After a shakedown three days where testers from the five MotoGP factories were accompanied by the rookie Pedro Acosta and the official Yamaha and Honda riders thanks to the obtained concession system, the MotoGP seeds will make their official 2024 preseason debut at the same Sepang circuit for the traditional three-day IRTA Test, from Tuesday to Thursday, from 3 at 11:15 in the morning in Spain. And rookie Acosta raised the bar with his 1’58”189, just short of last year’s career record by Alex Marquez with 1’58”979.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he finished in the top five in this three-day test. When you come from Moto2 you have a corner step and a speed, and that point of unconsciousness also works,” predicts Marc Márquez, another of the men to follow in this test.
Participants
Ducati: Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini with Michele Pirro (trial)
Pramac: Jorge Martín (Frankie Morbidelli, for now, does not have medical clearance)
Pertamina VR46: Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio
Gresini: Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez
Yamaha Factory: Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins with Cal Crutchlow (test)
Red Bull KTM: Brad Binder and Jack Miller with Pedrosa or Pol Espargaró (test)
Tech3 GasGas: Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernández
Aprilia Racing: Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaró with Lorenzo Savadori (trial)
Trackhouse: Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández
Repsol Honda: Joan Mir and Luca Marini with Stefan Bradl (test)
CSF: Takaaki Nakagami and Johann Zarco
For the first time since he jumped to MotoGP, the eight-time champion does not have to do official rider tasks, testing parts and multiple bikes, and can focus on himself, finding a comfortable position in bike and getting started. point that suits your piloting. In his Gresini Racing Ducati debut last November in Cheste he rode with the Ducati base bike, “I don’t know if it’s Pecco’s or Martín’s.” There he was the fourth fastest driver.
“I have a lot of things to try in my riding style, to work more on my style than trying things on the bike, the 2023, which we have to make the most of,” warned Marc Márquez.
The Shakedown saw Ducati’s updated aerodynamics – an evolution of the stepped fairing – in Pirro’s hands and now it’s up to the officials to give their opinion. Bagnaia, Bastianini and Jorge Martín will be safe and Franco Morbidelli is unlikely after his serious accident in Portimao in a private test with the Panigale V4.
KTM and GasGas set the speed limit leading the test with Pedrosa, Espargaró and Acosta closing. All four riders will now have the carbon fiber chassis that only Red Bull KTM debuted at the end of last season. They have been the most revolutionary when it comes to aerodynamic measures. Savadori also showed for Aprilia that they continue to forge their own way, setting the pace with revolutionary tail solutions and swingarm covers.
The two factories with type D concessions, Honda and Yamaha, also showed that they are not sitting idle in the winter. Iwata updated its aerodynamic package, a different tail and a longer exhaust and at Saitama they copied the Italians with fender appendages.
The schedules
in Spain
Tuesday February 6
from 3 am to 11:15 am
Wednesday, February 7
from 3 to 11.15 am
Thursday February 8
From 3 am to 11:15 am
*No television tracking
The official website will offer livetiming and the live program ‘After the Flag’ from 10:30 am to 12 pm, under subscription
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
