A record breaking final day at Sepang saw two riders under the unofficial all-time best MotoGP lap with Ducati’s Enea Bastianini holding court as testing concluded.
The Gresini rider’s 1’58.131 effort, set on his 13th of the day, bested Saturday’s leader Aleix Espargaro after the Aprilia rider had himself just broken the previous unofficial circuit record - set by Danilo Petrucci in 2019 - moments before despite the 2021 rookie never navigating the demanding Malaysia layout on MotoGP machinery until this weekend.
A rapid start to proceedings saw the entire grid hit the hot laps before the tropical temperatures rose but with rain falling from midday and with heavier downpours mid afternoon, progress thereafter was slim to come by.
Pramac’s Jorge Martin headed the Ducati roster from third place in the standings, just over a tenth shy of the dominant Italian, with yesterday’s front runners Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) and the second Aprilia of Maverick Viñales locking out the top five. Ducati Lenovo’s Pecco Bagnaia joined the party for Sunday’s shortened running in sixth with a 1’58.2 and reigning champion Fabio Quartararo narrowly behind on the Monster Energy Yamaha M1.
Marc Marquez once again held eighth in the times, just two-tenths away from the fastest lap with Pramac’s Johann Zarco and Repsol Honda teammate Pol Espargaro rounding out the top ten.
Just half a second covered the top 14 with two damp hours left on the clock. Jack Miller held the position on the 2022-spec Desmosedici behind an improving Luca Marini on the Mooney VR46 Ducati, Suzuki’s Joan Mir, who suffered an early tumble at turn 15, and LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami.
Top KTM honour went to Miguel Oliveira in 15th while Marco Bezzecchi once again claimed best rookie thanks to an impressive 1’58.710 on the VR46 Ducati, less than six-tenths from the overall target despite his own fall at the final corner.
Alex Marquez, the final rider inside the 1’58 marker, finished 17th on the LCR Honda while Brad Binder led KTM rookie Raul Fernandez and Gresini’s Fabio di Giannantonio on the edge of the top 20. Cal Crutchlow continued his test work for Yamaha with a 1’59.2, narrowly ahead of the satellite M1 of Andrea Dovizioso before the pair switched to wet running.
Remy Gardner continued getting to grips with his Tech3 KTM and recovering wrist from 23rd, with Franky Morbidelli and Darryn Binder completing the full-time roster ahead of Suzuki testers Sylvain Guintoli and Takuya Tsuda.
