Bezzecchi back on top in Jerez test

Less than 24 hours after a chaotic Spanish Grand Prix, riders enjoyed eight hours of more track time at Jerez for the first in-season test of the 2023 MotoGP season. 

Marco Bezzecchi bounced back from the previous day’s disappointment where a Grand Prix crash relinquished the championship lead to finish the day fastest with a 1:36.574.

Bezzecchi led a VR46 Racing Team 1-2 with his teammate Luca Marini next best 0.104s away.

Also a tenth back was Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, while Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio and April’s Maverick Vinales rounded out the top five.

Vinales also completed the most laps of the 4.428km Jerez circuit with 94, as new championship leader Francesco Bagnaia was sixth fastest.

Australia’s Jack Miller was 14th fastest on his KTM, featuring a new aero kit, after recording a best time of 1:37.431 from his 67 laps.

The test opened with Quartararo, Aleix Espargaro and Jonas Folger riding with a new radio system, which notifies riders of on-track warnings fed by race direction.

After the early trail run, the #20 Yamaha recorded the top time of the opening hour before having a dice with Jorge Martin for P1.

After the 2021 MotoGP champion got the better of Martin with a 1:36.725, he remained in P1 until the final hour.

Quartararo was knocked off by Bezzecchi, who went two tenths faster on his year-old Ducati, while the sister VR46 Racing Team bike also snuck ahead of the Yamaha.

The test was also the scene of Honda unveiling its anticipated Kalex chassis with test rider Stefan Bradl enjoying first use.

However, Bradl crashed the new chassis and had to settle for a P19 finish.

Other Honda riders to fall were Joan Mir and Alex Rins, who were riding different chassis.

After four big days at Jerez, the MotoGP world takes a breath before the 1000th Grand Prix at Le Mans, France on May 12-14.

2023 MotoGP Jerez in-season test results

1. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – 1:36.574
2. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – +0.104
3. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) – +0.151
4. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) – +0.389
5. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) – +0.390
6. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – +0.450
7. Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia Racing) – +0.486
8. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – +0.494
9. Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac Racing) – +0.515
10. Alex Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) – +0.615

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