Petronas SRT Yamaha riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli started the 2020 MotoGP pre-season in style by finishing 1-2 on Day 1 at Sepang circuit.
Riding a full factory spec Yamaha M1, Petronas SRT’s Quartararo steadied himself at the top with a 1m58.945s on Day 1 of the first 2020 MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang circuit, which was affected by rain shower, especially in the afternoon.
He led teammate Morbidelli – who is riding a A-spec Yamaha M1 – by just 0.051s, as Suzuki’s Alex Rins rounded out the Top 3 from LCR’s Cal Crutchlow in fourth, who was the lead Honda rider. Likewise, Pramac’s Jack Miller in fifth led the Ducati contingent.
Factory Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales finished sixth from the Espargaro brothers, where Aprilia’s Aleix was seventh and KTM’s Pol in eighth. The Yamaha rider was one to have a crash at Turn 11, while Aleix led the way early on before Quartararo came through.
Behind, Suzuki’s Joan Mir and Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi rounded out the Top 10 finishers. The Italian was followed Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, while Marquez brothers were 12th and 13th abode the Honda, with Marc ahead of Alex.
The latter ended up as the leading MotoGP rookie as well, as his elder brother took it easy on his shoulder. Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci lined up 14th ahead of KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa with Tech 3 KTM’s Miguel Oliveira ending up 16th.
Pramac’s Francesco Bagnaia was 17th abode the 2020 Ducati as Suzuki test rider Sylvain Guintoli lined-up 18th from Avintia’s Johann Zarco on the 2019 Ducati. Tech 3’s Iker Lecuona was 20th from KTM’s Brad Binder and Avintia’s Tito Rabat.
LCR Honda’s Takaaki returned from his injury to end up 23rd abode the 2019 Honda, from two Yamaha test riders and Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori, who is riding as Andrea Inonne’s replacement. There was a red flag period as well for one of Yamaha test rider.
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The 2020 MotoGP unveils:
Aprilia – in test livery
