883
11 Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Staff) +1.141
12 Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) +1.811
13 Stefan Bradl (Honda Check Staff) +2.910
The publish MotoGP: Acosta Tops Day Three Of Sepang “Shakedown Check” appeared first on Roadracing World Journal | Bike Using, Racing & Tech Information.
