Maverick Viñales got his 2019 preseason off to the perfect start after he topped both days at the Valencia Test, setting the quickest time of 1:30.757 to better second place Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso by 0.133 and Marc Marquez by 0.154 as the premier class riders complete a busy day of testing in Valencia – the rain staying away on Wednesday.
For Viñales and teammate Valentino Rossi – who ended the test eighth fastest – another new spec of engine was available for them to test, after Tuesday saw them test the first spec of the 2019 Yamaha engine.
Ending the test top can only be a good sign for the Spaniard, who managed to complete 57 laps on Day 2, setting his quickest time on his 50th lap as we saw a mini time attack occur during the afternoon. For the nine-time World Champion, a good haul of 63 laps were set as the Italian ended 0.614 off his teammate.
Splitting the two factory Yamahas after Day 2 was the VR46 Academy rider and YZR-M1 rookie Franco Morbidelli. The Italian lapped 57 times as he continues to adjust from Honda to Yamaha – but that adjusting doesn’t seem to be taking the 2017 Moto2 Champion long.
Interestingly, Morbidelli was also riding with a new spec engine to finish Day 2 just 0.217 off Viñales, but he was on a 2017 chassis, the one Johann Zarco was riding while on a Yamaha. Carbon forks were also used by Morbidelli, while rookie teammate Fabio Quartararo got a valuable 63 laps (101 in total) under his belt as he impressed on his premier class debut – just 1.334 separated the Frenchman from the fastest time set.
Test rider Jonas Folger was back on a premier class machine to complete 77 laps across the two days. A late crash at Turn 10 destroyed one of his Yamaha machines on Day 2, but overall it was a good test for the German as he reacquaints himself with a MotoGP machine – 1.508 splits him from Viñales.
For Marquez and teammate Jorge Lorenzo, the ‘second version’ 2019 bike was used. This bike isn’t the full 2019 version, but a combination of parts including the chassis, engine, a Ducati-esque tank modification on Lorenzo’s bike, aero packages, a new air intake, new suspension and a relocated steering damper. Plenty of laps were done by both multiple World Champions – who are both not up to full fitness – on a productive day, with Marquez ending P3 after 53 laps, with Lorenzo completing 46 laps – 0.827 off the top for the ‘Spartan’.
It was a good two days for Takaaki Nakagami as he got to grips with a 2018 spec RC213V. The Japanese rider ended his 2018 on a high with a P6 finish and kicked off 2019 with a P8 finish – 0.547 from Viñales.
In the Ducati garage, 57 laps complete for Dovizioso – and the second fastest time – ends what looks to be a positive day for the Italian after rain seriously interrupted his plans on Day 1. The number 04 and teammate Danilo Petrucci were on Desmosedici’s that were very close to being 2019 specs, the latter ending the day fifth fastest after 60 laps – 0.202 from top spot. Meanwhile, test rider Michele Pirro – who crashed at Turn 2 – was on the full spec 2019 machine, with Jack Miller on board a ‘first step’ 2019 bike, according to Team Manager Davide Tardozzi..
source: motogp.com
