MotoGP Sepang Shakedown: Aprilia tops test with Vinales in charge

Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales outpaced teammate Aleix Espargaro at the top of the Sepang MotoGP Shakedown on Wednesday.

Viñales headed the final times of the three day test with a 1’58.942 effort, just 0.144s faster than teammate Espargaro while Raul Fernandez and Marco Bezzecchi once again vied for top rookie honours.

It was Tech3 KTM’s Fernandez who won out over the VR46 Academy graduate, with both riders running mid 1’59 pace. Ducati test rider Michele Pirro split the rookie pack in fifth, with Remy Gardner the next of the newbies, over a second faster than his previous thanks to a best time of 2’00.046 and still navigating his broken wrist. WithU Yamaha’s Darryn Binder continued his own education on the RNF M1 four-tenths quicker than Tuesday’s time while Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio was forced to sit out for a second day due to illness.

The full contingent of test riders were out in force as Cal Crutchlow joined the action. Dani Pedrosa once again rode for KTM but without showing on the timing screes while Stefan Bradl headed Sylvain Guintoli, Mika Kallio, Kohta Nozane, Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Takuya Tsuda.

The action returns on Saturday for two days of official MotoGP testing, with Pramac Ducati, Monster Energy Yamaha and Suzuki Ecstar all launching their 2022 campaigns ahead of the weekend.

MotoGP Sepang Shakedown Test: Wednesday’s final times

Maverick Viñales Aprilia Racing 1’58.942 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia Racing 1’59.086 Raul Fernandez KTM Tech3 1’59.468 Marco Bezzecchi Mooney VR46 Ducati 1’59.711 Michele Pirro Ducati Test Rider 1’59.805 Remy Gardner KTM Tech3 2’00.046 Stefan Bradl Honda Test Rider 2’00.449 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki Test Rider 2’00.491 Darryn Binder WithU Yamaha RNF 2’00.928 Mika Kallio KTM Test