After Marc Marquez’s unbelievable record breaking season in 2014, it is safe to say there were no surprises when he emerged quickest on the first day of the first test. However, the rest of the first test and what followed at the second test could suggest he will have some tough competition to defend his title once again.
Valentino Rossi kicked off the three day stint of testing for the second time at the Malaysian circuit with a fastest lap time of 2:00.414, backing up his runner up position of last year and possibly hinting at a title challenge in 2015.
Honda’s Dani Pedrosa followed just 0.129 behind while brothers Pol and Aleix Espargaró impressed in third and fourth of the Tech 3 Yamaha and Suzuki respectively.
2010 and 2012 champion Jorge Lorenzo was fifth 0.748 off of his team mate’s time while the reigning champion had braking issues and could only produce a 2:01.190. The two Britons were seventh and eighth with Cal Crutchlow leading Bradley Smith on his new LCR Honda.
Status quo resumed on day two of the second test with Marquez leading the way on a 1:59.844 just half a tenth ahead of fellow countryman Lorenzo. Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso provided some positive results for the Ducati squad finishing third and fourth respectively and both within half a second of the leading Honda.
Pedrosa, Rossi, Smith and Crutchlow were also within half a second of the number 93 rider. Then came Aleix and Pol Espargaró in ninth and tenth.
Marc Marquez finished the Sepang tests as he started them – at the top of the timesheets – this time with a blistering lap of 1:59.115, very close to his new unofficial lap record of 1:58.867 from the first test this year.
Lorenzo on the Yamaha trailed the Honda by over three tenths while Crutchlow gave British fans some hope for the coming season posting a competitive lap time of 1:59.658. Iannone continued to impress in fourth while The Doctor finished the test in fifth followed by Smith and Pedrosa.
As Moto GP heads to the final test and first race of the season at Qatar, only time will tell if Marc Marquez and Repsol Honda can take the title for a third year in a row.
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