Pol Espargaro sets the pace in first-ever Mandalika MotoGP practice

Pol Espargaro continued his impressive form from last month’s Mandalika test as the Repsol Honda rider claimed top spot during the Indonesian circuit’s first-ever MotoGP practice session.

Robert Jones

18 Mar 2022

Pol Espargaro, Indonesian MotoGP, 18 March 2022
© Gold and Goose

Following a damp start to both Moto3 and Moto2, MotoGP riders got the best of the opening practice conditions.

After initially heading out on wets, the entire 24-rider field switched to dry tyres after just a few laps.

One of the best when it comes to mixed conditions, Jack Miller showed his confidence by immediately going to the top of the leaderboard from KTM rider Miguel Oliveira, which was a sign of things to come for the latter of the two.

As track conditions continued to improve, so did Miller’s pace as the factory Lenovo Ducati rider set a time of 1:38.827s - 2.2 seconds clear of rookie Marco Bezzecchi.

Moments later world champion Fabio Quartararo became the first rider to get the better of Miller, however, the 22 year-old was quickly relegated to second by Oliveira.

After choosing to remain in pit lane for the first 15 minutes, Repsol Honda riders Espargaro and Marc Marquez showed impressive pace to go second and fifth fastest on just their second flying laps.

Marquez then went fastest after setting the first sub 1m 36s lap of the day, but like Quartararo, the eight-time world champion was soon dropped to P3 as Ducati’s Johann Zarco began to show his true pace.

The Pramac rider went four tenths clear of Marquez before Maverick Vinales, Franco Morbidelli and P. Espargaro managed to split the pair.

After his solid start, Miller was shuffled down the order with just over 15 minutes to go, while it was another slow start for team-mate Francesco Bagnaia as the Italian was down in P16 with ten minutes remaining.

At the front, P. Espargaro showed similar pace to last month’s three-day test as he went quickest from Oliveira and Marquez.

In typical MotoGP fashion, FP1 proved to be incredibly competitive as first-time winner in Qatar and championship leader Enea Bastianini was last with five minutes to go.

Quickly becoming a trend for the opening Mandalika MotoGP practice session, the top three changed once again as Morbidelli went five tenths clear of Marquez, who also jumped ahead of P. Espargaro.

However, P. Espargaro wasn’t to be denied as he reclaimed P1 with his final attempt, a lap that was just under a tenth quicker than Oliveira who managed to split the two factory Honda riders.

Further down, Bastianini salvaged a top ten spot late on as did Bagnaia - eighth and ninth for the two Italians, while Quartararo was less than impressed on his return to the Yamaha garage following a lacklustre 16th place finish.