MotoGP: Sepang Shakedown Test Round-up

The first MotoGP test of 2023 is over, with test riders and Augusto Fernandez making their way onto the Sepang circuit.

Day one

Yamaha would finish day one at the top of the time sheets, with Cal Crutchlow taking the top spot in the afternoon. They would bring three bikes to test throughout the three days, as they try to find more top speed.

Yamaha also had test riders Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Kohta Nozane also testing for them across the three days. Timing would be limited at the Shakedown test, but Cal Crutchlow would set a 2:01.146 on the ‘T2’ bike.

Augusto Fernandez made his way on track on a MotoGP bike for the second time in his career. He finished the day in second place just 0.185s off the Yamaha of Cal Crutchlow.

Stefan Bradl would test two bikes throughout the day and finished 0.459s behind the top spot. He continued to finalise new and old parts, as Honda tries to improve on their 2022 season.

Lorenzo Salvadori was be the busiest man across the three days, with six Aprilia RS-GPs to test. While Ducati test rider, Michele Pirro ended the day in seventh place as Ducati tested a new fairing.

Jonas Folger ends his first test as a factory KTM test rider in 12^th place, finishing the day 2.540 seconds off Crutchlow. The day’s dry running would be cut short, with the rain landing on the Sepang circuit.

Day two

It would be Yamaha at the top again on day two, with a lap time of 2:02.079 showing the consistency of the Japanese manufacturer. Yamaha tested a new fairing throughout the day, as they look for extra performance with an aero package which looks like the 2016 bike.

Michele Pirro finished the day in second place just half a second from Yamaha, as the Italian compared exhausts throughout the day. The Ducati would also continue to test the ground effect fairing on the side of the motorcycle.

Augusto Fernandez would test multiple bikes on day two, completing a total of 26 laps throughout the day. He would end day two of the Shakedown test in third position.

Both Folger and Dani Pedrosa tested the KTM R16 on day two, however, Pedrosa would not use a transponder. The Spaniard will make a wildcard appearance this season in Spain, at Jerez.

Aprilia used a brand-new front fairing aero package with a complete redesign of the aero package. The Noale factory has had access to the wind tunnel throughout the winter period.

Stefan Bradl finished the day in fourth place and tested an updated chassis throughout the day. However, rain started to fall upon the Sepang circuit again, and would disturb the team’s plans.

Day three

Pirro would finish in the top spot on the final day of testing, taking the top two spots on his two test bikes. The Italian set a total of 51 laps throughout the final day of the Shakedown and would break the two-minute barrier.

Yamaha looks to have found some straight-line speed, going 335kph on day three. Meanwhile, the Ducati set a speed of 336kph, proving that Yamaha has found some speed with their new engine.

Yamaha finished the day in third place with their ‘T3’ bike and used an updated aero package. This package was very similar to the 2016 Yamaha aero and they would have Fabio Quartararo watching over the development.

Stefan Bradl did a back-to-back comparison on day three, comparing his aero packages. The German used a very similar package to one used at a private test in Jerez, with Honda continuing to develop the wings on the tail unit.

Aprilia tested a new front fairing with holes next to the screen, on one of the Aprilias. It is believed that they are for high-speed airflow, to relieve any pressure within the cockpit.

KTM also tested a brand-new front fairing on day three, with Dani Pedrosa not using a transponder for the second day. The fairing was developed with help from the Red Bull F1 team, with a far more aggressive fairing.

The Official MotoGP test will take place at Sepang on the 10th – 12th of February. All riders will take to track for the first time since the Valencia test last year.