MADRID, 6 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish rider Jorge Martín (Ducati) was the fastest on the first day of the MotoGP preseason test at the Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), ahead of the 'rookie' Pedro Acosta (KTM) and the Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha ), in a session that started with a red flag due to a fall by the world champion, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), and with Marc Márquez (Ducati) finishing in ninth place.
The one from San Sebastián de los Reyes started 2024 strong and set a fast and unbeatable time of 1:57.951 during the day. A time that allowed him to rise to the top of the classification after just over two hours of filming on the Sepang track, and he remained in the lead until the end of the first day of testing.
The also Spanish Pedro Acosta, 'rookie' of the category, did not disappoint either and practically equaled his best lap of the 'Shakedown' to place second on this first day, two tenths behind the Madrid native. He completed this first 'podium' of 2024, just eight thousandths behind the Moto2 champion, Quartararo, in what could be the demonstration of Yamaha's improvement ahead of the new season.
And the first day of the test was complicated for the rest of the theoretical favorites for the title. Especially for the reigning champion, 'Pecco' Bagnaia, who crashed on his first lap at Sepang, causing a red flag, and finishing sixteenth, more than eight tenths behind 'Martinator'.
It was not a peaceful day for Marc Márquez either, who got back on his Gresini Ducati, although he had to deal with two technical problems during most of the session. A setback that only allowed him to be ninth, more than two tenths away from the first 'top 5' of 2024. His brother Álex, a teammate, was seventh, just over half a second behind the head.
The Ducati were the dominators of the preseason premiere in Sepang, placing six of their machines within the 'top 10', and with seven of the Bologna brand's eight riders riding on the track. Without the new aerodynamic package announced before the preseason, Martín, Bagnaia, Bastianini and company focused on understanding and squeezing the engine for the new season.
Although the rider who completed the most laps (69) on the Sepang circuit was the Australian Jack Miller (KTM), key to continuing the development work of the Austrian factory, focusing on electronics, a new exhaust system and other updates. aerodynamics and engine.
Among the rest of the Spanish riders, Maverick Viñales was the fastest on the Aprilia with a 1:58.470 that left him sixth. While Raúl Fernández (KTM) could only complete 21 laps after suffering a spectacular fall at the beginning of the test for which he was taken to the hospital.