After the winter break, MotoGP returns to action this Monday, January 31 with the first three days of filming for rookies and test riders: a shakedown held behind closed doors and without official times, in which the only brand that maintains concessions in the queen class, Aprilia. Those from Noale hope to take advantage of this advantage so that their RS-GP 2022 continues to advance in the hands of their two expert drivers, Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales.
In the case of Honda, and waiting for its eighth champion Marc Márquez to return to the track in the first collective tests (February 5 and 6), also in Malaysia, these days we will see Stefan Bradl training with the new RC213V.
At KTM, after the change of Mike Leitner by Francesco Guidotti in the management of the team, they will have Daniel Pedrosa, which has strengthened its relationship with the Austrian brand and this year will guide its drivers in the Grand Prix. Along with the Vallesan, in Sepang the other tester Mika Kallio will get on the bike, as well as the Tech3 main duo, formed by Remy Gardner and Raúl Fernández, who make their debut in the maximum displacement as current Moto2 champion and runner-up, respectively.
gardenerwho underwent surgery for a broken wrist a little over a week after suffering a fall while training motocross, assures that he will take it easy: “Only 13 days since the operation. These rehearsals will be difficult for me. I will probably focus on do short batches of laps. Obviously I’ll try it, but what I don’t want is for things to get worse,” says the Australian, who also stresses the importance of having Pedrosa’s advice: “Dani was already in the test November Jerez and gave me some advice. Having a great champion like Dani develop the KTM gives you a lot of confidence. It will be great to hear his opinion about the new parts in the next three days. Let’s see if I have the opportunity to follow him for a few days. laps and copy some of what he does.
Ducati, the brand with the most bikes this season on the grid (8), will give responsibility for the test to Michele Pirro, its test and development pilot. Suzuki will have on track Sylvain Guintoli and Takuya Tsuda, while reigning champions Yamaha have decided to head to Sepang with their full development teamlead by Cal Crutchlow, beside Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Kohta Nozane. Aprilia, in addition to Vinales and Aleixwill have Lorenzo Savadori.
On Friday, February 4, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP and Team Suzuki Ecstar teams will present their bikes. Then all the teams will get down to business for what promises to be an intense weekend of testing. Versions, yes, not definitive of those that will form the grid in Qatar, in the Grand Prix that will open the 2022 World Cup, on March 6.