MotoGP Sepang Test: ‘Unbelievable’ evolution puts Espargaro on top

Aleix Espargaró kicked off his 2022 MotoGP season firmly at the top of the Sepang Test times on Saturday.

Espargaró led the way from the outset, his 1’58.371 effort set on his ninth lap of the day’s 42, and while Viñales matched the pace in the closing minutes - just 0.013s back - the Catalan was prevented from heading back out on soft tyres to refresh his time attack due to the workload required.

The Aprilia rider had made a brief appearance at the Sepang International Circuit earlier this week when he joined teammate Maverick Viñales and test rider Lorenzo Savadori for the final day of the Shakedown but admits the majority of his time was spent on the ’21-spec RS-GP, also seen at November’s Jerez test.

“The bike of Jerez basically was 99% of ‘21 bike,” Espargaró explained on Saturday evening from Malaysia. “We try different chassis, in different direction of chassis in Jerez that didn’t work. So this was the only positive thing of Jerez test because they develop the new frame on another complete direction and definitely the bike is better.

“Especially when turning, on handling the bike is a lot more agile, turns a lot better, also the engine is a little bit stronger.

“Overall, is my second day with the RS-GP 22. I just did one day of test before, on the shakedown, so still is a young bike. On the shakedown especially, I compare both bikes ‘21 and ‘22. Yesterday, my team built a completely new bike, and today I had the shakedown of bike two and we had some issues, had to stay in the garage many, many times during the day. So we lose a lot of time but this is why we are here to test.

“No, it hasn’t been a revolution,” he continued, reflecting on his new machine. “I think last year the bike was definitely a big step if we