Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez ended the final day of testing at Valencia on top of the timsheets, going two-tenths faster than he managed in qualifying on Saturday and edging team-mate Dani Pedrosa into second place by 0.146s.
The Repsol Honda man put in 68 laps on his only dry day of testing after resting on Monday and then riding in the rain yesterday. He was the only rider under the 1’31s barrier with a 1’30.973 using the 2015 prototype RC213V with Pedrosa on a 1’31.119.
Third-placed Jorge Lorenzo led a Yamaha lock-out of the next four places. The former champion was only 0.045s slower than Pedrosa and spent his time evaulating a new chassis and exahust upgrade which was extraordinarily loud.
Monster Yamaha’s Pol Espargaro ended today in fourth, just ahead of Valentino Rossi, but was third quickest on the combined timesheets while Rossi was sixth fastest with his time from Monday afternoon.
Britain’s Bradley Smith was the last of the Yamahas in sixth place today on a 1’31.605 just ahead of Danilo Petrucci - yes, you read that right - on the first of the Pramac Ducatis. The Italian was just seventh-tenths off Marquez’ best time on his 63rd of 66 laps.
Next along was LCR Honda’s Crutchlow who, on a 1’31.774, was a tenth faster than Stefan Bradl managed in qualifying on the same bike on whivh he has vastly more experience. Yonny Hernandez was ninth with Aleix Espargaro tenth putting the Suzuki just a second off the pace.
Hector Barbera stuck the Open class Avintia Ducati GP14 in 11th place with a 1’32.007. Nicky Hayden got his first go on the new RC213V-RS today and managed a 1’32.173, one place and half a second quicker than Scott Redding’s factory RC213V.
Loris Baz put his Forward Yamaha in 19th place, edging out Eugene Laverty who ended in 20th with Jack Miller 21st.
