Yamaha and Honda race riders join the fray on Friday in Sepang.
The Shakedown is hotting up! A host more riders joined the fray on Friday but it was still Red Bull KTM Factory Racing on top, this time thanks to test tider Pol Espargaro. He ended Day 2 of the Shakedown fastest with a 1:58.241, a lap time just under three tenths clear of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), taking part for the first time on Friday. Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) continued to impress, third quickest and just thousandths off 2021 Champion Quartararo.
After remaining on the sidelines for the opening day of Shakedown action, the Yamaha and Honda riders all allowed to take part thanks to the new concessions system – catch up on that HERE – headed out. Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) was the first rider on track, with teammate Joan Mir, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) also in action. Likewise, Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) got stuck in, settling in to his new team.
Acosta continues to impress
It was another eye-catching day for MotoGP™’s sole 2024 rookie Acosta. The #31’s best time on Day 2 was a 1:58.531. For context, Brad Binder’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) quickest time at the 2023 Malaysian GP was a 1:58.080 (Q2), Augusto Fernandez’ (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was a 1:58.107 (Q1) and Jack Miller’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was a 1:58.232 (PR).
The aero game continues
A new piece of front aero – more specifically a front fender wing – was spotted on Dani Pedrosa’s Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine on Day 2, while Aprilia Racing – with Lorenzo Savadori – continued to lap on the Noale factory’s new ‘Batmobile’ rear wing (below). Honda and Stefan Bradl have been busy testing an upgraded stegosaurus-looking rear wing too.
In the hands of Michele Pirro, Ducati’s main aero update that we’ve seen so far – teased by Gigi Dall’Igna at the 2024 team launch – comes on the side fairing. The addition of a further “ground effect” panel can be seen next to Ducati’s usual downwash duct, so it will be interesting to hear the comments of the riders on what effect this has.
Getting up to speed
For the full-time riders, most of the day was spent getting themselves back in the groove on a MotoGP™ bike after the winter break. Quartararo and Rins had three bikes – two ’23 spec and one ’24 spec – each, with Mir spending a lot of his time on the bike he used at the Valencia Test. The same can be said for Marini, with the Italian largely focusing on adapting to the RC213V.
A heavy rain shower meant dry running was cut short on Friday ahead of the final day of Shakedown testing on Saturday.
BEST LAPS BY RIDER: DAY 2
1 Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 1:58.241
2 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) +0.283
3 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) +0.290
4 Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) +0.409
5 Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +0.431
6 Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) +0.846
7 Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) +0.850
8 Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) +0.971
9 Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) +1.028
10 Stefan Bradl (Honda Test Team) +1.529
11 Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Factory Racing) +1.633
12 Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team) +1.915
13 Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) +2.579
