MADRID, 18 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami (Honda) was the fastest on the first day of testing at the Jerez-Ángel Nieto Circuit, which opened the preseason for 2022 in the MotoGP category this Thursday and saw the premiere of the future ‘rookies’ , among them the Spanish Raúl Fernández (KTM), current runner-up in the Moto2 world.
The Cádiz track hosts during these days some tests that will be key for all the teams for the next season where they will no longer have the freeze in the evolution of the pandemic that Dorna imposed to save costs due to the pandemic.
Nakagami was the fastest of the 27 riders who participated in the first of the two days of work that the Spanish circuit will host and marked by a strong wind that is also expected for Friday with a little more intensity.
The Japanese set a time of 1: 37.313, almost half a second faster than the best lap of the last Spanish Grand Prix achieved by Fabio Quartararo (1: 37.770). Nakagami surpassed by just 43 thousandths the French Johann Zarco, who led the Ducati where the Italians Enea Bastianini (1: 37.402) and Francesco Bagnaia (1: 37.415) completed the ‘Top 4’.
The best Spanish rider was Maverick Viñales, who placed his fifth Aprilia in the timesheets with 1: 37.674, just ahead of his compatriot Alex Rins (Suzuki), while Quartararo, current world champion, finished ninth, already in the 1:38 strip (1: 38.020).
POL ESPARGARÓ RETURNS, RAÚL FERNÁNDEZ DEBUTS
For its part, Repsol Honda, which cannot count on Marc Márquez who is recovering from the crash before the Portuguese Grand Prix that continues to produce double vision, could have his other rider, Pol Esparagaró, who missed the last race in Valencia due to a strong fall in the third free practice.
The one from Granollers completed 45 laps of the Jerez track and finished with the thirteenth fastest time (1: 38.165 thousandths). “I feel like we have made good use of the day, and although I have a bit of pain in my ribs and wrist and I have had to suffer a bit, it is very important for the team and also for me to complete a few laps with the new bike and get as much information as possible, “he stressed.
“This Friday we have another test day which will hopefully be a little better. The plan for tomorrow is to work harder for the future and based on what we have seen today, it looks promising. For us, the new parts and the motorcycles are like lollipops for children and that is a great motivation, “he said.
The day also left the first contact with the MotoGP of several of the 2022 debutants such as the Spanish Raúl Fernández. The Madrid-born, current Moto2 world runner-up, did it on the back of the KTM and showed his quality finishing as the best of the ‘rookies’, in nineteenth place with a time of 1: 39.083 after 57 laps. His partner, the Australian Remy Gardner, Moto2 world champion, the Italians Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati), and the South African Darryn Binder (Yamaha), who has risen from Moto3, were the others who made their debut in the category ‘queen’.