MotoGP

05/03/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/03/2021 11:00

Viñales completes 101 laps and ends Jerez Test fastest

Every MotoGP™ rider bar Quartararo and Bradl were back on track in Andalucia for a crucial day of testing

Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) completed the equivalent of four Spanish GPs - plus a lap - on Monday at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto to finish fastest at the Jerez Test. The Spaniard set a 1:36.879, almost three tenths quicker than he went in qualifying, to end the day 0.034s ahead of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and 0.431s in front of Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

For Viñales' teammate Fabio Quartararo, after the issues faced in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix, it was a day not spent on track for Monday's test. The Frenchman experienced severe arm pump issues that saw him dramatically decline from P1 to P13 in the race, and on Monday, El Diablo headed to France for further checks ahead of his home race at Le Mans in a couple of weekends time.

Our most recent race winner Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was straight back to work on Monday as he and World Championship leading teammate Francesco Bagnaia completed a combined total of 84 laps, one day after securing the Bologna factory's first 1-2 since Brno 2018.

Rins' day ended at lunch time after the Spaniard completed 59 laps. The Suzuki star said he tested the 2022 engine - just like he, Mir and test rider Sylvain Guintoli did in the Qatar Test - and that he and the team managed to find some improvements in pace. Rins did confirm that he's going to get his right shoulder checked - the one he fractured and dislocated in 2020's season opener - after feeling some pain after his FP4 crash, to see if everything is fine for the French GP. His fastest time of the test was a couple of tenths quicker than he went in qualifying.

Rins to have shoulder scan after testing 2022 engine 03/05/2021

The Suzuki man's crash during the Spanish Grand Prix has caused old injuries to flare up

Marc Marquez's (Repsol Honda Team) day also ended early, the eight-time World Champion did a total of just seven laps as he continues to feel the effects of his huge FP3 crash at Turn 7. A stiff neck is causing the number 93 some problems, but Marc Marquez did have the 2020 and 2021 HRC chassis in his box.

After the race yesterday, Marc Marquez admitted that Honda aren't 'in the best situation', and he doesn't have his balance or set up on his bike yet. Teammate Pol Espargaro was left disappointed with the 'different packages' used by Honda during the Spanish GP, so it was a crucial day at the office for the number 44 as he completed a full day's work on his RC213V despite an early crash at Turn 1.

89 laps - the second most - were pocketed by Pol Espargaro on the Honda and the Spaniard was sixth fastest on the timesheets. His 1:37.506 best was a smidgen shy of his qualifying time in Q1 last Saturday, but it was more than just a day of setting quick times. Every corner of those 89 laps would have been incredibly important for Espargaro and HRC as they look to find improvements for the rest of the season, with all four of their riders sporting blacked out fairings at some stage. In Esparagro's case, the number 44 was spotted riding at least three different HRC bikes - his standard one, one with different aero and a completely carbon coloured. All in all, Honda had five different aero packages at the Jerez Test, with Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) using a similar one to what they ran with in 2018. It's safe to say it was a busy day for the Japanese giants.

MotoGP™ pitlane reporter Simon Crafar was keeping a keen eye on the action and reported that both Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders, Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira, had a different chassis each to try. Danilo Petrucci in the Tech3 KTM Factory Racing ranks was seen sporting a different tank/seat area, the Italian seemingly trying some ergonomics to improve his feeling on the RC16.

So that's it from Jerez. The next time we will see the MotoGP™ riders out on track will be at Le Mans for FP1, where we will get to see if anyone has made steps forward after a busy test day.

Top 10:
1. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) - 1:36.879
2. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.034
3. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.431
4. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) + 0.469
5. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 0.556
6. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.627
7. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.629
8. Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) + 0.680
9. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 0.748
10. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.811

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