Multiple testing world champion Maverick Vinales topped the final day of the ‘shakedown test’ at Sepang ahead of his team-mate Aleix Espargaro.
The extra two day test, which is even less interesting than watching Petrux ride his Transalp around the pyramids, is aimed at rookies, test riders with bad haircuts and any rider who’s bike is deemed as ‘rubbish’ by the FIM. Currently Aprilia is the only manufacturer classed as rubbish so get the extra benefits of being able to test their bikes in the winter on track days whilst lunatics suffering from a mid-life crises have a go at ‘sticking it under the guy with the annoying father’.
At the end of the two days it was, unsurprisingly, Maverick Vinales who topped the timesheets. The feisty Spaniard is famed for being able to hold his nerve in testing and free-practice right up until the point the race starts where upon it crumbled likes a shortbread bedsheet.
Top Gun was closely followed by his teammate Aleix Espargaro giving Aprilia their first real success since winning the anonymous ‘who’s bike looks the best but actually isn’t’ vote.
Were there any other stand-out results in this pointless comparison?
Raul Fernandez ended up the fastest rookie in third overall just over half a second behind Mav’s best time despite being on the KTM. More juicily though is that Fernandez, who has a male resting bitch face, has proven faster than his hated teammate Remy ‘It’s not nepotism’ Gardener. The pair claim to ‘tolerate’ each other which is PR code for them hating each other and wanting to accidentally run the other one off the track in a moment coincidental blindness.
Finally a nod to Darryn Binder who only managed to knock off six other riders and run over three of his pitcrew. A personal best and a definite step in the right direction for the underrated South African.
Day 2 Times:
1 Maverick Vinales SPA Aprilia Racing (RS-GP)** 1m 58.942s
2 Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia Racing (RS-GP)** +0.144s
3 Raul Fernandez SPA KTM Tech3 (RC16)* +0.526s
4 Marco Bezzecchi ITA Mooney VR46 Ducati (GP)* +0.769s
5 Michele Pirro ITA Ducati Test Rider (GP) +0.863s
6 Remy Gardner AUS KTM Tech3 (RC16)* +1.104s
7 Stefan Bradl GER Honda Test Rider (RC213V) +1.507s
8 Sylvain Guintoli FRA Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) +1.549s
9 Darryn Binder RSA WithU Yamaha RNF (YZR-M1)* +1.986s
10 Mika Kallio FIN KTM Test Rider (RC16) +2.132s
11 Yamaha Test1 N/A Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) +2.877s
12 Yamaha Test2 N/A Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) +3.315s
13 Takuya Tsuda JPN Suzuki Test Rider (GSX-RR) +3.719s
*Rookie
** On a crap bike