Busy end to the Sepang Test for focused Repsol Honda Team 12.02.2023: Sepang Test MotoGP 2023 Sunday, February 12th 2023 With a total of 283 laps between them, Marc Marquez and Joan Mir completed a productive three days in Malaysia and set the tenth and 12th fastest times respectively.

Sepang Test
MotoGP 2023
Sunday, February 12th 2023




With a total of 283 laps between them, Marc Marquez and Joan Mir completed a productive three days in Malaysia and set the tenth and 12th fastest times respectively.



The final day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit saw a later start to proceedings as the field waited for the track to dry. A shower of rain in the closing hour of action reduced running by only a marginal amount.



A third day of riding produced 55 laps for Marc Marquez as he gathered yet more data for Honda HRC ahead of the Portimao Test. Continuing to experiment with a number of setups and technical pieces, the #93 helped to define a clear direction of work for the coming weeks. A fruitful test, Marquez ended the event as the tenth fastest rider thanks to a 1’58.666 set on the final day – 0.777s behind Luca Marini, quickest at the Sepang Test.



On the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage, Joan Mir completed his fourth day on the Honda RC213V. A time of 1’59.832 from the first day improved to a best time of 1’58.784 on Sunday, over a second faster. Mir and his team are aware that there is still work to be done in the coming test and across the opening races, but the double-World Champion is content with the progress made in three days of running in Malaysia. Mir leaves Sepang as the 12th fastest rider.



The engineers now return back to Honda HRC’s base in Japan to continue development and progressing through the pre-season plan. The Repsol Honda Team will next be on track at the Portimao Test, March 11 – 12, for the final test before the season begins.   
    
       
    



Marc Marquez  93
10TH  1'58.666


“It was a more positive day today, it was the first day where I was able to start working in the smaller areas. This is when I was able to start getting faster, step by step. But we still had to continue on the schedule and keep trying new items and new things.

I want to say thanks to the team for organising everything well and working well all weekend. Today was a big day for testing concepts as well. We did everything that we needed to and the feeling did improve, but we still need to make a step.”         

    


       
    
Joan Mir  36
12TH  1'58.784


“I’m happy with how we have progressed at this test and I have felt strong every day on the bike. The bike feels more like my bike and I am able to ride in a better way than yesterday – this is what is important. My Repsol Honda Team has worked really well across all these three days.


For sure we need to make progress, but every day we are making steps forward and getting closer and more comfortable. I am adapting more to the Honda style and I am enjoying riding like this, I’ve learned a lot across these three days.”         

    

Sepang Test Combined Times


1    MARINI Luca     10    ITA    Mooney VR46 Racing Team    Ducati    1'57.889
2    BAGNAIA Francesco     62    ITA    Ducati Lenovo Team    Ducati    0.080
3    VINALES Maverick     12    SPA    Aprilia Racing    Aprilia    0.147
4    BASTIANINI Enea     23    ITA    Ducati Lenovo Team    Ducati    0.260
5    MARTIN Jorge     89    SPA    Pramac Racing    Ducati    0.315
6    ESPARGARO Aleix     41    SPA    Aprilia Racing    Aprilia    0.418
7    DI GIANNANTONIO Fabio     49    ITA    Team Gresini Racing MotoGP    Ducati    0.455
8    BEZZECCHI Marco     73    ITA    Mooney VR46 Racing Team    Ducati    0.474
9    MARQUEZ Alex     73    SPA    Team Gresini Racing MotoGP    Ducati    0.496
10    MARQUEZ Marc     93    SPA    Repsol Honda Team    Honda    0.777
11    FERNANDEZ Raul     25    SPA    RNF MotoGP Team    Aprilia    0.821
12    MIR Joan     36    SPA    Repsol Honda Team    Honda    0.895
13    ESPARGARO Pol     44    SPA    Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing    KTM    0.908
14    BINDER Brad     33    RSA    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing    KTM    0.923
15    OLIVEIRA Miguel     88    POR    RNF MotoGP Team    Aprilia    0.950
16    ZARCO Johann     5    FRA    Pramac Racing    Ducati    0.963
17    QUARTARARO Fabio     20    FRA    Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP    Yamaha    1.008
18    MILLER Jack     43    AUS    Red Bull KTM Factory Racing    KTM    1.012
19    RINS Alex     42    SPA    LCR Honda    Honda    1.043
20    MORBIDELLI Franco     21    ITA    Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP    Yamaha    1.097
21    NAKAGAMI Takaaki     30    JPN    LCR Honda    Honda    1.646
22    FERNANDEZ Augusto     37    SPA    Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing    KTM    1.771
    

    
    
       
    
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