The tyres available for the test are the same as were allocated during the 2017 race weekend: a soft, a medium and a hard front, and a soft, medium and hard asymmetric rear. In addition, Michelin have brought two new front compounds for the field to evaluate – as well as a rear with a small evolution in the compound.

Timesheet-topping Pedrosa and teammate Marc Marquez had 2018 protoype machines as well as 2017 spec RC213Vs in the Repsol Honda garage. Pedrosa put in 56 laps and blasted ahead on his final run, with the reigning Champion on the other side of the garage doing 51 and moving up to P7 late in the day.

LCR Honda Castrol’s Cal Crutchlow was also testing for HRC with 2018 protoypes and the Brit had three machines in the pitbox. He earned the honour of first crasher of the season, but did also play guinea pig by heading out first on slicks. Crutchlow did 38 laps with a best of 2:00.522 to take ninth on the timesheets.

Hot on their heels over in the Ducati garage, and following test rider Casey Stoner’s positivity on the new GP18 after private tests, Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo had both the GP17 and the GP18 with which to put in their laps. Dovizioso spent some time on top before being deposed later in the day, but the Italian charged back up to second overall by the end of action.

35 laps saw the 2017 Malaysian GP winner put in a best of 1:59.770, with teammate Lorenzo also a late mover and catapulting himself from outside the top ten to P3 on his final run. The five-time World Champion did 38 laps. Danilo Petrucci made it three Ducatis in the fastest four as he took P4, just ahead of new teammate Jack Miller, who made it 80% Borgo Panigale factory machinery in the top five as he impressed once again.

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi and teammate Maverick Viñales, meanwhile, began the day with new fairings - but not the new full carbon-black aero package seen on test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga’s machine.

The two men were forces to be reckoned with on the timesheets until a final time attack from some competitors. With the new chassis based on 2016 and the 2018 engine, an optimistic ‘Doctor’ put in 50 laps. The quickest clocked in at a 2:00.233 to put him P6, with teammate Viñales P13 on Sunday after 72 laps. The first man out on wets in the morning, meanwhile, was Johann Zarco as the lights went green, and the Frenchman had some new – to the Tech 3 team – aero to test. He ended the day in eighth after 62 laps.

KTM Factory Racing impressed once again as they head into their second season. Pol Espargaro was on the pace from the off and completed the top ten, with teammate Bradley Smith in P17. The Spaniard did 39 laps and the Brit matched the lap count. Test rider Mika Kallio was also on track.

“I feel really good inside the team," says Viñales of the renewal, "and I especially feel the desire to win, which is something I identify with and something I want. We make a good compromise and for both of us it will be special. So thank you to Yamaha because they’ve made my dreams come true – let’s see if this season we can do it again.”

The announcement is the first of the year pertaining to next year, ahead of the first track action for 2018 that begins on Sunday at Sepang. Before the news came out, Viñales also talked about that and the season just gone.

“The winter has been really good, training as always and trying to take it to a higher level," smiled the Spaniard, before talking about his relationship with his team: “Here I share the objective, the passion, and for me it’s like being in a family that shares your feelings. I have a great relationship with everyone in Yamaha."

Next up, the 2013 Moto3 Champion was asked about pressure: "Pressure is always positive. When you have pressure, you push yourself more. That’s always positive and something I like But the objective is the same as last year, trying to be ready from the first race, on the podium in every race and then at the end of the year fight for the title. That’s the goal, and for sure we’ll learn from the mistakes of last year and try to be the best.”

source: motogp.com

Ahead of the big reveal, Massimo Meregalli - Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director - was the man charged with analysing the season just gone and gearing up for 2018.

“It was really important to test in Valencia and then in Sepang,” began the Italian, “because we could compare the same items on two different tracks with different conditions."

"At the end of these five days, we could decide the base of the bike that Valentino and Maverick will now start testing in Sepang in a few days.”

That first test of 2018 begins on Sunday at the Malaysian venue where, as Meregalli pointed out, Yamaha put in a private test towards the end of 2017. Now, work will concentrate on reconfirming and developing – with some specifics to work on.

“In Sepang we need to confirm what we found in November, then we’ll start developing the bike with new parts from Japan,” he explained.

“And we’ll work on the electronics, which we couldn’t do in November, so I expect us to improve in that area. Last year we suffered a lot in that area and our main goal is to solve that.”

source: motogp.com

After a stunning maiden podium at his home German GP in July, Jonas Folger then sat out the end of the 2017 season after beginning to suffer with illness.

Subsequently diagnosed with a rare strain of Gilbert Syndrome, a common genetic disorder affecting 2%-5% of the population in which the liver is unable to process toxins effectively, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider reset his focus on recovery ahead of 2018.

Sadly, the German has now been forced to announce that he will not be able to race this season – neither physically nor mentally ready to make a return.

“I’m incredibly sad to be saying this, but I will not be racing MotoGP in 2018,” says Folger.

“I wasn’t able to make the improvements I was hoping for, and at this stage I don’t feel able to ride a MotoGP machine at 100 percent. I’d like to thank everyone involved, but especially the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team, Yamaha Factory Japan, Monster Energy, HJC, IXON, Forma Boots and Rudy Project."

"I hope to be back one day and want to thank you all for your ongoing support.”

Team Manager Herve Poncharal says he was shocked by the decision, but respects it completely.

“Last night (Tuesday) I received a call from Bob Moore, Jonas Folger’s personal manager,” explains Poncharal. “I couldn’t believe what Bob was telling me on the phone, that Jonas Folger has decided not to race the 2018 MotoGP season because he doesn’t feel 100 percent mentally and physically recovered."

"It is still very difficult for me to believe, that he’s not going to race with us in 2018, especially because he has been somebody I had lot of faith in and I was sure we would reach top level together this year."

"I completely respect his decision, although it’s hard to swallow. Yet, I will try to find a solution for a replacement rider, which is a very difficult mission, as all of the fast riders are already contracted. But as always in racing we need to be proactive, inventive and hopefully we can make someone very happy. We will keep all of you informed about the evolution of the situation."

source: motogp.com