#PortimaoTest: the ultimate countdown is on!
It’s the final likelihood for the sector to get race prepared, with simply two days of testing left between our 22 riders and the 21 Grands Prix that lie forward
We’ve had the Shakedown, we’ve seen the Sepang Check correct and we’re nearing the top of pre-season because the paddock heads for Portugal. Simply two days of observe motion stay for the sector to get in gear for the largest season ever, with bikes again on observe this weekend!
WHEN + WHERE?
The check takes place on the eleventh and twelfth of March on the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. Regular observe motion begins at 10:00 native time (GMT) day-after-day and lasts till 18:00. Then, from 18:00 till 18:15, there’s a Apply Begin session as there was at Sepang.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?
As we’ve loved by means of pre-season, there will likely be Dwell Timing on motogp.com all through the periods so you possibly can keep on prime of who’s the place, in addition to loads of different details about their laptimes and completely different runs. There’ll even be movies and studies all through the motion to be sure to don’t miss a minute.
Then, from 17:30 native time day-after-day till 19:00, After the Flag will likely be dwell to supply a bunch of updates and studies from on the bottom. Pitlane reporter Simon Crafar will likely be joined by Jack Gorst as soon as once more, and the present in Barcelona will likely be anchored by commentators and presenters Louis Suddaby and Neil Morrison. After the Flag will analyse all of the motion and produce you unique interviews with riders and key personnel all through! And keep in mind, Portugal is in GMT/UTC – not CET!
Try the FREE TRIAL of VideoPass + TimingPass
DUCATI, VR46, PRAMAC & GRESINI
The Ducati Lenovo Crew might have stolen a number of of the headlines when it comes to novelties, however the instances proper on the prime have been whisked away by Mooney V46 Racing Crew on two of the three days. Sophomore Marco Bezzecchi was quickest on Day 1, and by the top of Day 3, Luca Marini was quickest general. That makes it each assessments to this point that Marini has reigned – having additionally been quickest in Valencia. The GP22 retains some severe chops.
That mentioned, Ducati Lenovo Crew have been very popular Marini’s heels, with reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia second general. He had new aero on each bikes however had the downwash ducts as a substitute of the “ground-effect” aspect fairings by the top of the check, whereas new teammate Enea Bastianini had one with the downwash ducts and one with the “ground-effect” decrease aspect fairings. Bastianini additionally had some ominous phrases after ending the check fourth general, saying they have been nonetheless solely at 70-75% of the potential of the brand new bike.
That new bike, in line with Ducati Lenovo Crew Supervisor Davide Tardozzi, can have the main points totally outlined in Portimão, so we greatest hold an eye fixed out!
At Prima Pramac Racing, Jorge Martin was particularly vocal in regards to the step ahead with the 2023 engine, and he was fifth on the finish of play – very near Bastianini. Teammate Johann Zarco frolicked on the bottom impact decrease aspect fairings on the shut of motion in Sepang, and he didn’t appear to place in an actual quick lap, ending the check in P16. We are able to doubtless count on extra from Zarco quickly sufficient.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), in the meantime, was one other quick GP22 as he ended the check 0.019s forward of Bezzecchi. That’s excellent news for Diggia as he seems to take an enormous step ahead in 2022, and there was extra excellent news for his new teammate too. Alex Marquez, new to the Ducati, was 0.022s off Bezzecchi in a tightly packed prime ten.
APRILIA & RNF
The Sepang Check was a constructive one for Aprilia Racing’s Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaro. Viñales was simply over a tenth off Marini’s blistering tempo and completed P3 throughout the three days, whereas Espargaro walked away with a P6 – however importantly, the vibes have been good from the Noale camp. The primary story coming into the Portimao Check is the brand new 2023 engine specification that Crew Supervisor Paolo Bonora confirmed was on the agenda again in Malaysia. Look out for feedback on that this weekend.
In Aprilia’s new Unbiased Crew ranks, Raul Fernandez (RNF MotoGP™ Crew) mentioned it was the primary time he’d loved using a motorcycle since his 2021 Moto2™ title tilt. The Spaniard reduce a cheerful determine in Sepang and completed in a strong P11, lower than 0.5s away from Espargaro. RNF teammate and former Portuguese GP race winner, Miguel Oliveira, mentioned he didn’t handle to extract essentially the most potential out of his RS-GP when making an attempt a time assault in Malaysia, therefore his P15 in Sepang. Can that difficulty be rectified in Portimao for the house hero? Time will inform for one in all 2023’s darkish horses… and Oliveira was already fast in Valencia!
HONDA & LCR
This check is essential for Honda. As many as 4 bikes have been sat in Marc Marquez’s aspect of the Repsol Honda Crew storage in Sepang – one 2022 bike, two 2023 bikes and a brand new experimental 2023 bike – as HRC looked for a path. Crew Supervisor Alberto Puig admitted they “clearly” aren’t the place they wish to be, however a vastly constructive word was Marquez’s health. The quantity 93 says he expects to open the season as totally match as may be, and raring to race. In the meantime, new Repsol Honda recruit Joan Mir was happy together with his progress over the three days, however we’ll get the complete image of the place HRC lie on Sunday night.
Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol), much like Mir, was pleased with how his adaptation continued to enhance in Malaysia. The duo sang from the identical hymn sheet when expressing how a lot they’ve needed to change their using types after their swap from Suzuki, whereas the skilled Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) rallied on with testing duties as he additionally comes again from some damage struggles.
KTM & GASGAS TECH3
One factor of word at Sepang was a unique engine noise overheard from each Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing machines of Brad Binder and Jack Miller, in addition to the GASGAS Manufacturing unit Racing Tech3 RC16 of Pol Espargaro. Will Portimao reveal extra?
Espargaro ended the check as prime RC16 only a smidge forward of Binder, with Miller a little bit additional again. Binder was on the aero replace we first noticed on the Shakedown, with Miller on the Valencia aero replace. The South African was on lead as Miller targeted on settling in and enjoying with geometry. It appears there’s lots nonetheless to be determined for the Austrian manufacturing facility.
Rookie Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Manufacturing unit Racing Tech3), in the meantime, appeared to be out on a brand new chassis and taking up extra testing responsibility… what is going to we see from him in Portugal?
YAMAHA
On one hand, the Sepang Check appeared a roaring success for Yamaha. On the opposite, severe worries arose. The excellent news for Fabio Quartararo and Monster Power Yamaha MotoGP™ teammate Franco Morbidelli is the 2023 engine possesses these additional few horses they’ve been yearning for a while. The highest velocity charts made for nice studying for the Iwata manufacturing facility.
The dangerous information? Seemingly, their gentle tyre efficiency. Quartararo branded their tempo on new tyres a “catastrophe” when going for a time assault in Malaysia, in order that’s one thing that must be fastened in Portimao. Yamaha, Quartararo and Morbidelli will likely be hoping Sepang’s P17 and P20 aren’t the place they’re sitting come Sunday night after one other two essential days.
Extra MotoGP™ than ever: that is 2023!
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