MotoGP – Viñales tops the timesheets on day 2 of the Sepang test

Bruno Gomes

February 7, 2019

Maverick Vinales | Photo credits: MatraX Lubricant

The second day of the official MotoGP Sepang test ended with a new rider at the top of the timesheets, as Maverick Viñales showed a good pace, just like he did yesterday. The Monster Energy Yamaha team rider set the fastest lap with a 1m58.897s, a little over one second faster than his best personal time on day 1.

Viñales late push on the eight-hour test session meant that for the second day in a row, Alex Rins, Ecstar Suzuki, finishes the day in second position. The Suzuki rider wasn’t able to close down the half a second gap to his compatriot, but was still able to keep Australian rider Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) behind with the third fastest time.

Unlike yesterday, Marc Marquez did more laps but he wasn’t looking for the lap times. The MotoGP champion preferred to test parts on a lower rhythm, and wasn’t able to get a better lap time than the one he got yesterday. Day 2 of testing was all about testing without pushing to the limits, because Marquez is still recovering from injury.

On a day where the first nine riders were separated by less than a second, Malaysian Hafizh Syahrin almost equaled his best time of yesterday, lapping Sepang in 2m01.859s.

The Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider is still trying to get the best feeling with his new KTM RC16, and at the moment things are improving with the front end feeling, while the rear tyre is still giving problems to the young Malaysian. Hafizh Syahrin is working with Tech3 technicians and engineers to try and get more grip from the rear tyre, as a way to improve corner exit.

Testing resumes tomorrow in Sepang with the third and final day.

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