Repsol Honda Team - Rain hits Sepang for Day Two of the MotoGP Test 11.02.2023: Showers throughout the day saw reduced running on the second day of the MotoGP test in Malaysia, Marc Marquez making the most of dry track time as Joan Mir took the opportunity to find some speed in the wet. Early morning showers left the Sepang ci

Showers throughout the day saw reduced running on the second day of the MotoGP test in Malaysia, Marc Marquez making the most of dry track time as Joan Mir took the opportunity to find some speed in the wet.



Early morning showers left the Sepang circuit damp when it opened at 10am local time, the majority of the MotoGP field waiting to venture out. After an early lunch, both the Repsol Honda Team riders entered the track to start working through their plan. More rain arrived in the afternoon and ended any chance of dry running in the second half of the day as a persistent drizzle remained.



Adding to his 58 laps from the previous day, Marc Marquez did a further 36 laps aboard various configurations of the RC213V. As the track remained completely wet in the afternoon, Marquez used the opportunity to assess the Honda machines in the wet and continue to gather data in a variety of conditions. Ending the day in 13th, the #93 continued through his and Honda HRC’s testing plan in order to prepare for the coming season.



Despite the weather, Joan Mir continued to make the most of all available track time and completed another 36 laps. A best time of 1’59.631 put the newest Repsol Honda Team rider in 16th place, less than 0.2s behind Marquez on the other Repsol Honda Team machine. The #36 was pleased with the progress he made, able to make a step and continue improving his feeling on the Honda RC213V.



Just a final day of running remains in Malaysia before the Repsol Honda Team return to Japan to continue their preparations for the Portimao Test, March 11 – 12, and the start of the season less than two weeks later at the same venue.   
    


       
Marc Marquez  93
13TH  1'59.450


“Unfortunately today we couldn’t ride a lot and we had to change our schedule as a result. We were able to do about 25 laps in the dry and then in the wet we were able to confirm a few points.


I am working a lot and I am trying to get a lot of information for Honda and to be as clear as possible with my comments. Since it rained today we will have to move our plan for the second day to tomorrow where we are aiming to make a step with the lap time.”         

    
       
    
Joan Mir  36
16TH  1'59.632


“The rain today was a pity because it meant we had to change our plan completely. We had a lot of things to try but we only got a few laps in the dry. Still we made the most of what we could and got some laps in the rain where the feeling was not so bad.


I was able to improve with each lap and each exit which is the really important thing. We were faster than yesterday and I’m feeling more comfortable on the Honda. There’s still a lot of work to do so let’s hope the weather is good tomorrow and focus on what we have to try.”         

    
       
    
Sepang Test Day Two




1    MARTIN Jorge     89    SPA    Pramac Racing    Ducati    1'58.736

2    OLIVEIRA Miguel     88    POR    RNF MotoGP Team    Aprilia    0.103

3    ESPARGARO Pol     44    SPA    Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing    KTM    0.145

4    QUARTARARO Fabio     20    FRA    Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP    Yamaha    0.161

5    BAGNAIA Francesco     62    ITA    Ducati Lenovo Team    Ducati    0.331

6    FERNANDEZ Raul     25    SPA    RNF MotoGP Team    Aprilia    0.376

7    MARINI Luca     10    ITA    Mooney VR46 Racing Team    Ducati    0.382

8    RINS Alex     42    SPA    LCR Honda    Honda    0.427

9    BASTIANINI Enea     23    ITA    Ducati Lenovo Team    Ducati    0.458

10    BINDER Brad     33    RSA    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing    KTM    0.494

11    MORBIDELLI Franco     21    ITA    Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP    Yamaha    0.553

12    BEZZECCHI Marco     73    ITA    Mooney VR46 Racing Team    Ducati    0.625

13    MARQUEZ Marc     93    SPA    Repsol Honda Team    Honda    0.714

14    DI GIANNANTONIO Fabio     49    ITA    Team Gresini Racing MotoGP    Ducati    0.766

15    ZARCO Johann     5    FRA    Pramac Racing    Ducati    0.767

16    MIR Joan     36    SPA    Repsol Honda Team    Honda    0.896

17    MARQUEZ Alex     73    SPA    Team Gresini Racing MotoGP    Ducati    1.011

18    VINALES Maverick     12    SPA    Aprilia Racing    Aprilia    1.034

19    MILLER Jack     43    AUS    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing    KTM    1.123

20    ESPARGARO Aleix     41    SPA    Aprilia Racing    Aprilia    1.281

21    NAKAGAMI Takaaki     30    JPN    LCR Honda    Honda    1.487
    
    



Repsol Honda Team - MotoGP,  also photos