MotoGP: Maverick Vinales tops the Misano test

Maverick Vinales ended the one-day test at Misano at the top of the combined timesheets for the Monster Energy Yamaha team.

Vinales, who set a new lap record during the race weekend, was one of only three riders to break into the 1:31s. The Spaniard set his fastest time, a 1:31.532, on his lap 30 of a 45-lap session. 

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Whilst it was slower than his new circuit record (1:31.411) at Misano, today’s lap-time would still have put Vinales second on the grid at the San Marino Grand Prix. Vinales was also busy testing new parts for Yamaha, including the new larger exhaust system, a carbon fibre swingarm and a scooter-style rear brake. 

Takaaki Nakagami was second overall after switching back to his own LCR Honda machine this afternoon. Team boss Lucio Cecchinello confirmed that Nakagami had been testing Stefan Bradl’s 2020 bike this morning. The Japanese rider was +0.271s slower than Vinales. Johann Zarco completed the top three for the Esponsorama Racing Ducati team.

Pol Espargaro’s morning session time of 1:32.054 was fast enough to keep him fourth on the combined standings for KTM. Espargaro ended the afternoon session in sixth. The Suzuki duo of Alex Rins and Joan Mir were fifth and sixth respectively overall, and fourth and fifth in the afternoon session. 

Francesco Bagnaia and Andrea Dovizoso’s times from the first session of the day were good enough for seventh and eighth overall. Neither rider returned to the circuit this afternoon. 

Fabio Quartararo and Brad Binder complete the top 10 overall after improving their lap-times this afternoon. They were seventh and eighth respectively this afternoon. 

Alex Marquez just missed out on an overall top 10 spot after a successful day at Misano. The Repsol Honda rider had already drastically improved on his times from the race weekend this morning, before improving to a 1:32.480 this afternoon. That was quick enough for ninth in the second session. 

Jack Miller was 12th overall after completing the top 10 in the afternoon session for the Pramac Ducati squad. Valentino Rossi ends the test down in 17th overall. 

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MotoGP: Pol Espargaro tops the first session at the Misano test

First published: 15 September 2020 by Josh Close

Pol Espargaro set the benchmark time in the opening session of the one-day MotoGP test at Misano. 

The Red Bull KTM rider’s fastest lap of 1:32.054 came on the 28th of the 42 laps he completed this morning. That lap-time is exactly the same as Francesco Bagnaia’s qualifying time from Saturday afternoon, which would put Espargaro sixth on the grid. 

Joan Mir picked up where he left off on Sunday in second place and was only +0.128s slower than Espargaro. Mir completed 55 laps in total this morning, with only Johann Zarco (57 laps) completing more. 

Bagnaia was third on the Pramac Ducati ahead of Alex Rins on the second Suzuki, with the top four being separated by just +0.179s in the opening session of the day. 

Andrea Dovizioso was fifth ahead of Takaaki Nakagami on the LCR Honda. The Japanese rider was spotted testing with HRC fairings, indicating that he may be testing the 2020 bike. 

Maverick Vinales finished the morning session in seventh. The factory Yamaha team have been testing a larger, longer exhaust system which has certainly raised a few eyebrows at Misano. 

Fabio Quartararo, Zarco and Alex Marquez completed the top 10. Marquez’s time of 1:32.516 is a vast improvement on the race weekend, with the Spaniard’s best race time being a 1:33.305. Like the factory Yamaha riders, Repsol Honda have also said that Marquez is trying a new exhaust pipe. Valentino Rossi is down in 16th spot after the first session. 

Sunday’s race winner Franco Morbidelli is absent today due to an upset stomach, whilst Stefan Bradl is also missing after suffering with a nerve problem in his right elbow in the race on Sunday. Iker Lecouna is also out of action today. 

The riders have been testing the Race Direction radio communication software that Bradl tried over the San Marino GP weekend.