In unsurprising news, 2013 MotoGP champion Marc Marquez has continued his blistering form on-board the Honda RC212V by topping the time sheets in Sepang, setting a time of 2m 00.286 s at the first official test of 2014. Marquez finished over half a second ahead of Valentino Rossi on the Yamaha with team-mate Dani Pedrosa back in third with a time of 2m 00.906s
Marquez said; “At this point last year I felt more nervous but this year I am more relaxed. Today already the lap time was quite fast”
The Spaniard began the test on his bike from last year before making the switch to the new bike for 2014, setting the top time on the new machines during lap 52 of his 62 lap stint.
Marquez went on to say that the changes to the new bike were minimal and it was very similar to the machine that finished the 2013 season at Valencia in November. He is hoping the times will continue to improve throughout the three day test
“Today already the lap time was quite fast. It was a great surprise but I think in Malaysia it depends a lot on the conditions on the track. We can see that many riders were fast and I think tomorrow and on the third day they will improve a lot. We are trying to improve a little bit the braking stability. It is important also to have a smoother engine for the exit of the corner and improve rear grip” Marquez went on to say;
“Sometimes one thing does not make a big difference but if you put them altogether it will be better.
“I’m happy with how this first day went and to have achieved my goal of regaining my feeling on the bike.
“Even if you do five hours a day in the gym, when you are here you are completely destroyed because everything is different on the bike and you are stiff. Now I feel tired but tomorrow will be better.”
The final standings after Tuesday’s test are as follows:
Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 2m 0.286s (Lap 52/62)
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 2m 0.804s | +0.518s (58/61)
3. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 2m 0.906s | +0.620s (73/75)
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 2m 1.082s | +0.796s (26/47)
5. Alvaro Bautista ESP Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RC213V) 2m 1.240s | +0.954s (48/52)
6. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 2m 1.320s | +1.034s (10/25)
7. Aleix Espargaro ESP NGM Mobile Forward Racing (FTR-M1) 2m 1.419s | +1.133s (19/26)
8. Andrea Iannone ITA Pramac Racing (Desmosedici) 2m 1.538s | +1.252s (38/44)
9. Pol Espargaro ESP Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 1.634s | +1.348s (42/48)
10. Bradley Smith GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 1.876s | +1.590s (54/55)
11. Colin Edwards USA NGM Mobile Forward Racing (FTR-M1) 2m 2.483s | +2.197s (25/26)
12. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici) 2m 2.497s | +2.211s (21/27)
13. Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Rider (Desmosedici) 2m 2.552s | +2.266s (47/48)
14. Cal Crutchlow GBR Ducati Team (Desmosedici) 2m 2.860s | +2.574s (16/38)
15. Yonny Hernandez COL Pramac Racing (Desmosedici) 2m 2.891s | +2.605s (28/49)
16. Katsuyuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 3.126s | +2.840s (14/35)
17. Nicky Hayden USA Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R) 2m 3.319s | +3.033s (53/56)
18. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Drive M7 Aspar (RCV1000R) 2m 3.328s | +3.042s (49/51)
19. Randy de Puniet FRA Suzuki Test Rider (XRH-1) 2m 3.893s | +3.607s (47/75)
20. Kosuke Akiyoshi JPN Honda Test Rider 2m 4.267s | +3.981s (27/64)
21. Scott Redding GBR Go&Fun Honda Gresini (RCV1000R) 2m 4.431s | +4.145s (41/48)
22. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki) 2m 4.922s | +4.636s (34/44)
23. Mike di Meglio FRA Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki) 2m 5.825s | +5.539s (50/51)
24. Broc Parkes AUS Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART) 2m 5.889s | +5.603s (32/40)
25. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM-ART) 2m 6.070s | +5.784s (14/14)
26. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (RCV1000R) 2m 6.755s | +6.469s (21/41)