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Acosta ends Saturday on top because the final day of Shakedown testing concludes.
Acosta ends Saturday on top because the final day of Shakedown testing concludes.The curtain came down on the 2024 MotoGP™ Sepang Shakedown with rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Crimson Bull GASGAS Tech3) on top, with the number 31 state to continue making headlines. An incredible 1:58.189 on the final day seen him lead test rider Pol Espargaro (Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) by 0.066s, with CASTROL Honda LCR’s original recruit Johann Zarco finishing the end three.
Acosta dazzles
Despite a pair of exiguous crashes on the final day – one in the dry at Turn 11 and one in the wet at Turn 15 – Acosta most productive continues to galvanize. His time would like positioned him P5 in final year’s Sepang Take a look at total standings, and there are peaceful three extra days to head in that match next week.
On the final day, Acosta modified into as soon as lapping with KTM’s carbon chassis on both of his GASGAS bikes, indicating this could also nicely be the direction they’ll be heading in for the season. It’ll be interesting to peer what original formulation Acosta will test on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Malaysia, as he’s joined by teammate Augusto Fernandez and the 2 Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller.
And talking of the orange squad, Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing’s Pol Espargaro talked about in a video the team posted on social media that he feels “very appropriate” on the bike after a iciness of coaching sees the Take a look at Rider come into 2024 in a a lot greater physical situation. Espargaro additionally feedback on how nicely Acosta is adapting to the bike.
Aero game stepped up before Sepang Take a look at
As we seen all the draw by means of the earlier two days of Shakedown action, the factories like ramped up the aerodynamics game in 2024. You might perhaps presumably trace KTM’s entrance fender hover, Aprilia’s ‘Batmobile’ rear hover and Ducati’s extra ground end side panel fairing updates HERE, with the respective test riders running all of these additions on the final day. Honda’s upgraded ‘stegosaurus’ rear hover might additionally additionally be viewed below.
Honda and Yamaha: all palms on deck
On Day 3, Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) modified into as soon as seen testing a various swingarm, and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Group) has confirmed that Honda’s 2023 bike isn’t in Sepang. Honda are focusing on the kit they’d at the Valencia Take a look at and on a brand original prototype they’ve bought. A “trade in direction”.
Zarco modified into as soon as the quickest Honda on Saturday, before Mir and then Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Group) and Nakagami, peppered all the draw by means of the end ten.
In the interim, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) executed the Shakedown in P4, while original teammate Alex Rins modified into as soon as a tenth off him in P7. By blueprint of novelties, Yamaha Take a look at Rider Cal Crutchlow ventured out with a brand original, longer consume and an updated aero body.
More to come?
For Ducati and Aprilia, repped at the Shakedown by Michele Pirro and Lorenzo Savadori, respectively, there like been the beforehand talked about aero updates on obvious present, and the match seen loads of prep for the relaxation of their riders to affix the fray at the Sepang Take a look at.
That will encompass reigning Champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Group) meeting his original steed before yet every other title defence campaign, and 2023 challenger Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). It’s additionally yet every other chance to peer Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) heading out, despite the incontrovertible fact that that’s not on a 2024-spec bike…
In the interim, alongside Maverick Viñales and Aleix Espargaro at Aprilia, there’s additionally a total novelty of a various form in the Noale camp as Trackhouse Racing put together to land in MotoGP™, with Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez seemingly quickly to appear of their original colours heading in the suitable direction for the principle time.
That’s a wrap on with out a doubt among the most star-studded Shakedowns we’ve viewed for some time. Next up it’s the legitimate #SepangTest from the sixth to the eighth of February, where we’ll trace everyone back out and back in industrial before their assault on 2024.
BEST LAPS BY RIDER: DAY 3
1 Pedro Acosta (Crimson Bull GASGAS Tech3) 1:58.189
2 Pol Espargaro (Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) +0.066
3 Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) +0.211
4 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) +0.249
5 Dani Pedrosa (Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) + 0.289
6 Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Group) +0.328
7 Alex Rins (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) + 0.354
8 Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Group) +0.746
9 Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing) +0.794
10 Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) +0.883
11 Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Group) +1.141
12 Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) +1.811
13 Stefan Bradl (Honda Take a look at Group) +2.910
