Team Managers comment on Sepang MotoGP Test Day One

Click Here for full Sepang MotoGP Test Day One Report with Rider Quotes and Images

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi immediately picked up where they left off, securing the top two positions on the opening day of the first official MotoGP test of 2016 at Sepang.

Massimo Meregalli – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team Director

“Personally, I couldn‘t wait to start testing, because of the new regulations and the work ahead of us. It is good to be back in action and we can be satisfied about today‘s results. It has been a good first day, it stayed dry for almost the entire test and this allowed us to start working on different bikes. Today has been very positive, we didn‘t come across any big issues and the riders are getting used to riding on Michelin tyres and the new software.

“They are getting to know the combination of the bike, the electronics and the Michelin tyres better and are growing in confidence each time they head out on track. We will study the data this evening and tomorrow we will proceed with our test schedule as planned.”

Massimo Meregalli flanked by Movistar Yamaha MotoGP riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo

Over at Team Suzuki Aleix Espargaro was ninth quickest, despite an engine failure, while Maverick Vinales finished day one 11th quickest. Suzuki engineers delivered many new parts and settings for the Factory GSX-RRs, including new specifications for the engine, new frame as well as the seamless gearbox that Viñales debuted at Sepang in November. The two riders had three machines in the pit garage; the 2015 GSX-RR and two 2016 bikes. At the same time, new tyres and new electronics have yet to be investigated over the busy test program that finishes on Wednesday.

MotoGP Sepang Test 2016 - Aleix Espargaro — MotoGP Sepang Test 2016 – Aleix Espargaro

Davide Brivio – Suzuki MotoGP Team Manager

“It has been a tough but very useful day; of course the main focus was on the electronics to start finding a good way and configuration. We had to ask the riders to be patient today and bear with a demanding workload to understand and test the electronics. However, towards the end of the day we reached a nice level and during the day we were able to work in parallel on other new items we have available here.

“We have worked on the seamless gearbox, both riders managed to try the engine with new specs and both liked it. Let’s say it has been a hard day because it was very busy but yet mostly positive.

“The objective now is to finalise the electronics as much as possible so to be able to squeeze the best out of the new components that we have to select for the Championship.”

With Jack Miller out of action due to a pre-season crash, the test program was taken up by his graduating Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS teammate, Tito Rabat. It was the former Moto2 World Champion’s first outing at the Sepang circuit aboard a MotoGP bike and his first experience with the control ECU and unified software that is now mandatory in the premier class. Rabat opted to remain on the harder of the Michelin tyre options for the whole of the opening day, which he finished in 18th position with a time of 2’03.463.

MotoGP Sepang Test 2016 - Tito Rabat — MotoGP Sepang Test 2016 – Tito Rabat

Rabat and his crew will start the process of refining the set up of the Honda RC213V on Tuesday to better suit the 26-year-old’s riding style and the characteristics of the Sepang circuit.

Michael Bartholemy – Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Team Principal

“I think today has been a positive start to the test, even if our position on the timesheet doesn’t really reflect this. It’s Tito’s first time at Sepang with the MotoGP bike, the team’s first time at this track with the Michelin tyres and the first time we’ve run the new electronics on the bike. Even with all these new variables, everything ran pretty smoothly and Tito was able to focus on learning his way around on the Honda RC213V, which required different lines to the Moto2 bike he’s used to, and adapting to the power and consistency of the carbon brakes.

“We stuck with the harder of the tyre options today, so we know we have something in hand when we do put the soft tyre into the bike, but more important than the lap time at this test is to get Tito comfortable and confident with the bike.”