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Marc Marquez Impresses with Strong Performance at Sepang MotoGP Test

On the concluding day of MotoGP testing at Sepang, Marc Marquez made headlines by executing an impressive sprint simulation that underscored his formidable speed and competitiveness. Riding for the factory Ducati team, Marquez demonstrated remarkable consistency and pace, achieving an average time of 1m57.930s over a ten-lap run, decisively outpacing all of his competitors, including teammate Francesco Bagnaia.

During his stint, Marquez logged seven laps within the 1m57s range and only three laps fell into the 1m58s category. His fastest lap was recorded at 1m57.641s, while the slowest was 1m58.272s. Such performance would have positioned him well ahead of Jorge Martin’s winning time in last year’s sprint race at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

An intriguing aspect of the test was the performance of Marquez’s younger brother, Alex, who rides for Gresini Racing. Alex was the closest in long-run pace, clocking three laps in the mid-1m57s and surpassing his brother on each occasion, despite having more than half of his ten laps clocked in the 1m58s bracket.

In contrast, Bagnaia displayed a pace primarily in the 1m58s, only managing to dip into the 1m57s ranges twice during his racing simulation.

Comparative Analysis of Lap Times

A detailed comparison illustrates Marquez’s exceptional long-run cadence at the Sepang test against Jorge Martin’s sprint race from the previous year, where Marquez finished as runner-up within seconds of Martin:

Marquez Sepang Test lap times:

• 1’57.813
• 1’57.641
• 1’57.768
• 1’57.763
• 1’58.031
• 1’57.954
• 1’57.936
• 1’57.862
• 1’58.256
• 1’58.272

Martin Sepang Sprint lap times:

• 2’02.758
• 1’57.848
• 1’57.805
• 1’58.368
• 1’58.616
• 1’58.521
• 1’58.474
• 1’58.635
• 1’58.714
• 1’59.491

Marquez’s efforts on Friday culminated in a total of 70 laps, making him the most prolific rider on the track that day, surpassing rookie Somkiat Chantra’s previous tally of 68 laps from Thursday.

Out of the 70 laps completed, which amounted to slightly over 388 kilometers, Marquez achieved a best lap of 1m57.042s—placing him fifth overall, just behind Franco Morbidelli of the VR46 Ducati team, who managed a quickest lap of 1m56.948s.

Through his testing sessions, Marquez executed 13 runs, with two standout laps in time attack mode during his fifth outing, clocking in at 1m57.086s and 1m57.042s. His race simulation wrapped up in the afternoon with a consistent performance in the high-1m57s and low-1m58s range.

Over the course of the testing period, Marquez undertook a substantial 169 laps around the Sepang circuit, equating to 939 kilometers. In the lead-up to this test, he had also participated in testing at Barcelona, where he covered 49 laps on a prototype bike. This accumulative experience now accounts for over 1,166 kilometers of mileage as an official Ducati rider.

This remarkable performance at the Sepang test not only reflects Marquez’s continuing adaptability and prowess on the track but also sets an exciting stage for the upcoming MotoGP season.

Source
www.autosport.com