After the second of the three-day MotoGP test in Buriram, Marc Marquez steals again the show and sets a new lap record. He is the only rider to go below 90 seconds. 


The MotoGP bikes are the fastest bikes in circuit racing, and today it has been proved again. Marc Marquez set a stunning 1:29.969, new lap record in Buriram. His team-mate, Dani Pedrosa, was almost two tenths off the time set by the Spaniard.

The previous track recod set on a bike was propierty of Jonathan Rea during last year’s World Superbike event, but it was already shattered in the first hour of MotoGP testing. Of course, it is the normal thing as the Superbikes are closer to road bikes than the MotoGP prototypes.

These test days help the teams and riders to get used to the new venue to the FIM World Championship, specially during the first day of testing. This is why the gaps were closer yesterday than the times set in the second practice day.

Andrea Dovizioso was not so happy about the layout of the officially known as Chang International Circuit. Ducati excels in top-speed, but twisty racetracks do not suit the Borgo Panigale bike. “Buriram is a very particular place, and it is not easy to adapt. There are three real corners, and the rest is one after another”, said Dovizioso to Motociclismo website.

The Hondas of Marquez and Pedrosa were quite the opposite today. Both Spanish riders led 1-2 throughout the different stints and tests of the day. Marquez said he was confident with the changes made to the bike, and times support him.

And Yamaha? Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi were also very disappointed with the handling of the Yamaha. Although, Viñales finished fourth today, just mere three tenths off Marquez blistering time. The Spaniard told the press that there were some work to do yet.

The fastest riders on day one were Cal Crutchlow and Alex Rins, but it was an aclimatization session. The times were not as reliable as the second session, held today.

The rookie Hafizh Syahrin made a good impact on the Yamaha Tech 3 team. He finished today’s test only 1,7 seconds behind Johan Zarco, and the Malasian keeps impressing during his first taste of a MotoGP bike.

Tomorrow is the last day of testing in Thailand, and the teams will head then to Qatar. In over a month time, the FIM MotoGP World Championship will be under way. All the brands, teams and riders will be full power to get in the best shape possible to the first round.

 

DAY 2 TEST RESULTS

POS. RIDER BIKE TEAM TIME GAP
1 Marc Márquez Honda Repsol Honda Team 1:29.969
2 Dani Pedrosa Honda Repsol Honda Team 1:30.127 0.158
3 Jack Miller Ducati Alma Pramac Racing 1:30.185 0.216
4 Maverick Viñales Yamaha Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1:30.274 0.305
5 Johann Zarco Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:30.360 0.391
6 Danilo Petrucci Ducati Alma Pramac Racing 1:30.367 0.398
7 Álex Rins Suzuki Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:30.446 0.477
8 Cal Crutchlow Honda LCR Honda CASTROL 1:30.490 0.521
9 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Ducati Team 1:30.494 0.525
10 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati Ducati Team 1:30.729 0.760
11 Andrea Iannone Suzuki Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:30.775 0.806
12 Tito Rabat Ducati Reale Avintia Racing 1:30.855 0.886
13 Álvaro Bautista Ducati Ángel Nieto Team 1:30.883 0.914
14 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1:30.888 0.919
15 Takaaki Nakagami Honda LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1:30.901 0.932
16 Bradley Smith KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:31.113 1.144
17 Aleix Espargaró Aprilia Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:31.130 1.161
18 Franco Morbidelli Honda EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1:31.185 1.216
19 Mika Kallio KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:31.598 1.629
20 Scott Redding Aprilia Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:31.637 1.668
21 Karel Abraham Ducati Ángel Nieto Team 1:31.661 1.692
22 Thomas Luthi Honda EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1:31.994 2.025
23 Hafizh Syahrin Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:31.998 2.029
24 Xavier Simeon Ducati Reale Avintia Racing 1:32.267 2.298

 

DAY 1 TEST RESULTS

POS. RIDER BIKE TEAM TIME GAP
1 Cal Crutchlow Honda LCR Honda CASTROL 1:30.797
2 Álex Rins Suzuki Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:30.809 0.012
3 Marc Márquez Honda Repsol Honda Team 1:30.912 0.115
4 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Ducati Team 1:30.945 0.148
5 Dani Pedrosa Honda Repsol Honda Team 1:30.960 0.163
6 Danilo Petrucci Ducati Alma Pramac Racing 1:31.003 0.206
7 Jack Miller Ducati Alma Pramac Racing 1:31.044 0.247
8 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1:31.189 0.392
9 Andrea Iannone Suzuki Team SUZUKI ECSTAR 1:31.235 0.438
10 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati Ducati Team 1:31.246 0.449
11 Maverick Viñales Yamaha Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 1:31.294 0.497
12 Johann Zarco Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:31.305 0.508
13 Tito Rabat Ducati Reale Avintia Racing 1:31.523 0.726
14 Álvaro Bautista Ducati Ángel Nieto Team 1:31.525 0.728
15 Aleix Espargaró Aprilia Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:31.662 0.865
16 Scott Redding Aprilia Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 1:31.685 0.888
17 Takaaki Nakagami Honda LCR Honda IDEMITSU 1:31.692 0.895
18 Karel Abraham Ducati Ángel Nieto Team 1:31.698 0.901
19 Franco Morbidelli Honda EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1:31.729 0.932
20 Bradley Smith KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:31.741 0.944
21 Thomas Luthi Honda EG 0,0 Marc VDS 1:32.716 1.919
22 Xavier Simeon Ducati Reale Avintia Racing 1:32.720 1.923
23 Mika Kallio KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1:32.749 1.952
24 Hafizh Syahrin Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:33.165 2.368

 

FOTO| MotoGP Media