#SepangTest: 3, 2, 1… 2024 is GO!
The time has come! The complete 2024 grid will get prepared to go out in Malaysia
Monday, 05 February 2024
After a star-studded Shakedown that noticed rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Crimson Bull GASGAS Tech3) high the timesheets, it’s time for the entire grid to hitch the quantity 31 out on monitor. To this point we’ve already seen the race riders from Honda and Yamaha head out because of the brand new concession system, however now we get much more headliners – together with reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Group) and now-Gresini Racing MotoGP rider Marc Marquez. So the place are you able to keep updated and what can we anticipate on monitor?
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Dwell Timing is offered on motogp.com throughout all three days, and there shall be stay textual content updates on motogp.com with minute-by-minute updates earlier than an finish of day round-up.
There will even be a stay present beamed from Sepang throughout MotoGP
’s social media channels at 14:00 native time each day, hosted by Jack Gorst and Simon Crafar, to debrief the important thing moments and get to the guts of the motion.
Then, from 17:30 native time each day till 19:00, After The Flag shall be stay on VideoPass to offer a full overview of the day’s motion. Pitlane reporter and 500cc Grand Prix winner Crafar will as soon as once more be joined by eagle-eyed tech reporter Gorst in Malaysia, and the present in Barcelona shall be anchored by Louis Suddaby and Elliott York to analyse all of the motion alongside unique interviews with riders and crew managers.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Ducati Lenovo, Prima Pramac, Pertamina Enduro VR46 & Gresini
Loads of eyes shall be on Bagnaia, and 2023 Malaysian GP winner Enea Bastianini alongside him within the Ducati Lenovo Group field, as a brand new marketing campaign begins. We noticed up to date aero from Ducati on the Shakedown, put by means of its paces by check rider Michele Pirro, and now it’s all arms on deck to outline and refine the machine the Bologna manufacturing facility will subject in 2024.
At Prima Pramac the duty shall be comparable for Jorge Martin, who will wish to hit the bottom working as he goals to combat for the title once more. Nevertheless, we wait to see if his new teammate Franco Morbidelli shall be out on monitor after the Italian suffered a crash throughout a personal monitor day in Portugal and continues his restoration.
At Pertamina Enduro VR46, these fluo yellow and white vibes will accompany Marco Bezzecchi, who’ll be making an attempt to tune in and familiarize yourself with the marginally completely different 2023 machine, and the incoming Fabio Di Giannantonio the identical. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) likewise will get his arms on the bike that fought for the title final 12 months, and so does his new teammate…
Marc Marquez was already fourth quickest in Valencia after switching from Honda to Ducati equipment, and now there are three extra days of monitor motion forward for the quantity 93 to settle in, discover and study the boundaries, and see if he can redefine them. On the 2023 machine for this season, the eight-time Champion faces down the most important sporting problem of his profession for a decade – and we will’t wait to see what occurs.
Crimson Bull KTM & Crimson Bull GASGAS Tech3
The RC16 topped all three days of the Shakedown, first with MotoGP Legend Dani Pedrosa, then with new check rider Pol Espargaro, and at last within the arms of famous person rookie Pedro Acosta. We noticed new aero from the Austrian manufacturing facility and we additionally noticed Acosta working the carbon chassis, which could possibly be a clue that’s their supposed path general.
Now it’s time for Brad Binder (Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing), teammate Jack Miller and sophomore Augusto Fernandez (Crimson Bull GASGAS Tech3) to hitch the fray because the marque push to breach that hole to Ducati. Acosta, in the meantime, now beneficial properties a number extra benchmarks on the timesheets, and has three extra entire days in Sepang to study his means around the premier class.
Aprilia & Trackhouse Racing
At Aprilia, we’ve additionally seen new aero throughout the Shakedown, with check rider Lorenzo Savadori on the helm. Now it’s time for manufacturing facility riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales to go out and begin defining what they’ll race in 2024, alongside Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez on the new Trackhouse crew. Aprilia had been near the highest when it comes to pace for a lot of 2023, however they’ll need extra. They usually’ll wish to iron out the hurdles that appeared to maintain pausing their upward trajectory at instances final season.
At Trackhouse too, though we’ll doubtless see loads of black fairings in testing, we hope we’ll additionally see that new, very American livery just lately launched in LA.
