MotoGP | Mandalika Test Day 1: Pol beats Aleix, with the Espargarò brothers in the lead

IRTA Test Mandalika Indonesia MotoGP 2022 – The first day of testing organized by IRTA on the Indonesian Mandalika track was not without "suspense".

In the first hours of the test, which started when it was 02:00 am in Italy, there was a red flag caused by heavy rain, which brought sand and mud onto the track, given the strong wind.

The riders initially waited to get onto the track, but subsequently rode consistently, even though there was no shortage of falls, including those of the Ducati riders "Pecco" Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio (the latter two category rookies, ed. ) and Takaaki Nakagami (Honda LCR).

The test, which was initially supposed to end at 10:00 am Italian time, was extended by 45 minutes to make up for lost time.

The fastest on Day 1 of the Mandalika test was Pol Espargarò, who put the Repsol Team Honda RC213V in the lead with a time of 1:32.466 (better than the time recorded by Toprak Razgatlıoğlu in the Superbike Superpole, 1'32.877 ).

It can only be one place: Mandalika! Indonesia's unique beauty shining through. 🇮🇩 pic.twitter.com/jZxlWlftQd

- Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) February 11, 2022

Behind him was the Aprilia of his older brother Aleix Espargarò, trailing by just under half a second, exactly 0.471s. Two brothers therefore in command, with Brad Binder's KTM Factory in third place, followed by Alex Rins' Suzuki.

Laps in Lombok or laps at Lommel? Getting the @motul cleaning products out to stop our GSX-RR doing an impression of an RM-Z 😅🧼 @MotoGP #BehindTheScenes #SUZUKing pic.twitter.com/Ebg7pgFtae

- Team Suzuki Ecstar (@suzukimotogp) February 11, 2022

Reigning champion Fabio Quartararo set the fifth fastest time, 0.642s from the top. “El Diablo” was followed by the best Ducati, the official one of Jack Miller, while Francesco Bagnaia finished in the rear, only 22nd at 1.852s from Espargarò's Honda, even if the Ducati rider was very strong on the pace and did not make the time-attack scheduled for the Indonesian evening due to weather conditions.

Aprilia places Maverick Vinales in seventh position, ahead of Joan Mir's Suzuki and the Yamaha Factory of Team WithU RNF of our Andrea Dovizioso. Jorge Martin closes the Top Ten, riding the Ducati Pramac with a time of 1:33.358.

Franco Morbidelli with the Yamaha Factory set the twelfth time, behind Takaaki Nakagami and ahead of the Ducatis of Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing).

Only 17th Marc Marquez, trailing team-mate Pol Espargarò by 1.310s. The #93 of the Repsol Honda Team completed 64 laps with the best performance on the 63rd lap.

Double trouble 🟧🟥⬜🟧🟥⬜#MandalikaTest pic.twitter.com/d0c3acoFwW

- Repsol Honda Team (@HRC_MotoGP) February 11, 2022

Enea Bastianini is also struggling compared to Sepang and is 18th on the Team Gresini Ducati, ahead of KTM Tech 3 rookie Raul Fernandez and compatriots Luca Marini, Marco Bezzecchi and Francesco Bagnaia. Darryn Binder (Yamaha WithU RNF) and Remy Gardner (KTM Tech 3) close the timesheets.

IRTA Mandalika Test MotoGP Day 1 – The final times