Marquez Tops Day One Of Valencia Test

Photography Gold & Goose

Marc Marquez used his 2015 race chassis to set the fastest time on day one of the 2015 end-of-season test at Valencia, fending off Ducati Team’s Andrea Iannone and teammate Dani Pedrosa.

The test saw not just the long-awaited debut of the new Michelin tires but also the control ECU that all riders will be using next season, with the former two-time MotoGP World Champion setting his fastest lap on his fourth circuit before crashing at turn three.

“We went out on track and on the opening laps I lost the front,” Marquez told MotoGP.com. “I realized that the Michelin tires may have worked well for us in testing at Aragon, but they react differently on every type of asphalt. From that moment we started again, doing a run with the same bike we used during the (last) weekend. Then we changed to the new software and we saw that there is definitely some work ahead for us. It’s only the first day and we have to adjust many things. At the end of the day we tried the new engine together with the Magneti Marelli software, but in order to draw any conclusions we first have to finish setting up the electronics and when we have a good base, then we will be able to evaluate the engine properly.”

Iannone adapted well to the new Michelin tires

Second placed Iannone was almost alone in his happiness for the new Michelins. Despite two falls throughout the day, Iannone’s time on 1:31.639s was only 0.088s behind Marquez, and he insists the new French rubber will be good for his riding style.

“This is only the second time that I have tested the Michelin tires and in the end I am quite satisfied because, even though we still have to work to optimize the details, I think that we have responded well to this important change,” Iannone said.

Pedrosa knows there is a lot of work ahead with the new software and rubber.

Dani Pedrosa spent much of the day using his 2015-spec machine before switching to the 2016 chassis and electronics late in the afternoon.

“Right now the (new) electronics are still giving us a lot of problems and are difficult to use,” Pedrosa said. “We have to work hard to understand it and see what parameters we should concentrate on more. It’s also a job for the rider, because you must gain experience in order to understand what you have and what you don’t, compared with the previous version.”

Rossi ended the test a lowly 12^th and was not pleased about it.

The top five at Valencia was completed by the impressive Maverick Vinales and 2015 MotoGP World Champion, Jorge Lorenzo. Both Lorenzo and teammate Valentino Rossi, who finished the session 12^th fastest, struggled with the front Michelin tire and electronics, with Rossi especially critical of the new rubber.

“The rear tire is very similar (to the Bridgestone) and the Michelin is good, it has very good grip,” Rossi said. “The front is the big difference. We need to understand how much weight this tire needs to turn at the maximum. We need some more time.”

2015 Valencia MotoGP Test – Day One

1.         Marc Marquez           ESP     Repsol Honda Team  1m 31.551s

2.         Andrea Iannone        ITA      Ducati Team  +0.088s

3.         Dani Pedrosa ESP     Repsol Honda Team (RC213V)       +0.130s

4.         Maverick Vinales       ESP     Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)         +0.169s

5.         Jorge Lorenzo            ESP     Movistar Yamaha MotoGP    +0.216s

6.         Cal Crutchlow            GBR     LCR Honda     +0.360s

7.         Pol Espargaro            ESP     Monster Yamaha Tech 3      +0.386s

8.         Bradley Smith            GBR     Monster Yamaha Tech 3      +0.446s

9.         Aleix Espargaro         ESP     Team Suzuki Ecstar  +0.454s

10.       Andrea Dovizioso      ITA      Ducati Team  +0.522s

11.       Scott Redding            GBR     Octo Pramac Racing  +0.663s

12.       Valentino Rossi          ITA      Movistar Yamaha MotoGP    +0.850s

13.       Danilo Petrucci          ITA      Octo Pramac Racing  +0.891s

14.       Hector Barbera          ESP     Avintia Racing            +0.917s

15.       Jack Miller      AUS     Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS           +1.043s

16.       Tito Rabat      ESP     Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS           +1.122s

17.       Stefan Bradl   GER     Factory Aprilia Gresini          +1.170s

18.       Loris Baz         FRA     Avintia Racing Ducati            +1.392s

19.       Yonny Hernandez     COL     Avintia Racing Ducati            +1.495s

20.       Alvaro Bautista          ESP     Factory Aprilia Gresini          +1.510s

21.       Eugene Laverty         IRL      Aspar MotoGP Team +1.702s

22.       Takuya Tsuda            JPN      Suzuki Test Rider      +3.040s

23.       Nobuatsu Aoki           JPN      Suzuki Test Rider      +4.787s