Monster Power Yamaha
We noticed just a few updates from Yamaha on the Shakedown. A brand new aero physique, an up to date tail unit and that longer exhaust had been all on present, with check rider Cal Crutchlow on monitor on Day 1 earlier than being joined by 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo and new Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP teammate Alex Rins for the remainder of the check. After a troublesome 2023, the race is on for the manufacturing facility to leverage these concessions and try to bridge the hole, and Rins shall be an attention-grabbing addition to the fold with race-winning kind on an inline 4 and a V4 in solely the previous couple of seasons…
Repsol Honda & CASTROL/IDEMITSU Honda LCR
Like Yamaha, Honda had been capable of subject their race riders on the Shakedown, and like Yamaha, they sat out Day 1 earlier than the complete flotilla joined the fray. Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Group) confirmed they’d had no 2023 bike within the field, with a real new path chosen and work all centered on that. The temper was markedly lighter because the behemoths intention to get again on high.
They’ll proceed to rely on Mir, a MotoGP World Champion and with some expertise with the marque, and long-time HRC rider Takaaki Nakagami at IDEMITSU Honda LCR. They acquire Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR), along with his wealth of expertise on completely different machines, and at last, Luca Marini joins Repsol Honda. The Italian now has some good MotoGP expertise, is understood for his love of knowledge, and has constructed a status round relentlessly placing the items collectively to enhance. The place will the Japanese giants be by the tip of the primary official check?
We’ll discover out quickly because the check takes over Sepang from Tuesday the sixth till Thursday the eighth of February, with the monitor motion working from 10:00 native time (UTC+8) till 18:00 every day… so be sure to be a part of us!
Extra, from a press launch issued by Trackhouse Racing:
Trackhouse Racing – ON TRACK!
America’s MotoGP Group arrives in Malaysia to place rubber down on the pavement at Sepang Worldwide Circuit – the primary ever pit storage exits for Trackhouse Racing MotoGP and the debut of its riders’ #88 Miguel Oliveira and #25 Raul Fernandez for the brand new outfit.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee. USA. – Trackhouse Racing MotoGP arrives on the Sepang Worldwide Circuit, in Malaysia, contemporary from its 2024 Group launch in Hollywood per week prior. Swapping the intense lights of Tinsel City for the warmth of Asia herald’s the beginning of Trackhouse’s ambitions on monitor and getting right down to the intense enterprise of discovering pace.
The primary official check of the 2024 MotoGP season, between Tuesday, February 6 – Thursday, February 8, sees Miguel Oliveira hit pit-road on the model new #88 Trackhouse Racing Aprilia RS-GP 24 and team-mate, Raul Fernandez, taking to the monitor on the 2023 model which he examined in Valencia, again in November, after the conclusion of final season.
Arriving in Sepang and working on pavement for the very first time, is the end result of a whirlwind 10 weeks for Trackhouse Leisure founder and proprietor Justin Marks and the crew. Since saying its entry and the 2 grid locations within the MotoGP World Championship, the ambition has been clear; deliver the values of Trackhouse’s NASCAR operation to the premier class of two-wheel racing – starvation to compete, be the perfect racing crew potential and ship leisure and pleasure to followers within the USA and world wide. The group has proven its skill to win within the NASCAR Cup collection on a number of events since its rookie 12 months in 2021 and intends to set the identical benchmark in MotoGP.
With the assist of Aprilia Racing, who’ve moved mountains so as to add the construct of 4 new full manufacturing facility specification 2024 Aprilia RS-GP prototypes to its useful resource plan – two with the #88 plate from the get-go and two to observe with #25 plates – Trackhouse is coming into the Championship as a dedicated racing companion with the Italian producer’s Racing Division. The intention; double the power of the marque throughout the 2 garages, construct and share information and evaluation at twice the speed, check extra developments and increase efficiency. On the pinnacle of motorsports, firepower is every part and Trackhouse is seeking to assist make a distinction to Aprilia’s problem on monitor and throughout the race engineering operations. Two nice riders on two nice bikes is a powerful place to begin.
The pace and endeavor at Aprilia Racing to fabricate the brand new bikes in a matter of weeks, at Dorna and IRTA in aiding Trackhouse’s entry so whole-heartedly and the physique of labor finished by all of the workers on the crew is testomony to the spirit and stage of professionalism that exists in MotoGP. Trackhouse Racing goals to indicate its gratitude and repay the welcome and assist it has acquired by going racing with utmost respect for its rivals, everybody who contributes to this nice sport and its followers internationally.
Control the timing screens in Sepang – Trackhouse MotoGP rolls onto pit-road after lights go inexperienced at 10am (native) on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
Welcome to the Home!
