Submitted by David Emmett on
The final day of the Sepang shakedown test saw more action, with Aleix Espargaro joining the fray for Aprilia, and Jonas Folger resuming his role as Yamaha test rider. Stefan Bradl didn't ride, his work being done, and Andrea Iannone was also absent for Aprilia.
It was Aleix Espargaro who was fastest, nudging his brother Pol from top spot with a late charge, the Aprilia ahead of the KTM. Ducati test rider Michele Pirro ended the day as third quickest, just ahead of Johann Zarco, the Frenchman making solid progress on the KTM. One of the Yamaha test riders was fifth quickest, but as Jonas Folger and Katsuyuki Nakasuga swapped between the T1 and T2 bikes all day, it is hard to say precisely who set the fastest time.
Times at the end of the final day:
Pos | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Prev |
1 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia RS-GP | 2:00.500 | ||
2 | Pol Espargaro | KTM RC16 | 2:00.666 | 0.166 | 0.166 |
3 | Michele Pirro | Ducati GP19 | 2:01.261 | 0.761 | 0.595 |
4 | Johann Zarco | KTM RC16 | 2:01.401 | 0.901 | 0.140 |
5 | Nakasuga/Folger | Yamaha M1 | 2:01.521 | 1.021 | 0.120 |
6 | Bradley Smith | Aprilia RS-GP | 2:01.645 | 1.145 | 0.124 |
7 | Miguel Oliveira | KTM RC16 | 2:01.893 | 1.393 | 0.248 |
8 | Nakasuga/Folger | Yamaha M1 | 2:02.135 | 1.635 | 0.242 |
9 | Mika Kallio | KTM RC16 | 2:02.201 | 1.701 | 0.066 |
10 | Hafizh Syahrin | KTM RC16 | 2:02.211 | 1.711 | 0.010 |
11 | Sylvain Guintoli | Suzuki GSX-RR | 2:02.417 | 1.917 | 0.206 |
12 | Takuya Tsuda | Suzuki GSX-RR | 2:03.701 | 3.201 | 1.284 |