On the second day of shakedown testing, Yamaha started work with both teams – Why Honda is passing on this opportunity and relying on test drivers
On the second day of shakedown testing at Sepang (Malaysia), the track got a bit busier, with Yamaha in particular turning out in full force. The day after the presentation in Kuala Lumpur, both the factory team and the new satellite team Pramac started work.
Compared to the first day, the lap times were better because the track was cleaner. However, a damp track in the morning after overnight rain limited the possibilities. Most riders only got out in the afternoon.
Alex Rins set the best time of 1:58.745 minutes with the new Yamaha. His teammate Fabio Quartararo was less than a tenth of a second slower in third place. These additional test days are very important for the Pramac team.
Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller completed their first laps with the M1 in mid-November during the post-season test in Barcelona. Now that Pramac has been able to prepare over the winter, this is the right starting point to get to know the Yamaha.
Andrea Dovizioso once again supported the Yamaha test team, as he did yesterday. Newcomer Augusto Fernandez also completed a few laps on Saturday. Yamaha did not label the time transponders, which is why only “test driver” is listed in the timesheet.
Honda could also take part in the shakedown test with all their regular drivers due to the concession rules. But they decided against it. Only the newly formed test team with Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami is still on the track.
The Honda factory team presented the new colors with sponsor Castrol in Jakarta on Saturday. Why is the factory team in Indonesia and not in Malaysia for testing? “I think,” says Luca Marini, “we can count on a fantastic test team with Aleix and ‘Taka’.”
“This is a big change in this project. They are two very good riders. They can also set good lap times. This rivalry on the test team can be positive.” Romano Albesiano, the new technical director, is in Sepang and was not present at the presentation in Jakarta.
So why isn’t the factory team testing? “When I spoke to the engineers,” explains Marini, “they said it was better if they started with the test drivers. Because we can work through the plan in three days. Everything is very well planned and organized.”
Ten motorcycles in the Aprilia box
For KTM, the two test drivers Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa are doing the work. Pol Espargaro was only three thousandths of a second slower than Rins. KTM is concentrating on detailed developments, such as a new rear end with a similar box to the one used by Ducati.
Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori has a lot of work to do. In the Aprilia box were ten RS-GP specification 2025. The aerodynamics and the engine have been revised, the chassis is new. The focus is also on the electronics in this test.
Savadori carries out shakedowns with all bikes. Interestingly, Aprilia also brought the two bikes that world champions Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi tested in Barcelona in mid-November. They can be recognized by the design seen in Barcelona.
When the regular riders test from Wednesday to Friday next week, Martin and Bezzecchi will first shake off the winter rust with these Barcelona bikes before getting on the further developed RS-GP. After all, both are new to Aprilia.
Ai Ogura (Trackhouse-Aprilia) also impressed on Saturday. The Moto2 world champion was only a fraction slower than the top times. But Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini-Ducati) has also already reached this level.
The slowest rookie was Somkiat Chantra (LCR-Honda), who, unlike Ogura and Aldeguer, did not ride on Friday. The Thai rider did not join the test program until Saturday. His gap was two seconds.
And finally, Ducati test driver Michele Pirro also completed a few shakedown laps with the new GP25 to prepare everything for Francesco Bagnaia, Marc Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Sunday will see the final day of shakedown action.
Shakedown times Saturday:
01. Alex Rins (Yamaha) – 1:58.745 minutes
02. Pol Espargaro (KTM) +0.003 seconds
03. Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) +0.067
04. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse-Aprilia) +0.169
05. Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini-Ducati) +0.185
06. Jack Miller (Pramac-Yamaha) +0.407
07. Dani Pedrosa (KTM) +0.680
08. Aleix Espargaro (Honda) +0.969
09. Miguel Oliveira (Pramac-Yamaha) +1.035
10. Takaaki Nakagami (Honda) +1.134
11. Michele Pirro (Ducati) +1.423
12. Test driver (Yamaha) +1.606
13. Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia) +2.176
14. Somkiat Chantra (LCR-Honda) +2.283