2022 Misano MotoGP Test Results – Wednesday lap times (FINAL)

After losing points to Francesco Bagnaia for the past four races, reigning MotoGP champion and title leader Fabio Quartararo struck back by edging out the Italian during the second and final day of the Misano test.

Having got the better of Sunday’s winner and day one test leader Bagnaia by just 0.056s in the Wednesday morning session, Quartararo returned in the afternoon to deliver the test best of 1m 31.054s (also under the official pole record) at 3:45pm.

Bagnaia, like the other Ducati riders, was unable to fight back having already finished testing at lunchtime. Aprilia’s title contender Aleix Espargaro was another afternoon absentee, injuring his finger in a fall at Turn 14 shortly after midday.

The top six on the combined testing timesheets were: Quartararo, Bagnaia, Maverick Vinales, Enea Bastianini, Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Martin.

Quartararo, 30 points clear of Bagnaia with six rounds to go, had a prototype 2023 M1 engine, new chassis (which might be used at Aragon) and new aerodynamics to try at the test.

Vinales was 0.381s behind Quartararo in the final track session, when only 12 riders set a time.

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Marc Marquez finished the morning session in tenth place, but a competitive +0.526s after 34 laps. 

The Repsol Honda star, sidelined for 100 days by the latest surgery on his right arm, had agreed to a limit of 40 laps on his Tuesday return (he did 39). But the Spaniard comfortably beat that tally on Wednesday, getting back into his leathers and returning for another 27 laps this afternoon, meaning an impressive total of 61 for the day.

While Marquez’s speed is not in doubt, race-distance endurance and recovery time for his aching muscles will largely determine if he enters next weekend’s Aragon round. On the technical side, the eight time world champion had new aerodynamic and chassis parts to try as HRC works to end its current slump.

Although he officially retired from MotoGP after Sunday’s race, Andrea Dovizioso rode his final 16 laps for RNF Yamaha on Tuesday to help Alpinestars with the development of a new helmet.

Cal Crutchlow will replace Dovizioso from the Aragon MotoGP, which takes place from September 16-18. 

* Rookie

Key:
^X Rider is X positions higher than previous hour.
= Rider is same position as previous hour.
˅X Rider is X positions lower than previous hour.

Fastest Day 1 time:
Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati 1m 31.292s

Official Misano MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Francesco Bagnaia ITA Ducati 1m 31.065s (2021)
Fastest race lap:
Enea Bastianini ITA Ducati 1m 31.868s (2022)

HRC test rider Stefan Bradl trying an aluminium (rather than the usual carbon fibre) swingarm, made by Kalex (pic: Dorna).

Marc Marquez set the 18th fastest lap time, but only 1.1s from the top, during his MotoGP return on day one.

Sidelined for 100 days following bone realignment surgery on his right arm, the sore Repsol Honda star completed 39 laps in the morning session (+0.8s) and then sat out Tuesday afternoon to prepare for day two.

Meanwhile, Bagnaia and Ducati continued their momentum from the San Marino race weekend, topping day one of testing as Desmosedici riders filled three of the top four places.

Aleix Espargaro may now been replaced by four-in-a-row winner Bagnaia as Fabio Quartararo’s nearest title rival, but the Aprilia rider gave a reminder of his potential by leading the morning session with a time good enough for third overall.

Reigning world champion Quartararo was just behind Espargaro’s on-form team-mate Maverick Vinales in sixth, the Frenchman being impressed by his first taste of the 2023 Yamaha engine as well as a new chassis, which might be used next time at Aragon.

Suzuki gave Dominique Aegerter a surprise MotoGP debut alongside Alex Rins on Tuesday morning, then packed up from what was the team’s final test before leaving MotoGP at the end of this season.

Aegerter lapped just 2.6s from Bagnaia during his 33 laps and if Joan Mir is still not fit for Aragon, might the reigning World Supersport champion and newly crowned Moto3 title winner be back on the GSX-RR in Spain?

“Dominique did a very good job, only a few laps but reasonable times! Hopefully we’ll see Joan back with us in Aragon, and we should have an update about that in the next days,” said team manager Livio Suppo.