Results of the third day of the Sepang Test 2024

The Sepang Test came to an end with record times for the premier class riders. Pecco Bagnaia, the reigning MotoGP World Champion, finished as the fastest rider of the week, with a time of 1:56.682.

Lap times at the Sepang International Circuit had been consistently lowered during the three days of testing. On the second day, it was Enea Bastianini who had set the pace, with a time in the low 1:57s. On the final day, there were four riders who improved on that time and managed to drop into the 1:56s: Bagnaia, Jorge Martín, Bastianini and Álex Márquez.

The riders who completed the Top 10 were Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia), Marc Márquez (Ducati), Brad Binder (KTM), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati), Pedro Acosta (GasGas) and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda).

Progress for Repsol Honda Team riders

After 231 laps of the Malaysian track, the Repsol Honda Team riders concluded a fruitful preseason test.

Joan Mir, like the majority of the riders, lowered his Wednesday time with a 1:57.374. Ending the test with a good feeling, the Repsol Honda Team rider repeated his position from the second day, closing the Top 10, 6 tenths behind Bagnaia.

Luca Marini also improved his pace over a single lap. However, the Italian rider remains focused on understanding the Honda. He ended the week with a nineteenth place.

Both riders will continue their work at the Lusail International Circuit on February 19th and 20th, prior to the first round of the season at the Qatari track.

Results of the third day of the Sepang Test 2024

Statements

Joan Mir

“I think Honda should be proud of what they have done here during the test because we have made good progress. Today was my best ever lap around Sepang, so it was a clear step and ending as the top Honda is a positive point. There’s still some work to do to close the distance further, but there is time to keep working. I had a small crash at the last corner when I was going for another run which maybe stopped us from improving the time more. But this can happen. Now we get ready to show our new colours in Madrid and then prepare for Qatar.”

Luca Marini

“There are many positive things about this period of testing, especially these last three days with all the other riders to understand our potential. Joan made a very good lap in the time attack, he knows the bike well and I need to keep working to understand it as well as him but it’s positive to see the potential. There’s margin here to improve and with the setting, which was our focus today. The direction we are going is correct, we just need more time on the bike to keep on going and improving. We’ll be busy now to prepare for the Qatar Test and the race but I am looking forward to getting back on track. I am very excited to wear the official colours for the first time at the team launch!”