MotoGP Sepang Shakedown: Pirro closes test on top

It was Ducati and Michele Pirro’s turn at the top as MotoGP shakedown testing wound down at Sepang on Tuesday.

Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow had hit the ground running once again on the final day before the Italian took charge, two tenths faster, thanks to a 2’0.118 best, as the afternoon unfolded. A final push in the closing hour allowed the GP23 rider to set a 1’59.803 on his second machine, securing his command, with GasGas rookie Augusto Fernandez maintaining his top three status over Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori by the close of play.

Having ridden solo for the opening two days, Crutchlow was joined by Katsuyuki Nakasuga as the M1 prep work continued, this time under the careful watch of 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo who had already arrived ahead of Friday’s official MotoGP test. The Frenchman no doubt encouraged by the new engine’s potential as it clocked 335.4km/h through the Malaysian speed traps.

KTM’s Dani Pedrosa continued to work in stealth mode with his transponder turned off, however, rumours suggest his pace would have easily challenged the front runners.