Honda’s Marc Marquez finished on top in the one-day in-season MotoGP test in Barcelona with most of the field staying back to not only test the new Michelin tyres but also complete their own programmes to improve their bikes.
The Spaniard displaced longtime top spot holder Suzuki’s Andrea Iannone with a time of 1m38.916s to go quicker by 0.104s with Marquez completing a mammoth 88 laps to just the 37 from Iannone.
While Marquez focused on aerodynamics along with Dani Pedrosa, Iannone worked on the new chassis together with Alex Rins and Sylvain Guintoli. The leading Ducati was Avintia’s Tito Rabat (1m39.362s) in third from Pramac’s Danilo Petrucci (1m39.488s).
Rabat worked on the suspension with Petrucci focusing on chassis despite a crash. The leading Yamaha of Tech 3’s Johann Zarco (1m39.534s) in fifth was going through various set-ups from LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow (1m39.727s) and Pedrosa (1m39.738s).
Along with the aero, Crutchlow also had to work on the suspension and electronics. Suzuki’s Rins (1m39.793s) led Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales (1m39.797s) with Pramac’s Jack Miller (1m39.799s) rounding out the Top 10.
Vinales completed a programme to learn more on the electronics with Miller working on the brakes and braking. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro (1m39.915s) was 11th from Marc VDS Honda’s Franco Morbidelli (1m40.004s).
Tech 3 Yamaha’s Hafizh Syahrin (1m40.108s) was 13th leading factory rider Valentino Rossi (1m40.124s) and the first KTM of Bradley Smith (1m40.462s) – the British rider working on the Austrian manufacturer’s chassis and engine.
The second LCR Honda of Takaaki Nakagami (1m40.541s) finished 16th sandwiched by the KTMs with Pol Espargaro (1m40.721s) behind – the Spaniard had a late crash but finished ahead of Aprilia’s Scott Redding (1m40.732s).
Avintia Ducati’s Xavier Simeon (1m41.145s) was 19th from Marc VDS Honda’s Thomas Luthi (1m41.207s), Suzuki’s Guintoli (1m1m41.316s) and KTM’s wildcard Mika Kallio (1m41.976s). Only the factory Ducati were not present for the test.