JUSTIN MARKS – TEAM OWNER
“A lot work in such a short while has lastly culminated within the Trackhouse Racing MotoGP bikes hitting the monitor in Sepang. I’m pleased with everybody that has put in tireless hours into making this crew a actuality so it appears like we lastly can exhale a bit and get to the enterprise of racing. Aprilia has poured a lot effort into growing the brand new 2024 machines and it will likely be a thrill seeing them turned in anger within the succesful arms of Raul, Miguel, and the wonderful mechanics and engineers at Trackhouse.”
MIGUEL OLIVEIRA
“I’m very excited! We’ll be again to what we all know greatest; driving a MotoGP bike. I’m wanting ahead to see all of the crew and get our arms to work. It’s been a protracted, however productive winter, however I really feel able to get three intensive days testing. Our purpose is to adapt to the brand new machine and perceive the place we have to work on. From then we’ll entry the most effective methods for Qatar.”
RAUL FERNANDEZ
“I’m actually pleased to be again on monitor very quickly. I’m very enthusiastic to begin this new venture. It is going to be a extremely nice alternative this 12 months that kicks off this week in Sepang. After two months off the bike, I can’t wait to sit down on my RS-GP once more and it’ll clearly be crucial to regain a great feeling right away. This primary check, I wish to take pleasure in myself once more on the bike and attempt to acquire some data for the season.”
WILCO ZEELENBERG – TEAM MANAGER
“After a really quick winter break, we’re able to rock and roll once more. It has been a wierd winter, leaving one crew, bounce into a brand new venture, inform all folks and get related. However lastly, we obtain very new tools and each riders are match, which was utterly completely different in Valencia final 12 months. This can be a good signal. We’re all motivated. Our goal this season is to finish up slightly bit extra in entrance with our wonderful wanting bikes, that shall be seen right away inside a bunch. I’m personally wanting ahead to fly to Sepang to see some solar. Using for 3 days in Malaysia to begin off is at all times fairly demanding, however for the riders it’s additionally a great second to begin once more and get some confidence on the brand new bike. We’ll see the place we stand after three days.”
Extra, from a press launch issued by Ducati Lenovo Group:
The Ducati Lenovo Group is again on the monitor at Sepang, Malaysia, for the primary pre-season check of 2024
After the Campioni in Pista occasion and the crew presentation at Madonna di Campiglio (Italy), Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini are actually able to hit the monitor at Sepang for the primary three days of pre-season testing, scheduled from February 6 to eight on the Malaysian circuit.
On the identical monitor that may host the Malaysian GP in November, check rider Michele Pirro participated within the ‘shakedown’ from February 1 to three. Due to largely steady climate situations, the rider from San Giovanni Rotondo might conduct a number of checks on the Desmosedici GP, strive new elements, and provoke the event work. It’s now as much as the manufacturing facility riders to proceed the work over the subsequent three days of testing at Sepang.
Michele Pirro (#51, Ducati MotoGP Take a look at Group):
“Throughout these three days of ‘shakedown’, we achieved a major a part of the event. The primary day was utterly dry, whereas the next two days had a downpour in the direction of the tip. General, we managed to make good use of our time. The new situations at Sepang allowed us to conduct some particular testing. Moreover, we examined the brand new aero bundle, tried the brand new engine, and made a stable working base for the upcoming three days of testing that the manufacturing facility riders will now face. The beginning has been optimistic, and we’re happy. Now, we’ll attempt to proceed on this path.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Group):
“I’ve missed my Desmosedici GP throughout this winter break, so I’m thrilled to lastly be again on monitor at Sepang for the primary check of 2024. The final check at Valencia final 12 months offered optimistic suggestions, and Michele has already put in some work in these three days. I anticipate finding a great base on which to proceed growing the brand new bike. We’ve got three demanding but in addition essential days forward of us. Hopefully, the climate will permit us to take full benefit of all of the out there time.”
Enea Bastianini (#23, Ducati Lenovo Group):
“I’m thrilled to be again. All through the winter, I’ve devoted myself to reaching the appropriate bodily situation earlier than the Sepang check. Final week, I used to be additionally in Portimão with fellow Ducati riders, coaching with my Panigale V4 S, and now I’m prepared! Within the Valencia check, I acquired optimistic suggestions, and I instantly took a liking to the brand new bike. Right here, we’ll strive with some new gadgets, however general, I’m assured. These three days are essential, and I’ll be placing in lots of exhausting work”.
The manufacturing facility Ducati Lenovo Group riders will hit the monitor for the primary day of testing at Sepang tomorrow, Monday, February 5. They’ll have eight uninterrupted hours on the monitor, beginning at 10:00am native time.
The submit MotoGP: All Groups Will Take a look at This Week At Sepang appeared first on Roadracing World Journal | Bike Using, Racing & Tech Information.
