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What a pity we have to wait until 18 March for the first Grand Prix of the season. Yes, because the Sepang tests have sure left our mouths watering. We saw Yamaha putting its 2017 issues behind it, an even more competitive Ducati that doesn't appear to suffer through the turns any longer and a Honda, as ever, among the frontrunners.
As if that wasn't enough, the final day of testing showcased Jorge Lorenzo, who was able to set a new track record on the GP18, ducking under the 1’59” barrier. The Majorcan sent a message that will definitely not have gone unnoticed by his rivals. #99 likes the new bike, he's even able to have the same sensations as he did on the M1, going as far as to define the latest evolution of the red bike a masterpiece.
At the end of the three-day test, many were asking who would have won had they raced? It's a tough question, because as we know there are many variables in a race that can affect rider performance: pressure, the heat, tyre consumption, even a simple mistake can all send a weekend's hard work up in smoke come race day.
THE NUMBERS- They don't lie and if we analyse the times, we can soon answer the question: if they had raced yesterday at Sepang, the winner would have been Marc Marquez!
Yes, because in the race simulation, no-one could match #93's pace. In the fifteen laps he completed, the Honda rider was lapping in around 2’00”5. An impressive performance by the six-time champ, who proved unbeatable in terms of race pace.
Then we'd have seen Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso battling it out for second and third on the podium, both lapping around 2’00”7, the first completing fifteen laps, the second eleven. Jack Miller, was a tenth slower with a pace of around 2’00”8. The Australian showed he's not struggling to adapt to the Ducati, immediately building the right confidence.
Jorge Lorenzo also attempted a race simulation on the final day but he had to finish it early due to a small problem with the bike. Having completed eight laps, the Majorcan's pace was around 2’00”9, the same as Cal Crutchlow. In an eventual race classification with Marquez crowned the winner, Jorge would finish fifth. The Yamahas preferred not to carry out a long run. As we've said, our analysis refers solely to the last day's times, without considering the variables that can come up in a race.
Now teams are preparing for the upcoming Thailand test, taking place in two weeks' time. It will be a brand new test bench, in that none of the teams have ever ridden at the Chang track so there are no favourites.
