Mandalika MotoGP Test 2022: Pol Espargaro tops the Mandalika Test aboard new-spec Repsol Honda

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The Spaniard, entering his second season in the famous colours of the Repsol Honda team, topped the combined timesheets in Indonesia with a fantastic 1:31.060, ahead of reigning champion Fabio Quartararo and Mooney VR46’s Luca Marini.

Pol Espargaro was at the summit on Day One and Three at Mandalika, and after proceedings on Sunday he exclaimed his delight saying he’d ‘never been so fast’ yet remained incredibly grounded.

“It’s just one lap in a test. It’s good because it shows the potential is so high in our bike in one lap which is something we needed to improve from last year after seeing how fast the Ducati’s are in one lap.

“We did it in one lap but also with the pace when the tyre starts to drop. That is when you know if you are working and if the bike is working. We are not too bad and for that reason I think we are ready for Qatar.”

“We performed well in one lap and with the rhythm, but at the end of the day no points were given today.”

The time-topper’s teammate Marc Marquez finished ninth in the combined results with a 1:31.481 as he sets sights on what he hopes will be another competitive year.

Despite finishing second in the overall Mandalika timings, Quartararo was dissatisfied with the lack of pace his Yamaha YZR-M1 package had, claiming he ‘didn’t feel good in the time attacks.’

The Frenchman scored the Japanese manufacturer’s first riders’ title since 2015 last season, and looks set to begin 2022 on the back foot.

Quartararo is already hinting towards rival outfits at the prospect of 2023 contract offers, once his current deal with Yamaha ends at the end of the season.

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The visibly frustrated reigning champion gave his thoughts on a difficult day.

“I’m feeling good, it was a long and tough day. We did a long run with a medium rear tyre, and the feeling was really bad. I wanted to do another race simulation with the soft tyre but the team said to keep calm.

“I could feel myself being a lot better at the end of the day, not lap time but the feeling of the bike.

“From my side I put 100% every time I go onto the track, but what we have is what we have.”

Aprilia, who were the most impressive team at the Sepang test a week ago, converted their good pace in Indonesia as Aleix Espargaro placed fourth and Maverick Vinales was eighth fastest.

Sepang timesheet-topper Enea Bastianini could only find pace for 13th, however, was focussing more on race runs opposed to time attacks last week, and admitted he was happy with the pre-season tests and is ready to race.

On day one the circuit was incredibly dirty with dust and debris which led to the organisers halting proceedings in order to clean the track, hopefully something which won’t be a problem then the newly built track hosts Round Two on the 20th March.

Rookie Raul Fernandez circulated only seven laps on Day Three after a nasty crash on Day Two, which left him with bruising on the head and an early end to his Mandalika test.

Meanwhile, 2020 champion Joan Mir missed out on Day Three completely through illness.

Full Combined results: P. Espargaro, Quartararo, Marini, A. Espargaro, Morbidelli, Bagnaia, Rins, Vinales, M. Marquez, Zarco, B. Binder, Mir, Bastianini, A. Marquez, Oliveira, Martin, Nakagami, Miller, Dovizioso, Bezzecchi, Di Giannantonio, Fernandez, Gardner, D. Binder

What’s Next?

MotoGP now takes a very short break before touching down in Qatar for the season opener in three weeks’ time. In the meantime all teams will be fine-tuning their machinery to give them the best chance at the Losail International Circuit.

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