The Repsol Honda Team started their final test of 2018 today, before the mandatory winter break. The first day of the two-day session, held at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), was blessed by perfect weather conditions. Only in the morning were the asphalt and air temperatures a bit chilly, prompting 2018 World Champion Marc Márquez and teammate Jorge Lorenzo to wait until noon before taking to the track.

Marc stopped one and a half hours before the official end of the session at 5:30 p.m. and was fifth-fastest on the day with a best time of 1:38.517, recorded on lap 28 of 55. Jorge was a close seventh after completing 56 laps, with a best time of 1:38.749.

The test will end tomorrow.

Marc Márquez: “We started with this season’s bike before swapping to the new one. We did that in order to try and better understand a few things, because the feeling is different. Tomorrow we’ll concentrate more on the new version. Today we mainly worked on the bike’s base setup and tried some new details. Our race pace was good. I already feel comfortable on the bike, and tomorrow we’ll work to further adjust the setup and geometry, besides continuing to try new particulars. I think the base is good and that we’re going on the correct direction”.

Results Jerez Test – Day 1

1. DANILO PETRUCCI (DUCATI) 1:37.968
2. ANDREA DOVIZIOSO (DUCATI) +0.217
3. TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI (HONDA) +0.380
4. MAVERICK VIÑALES (YAMAHA) +0.408
5. MARC MÁRQUEZ (REPSOL HONDA TEAM) +0.549
7. JORGE LORENZO (REPSOL HONDA TEAM) +0.781

 

Press release Repsol