Espargaro makes it a clean sweep and leaves first Sepang test as clear CRT leader

After three days of hard work, the first MotoGP test of the year concluded today at Sepang. It was a sunny and hot day at the Malaysian circuit, in which many riders set their best times in the early hours of the test when the track temperatures were lower. Four men led the way (Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Rossi and Márquez), but others like Crutchlow, Bradl and Bautista also proved to be competitive. Pedrosa was the fastest rider of the day and of the test, with a time faster than Loreno’s 2012 pole lap. The riders return to Malaysia in two weeks time for another test.

POWER ELECTRONICS Aspar rider Aleix Espargaró was, for the third consecutive day, the fastest CRT competitor. He again chipped tenths off his best time, dropping six-tenths off his previous best for a 2’02.628 lap. That was quicker than his qualifying time for the Malaysian GP last October (2’02.628). He was the 12th fastest overall, ahead of several riders on official bikes. The Spaniard continued to try out his new ART chassis, with which he is having positive results. Teammate Randy De Puniet had a problematic day, following two previously positive test sessions. The Frenchman was unable to lower his lap time and could not continue to improve the setup of his new chassis.

12th Aleix Espargaró 2.02.628 (47 laps): “I am very happy. The new chassis works perfectly and we took a step forward today. It was very hot today and this morning I matched my best times from yesterday straight away. It is hard to ride fast when it is so hot. I didn’t do my best lap until 1pm. I have only put in around 70 laps with this bike and the feeling is excellent, which has given us such a fast pace. We have to be satisfied with our best lap today, because it was an improvement on my qualifying time from last year. It is also the best CRT time by some way, and not too far off the MotoGP bikes. We have started the year very well, but we have to continue working and the next test will see us using the old bike to compare again.”

Source: Aspar Team Press Release