Neil Morrison | February 8, 2022
Preparations for the 2022 MotoGP season officially got underway with Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit hosting a two-day test. In keeping with the trend over the past two years, the pack was exceptionally tight. At the close of the final day, just 0.3 seconds covered the top eleven. And five of the six manufacturers were represented in the top eight. Closeness and variety were the order of the day.
As was surprise.
Enea Bastianini, now entering his sophomore premier-class campaign, was the fastest of all on his year-old Gresini Ducati. The Italian’s 1:58.131s effort was the fastest ever two-wheel lap around Sepang, a flash that marks him out as the potential surprise package of 2022. Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro was also under the old outright track record, 0.026s back.
Enea Bastianini fired an early shot at the MotoGP pack by breaking the Sepang lap record on his first visit as a MotoGP rider. Photos: MotoGP
Among a range of stories, the biggest was the latest return of Marc Marquez. Back from a serious eye injury sustained last November, the eight-time champ felt the double vision issues which kept him from full training until mid-January was fully recovered. The timesheets indicated as much, as Marquez ended Sunday eighth while getting up to speed on Honda’s all-new ‘22 RC213V.
Early signs are good. “When I pushed, the speed was there,” he said.
Marquez aside, the continued growth of Aprilia was one of the test’s big takeaways. Not only was Espargaro second aboard the new, thinner RS-GP, but Maverick Vinales was an able back-up, ending Sunday with the fifth-fastest time. Due to Aprilia’s concessions, both men had taken part at the shakedown test at the same track, along with class rookies and test riders, a few days before. But Espargaro noted the bike’s improved handling and agility. Top speed wasn’t far off the Ducatis, either.
And what of Ducati? Its all-new GP22 took some time to dial in. At present, power delivery is too aggressive on the first touch of throttle. But Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller were convinced of the new bike’s potential. Also of interest were refinements to Ducati’s ride-height device, which, to trackside observers, lowered the front of the bike on corner exit, as well as the back. Despite teething issues, the GP22s were well represented at the front: Jorge Martin was third, Bagnaia sixth.
There were improvements for Suzuki, too. Keen to keep hold of prized asset Joan Mir for 2023, the factory brought an all-new bike featuring an improved engine. Times were promising for Alex Rins, fourth, while Mir was “satisfied” with the bike’s higher top speed and improved ride-height device.
As for those with work to do, reigning champions Yamaha appeared to have stood still. Fabio Quartararo “expected much more from this test” with new aero and chassis. Top speed was a real concern, as was the speed of teammate Franco Morbidelli, 24th.
Fabio Quartararo is lamenting he still doesn’t have the horsepower he needs to fight off the Ducatis.
Likewise, KTM faces a race against time. Opting for a new testing strategy that placed priority on reassessing parts used last year and fine tuning the ‘21 bike over a slew of new components, factory riders Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira were 15th and 18th, while still complaining of a lack of traction.
As for the much-anticipated batch of 2022 rookies, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) was the fastest in 16th place, Raul Fernandez (Tech3 KTM) was 19th, and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati) was 20th. Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM) finished the test 23rd while nursing a broken wrist and Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha) was 25th.
2022 Sepang MotoGP Test Combined Times
- Enea Bastianini (Ducati) 1:58.131
- Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) +0.026
- Jorge Martin (Ducati) +0.112
- Alex Rins (Suzuki) +0.130
- Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) +0.130
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