2024 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test results - Day 3

2024 MotoGP testing featuring race riders kicked off at Sepang in Malaysia with a three-day Shakedown, which concluded on Saturday evening.

KTM riders set the pace on days one and two courtesy of star test riders Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro.

Race riders from Honda and Yamaha joined the action on day two, their attendance possible due to the new concession rules, with Yamaha’s former world champion Fabio Quartararo second fastest (+0.283s) to Espargaro.

Meanwhile, rookie Pedro Acosta turned heads by being fast on both days, including a close third (+0.290s) for GASGAS Tech3 on Friday.

With Espargaro setting a 1m 58.241s, lap times were expected to break into the 1m 57s on day three, weather permitting.

Acosta was fastest for most of the final day, improving to a test best of 1m 58.189s but also suffering a fall at Turn 11 at 13:30. "Rider condition: OK". 

Light rain then began falling just before 15:00 but soon passed and dry testing resumed, with Acosta among those to head back out. But it was to prove a brief respite with a thunderstorm and torrential rain arriving by 16:30, effectively ending the test and confirming Acosta as quickest.

Acosta then went back out for wet laps in the final hour, alongside Lorenzo Savadori and Cal Crutchlow.

Aerodynamics have been a big talking point so far this week, including innovative new ideas from Aprilia (with its 'Batmobile' rear bodywork), KTM (front fender wing) and Ducati (which looks to have merged its 2023 fairings by combining downwash channels with a ground effect design). Honda has made radical changes throughout its RC213V, while Yamaha also has several aero packages available.

Now released from the engine design freeze, Honda and Yamaha also have the freedom to alter their powerplants throughout this year.

Track action at the Shakedown took place from 10am to 6pm.

The Official test, featuring all of the 2024 MotoGP race riders, will then be held from February 6-8, with practice starts at the end of each day.

Rider lap times have been listed for each bike used at the Shakedown - Savadori rode six different Aprilias on day 3. The following is the overall best time for each rider...

Official Sepang MotoGP records

Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) 1m 57.491s (2023)

Fastest race lap: Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) 1m 58.979s (2022)

* Rookie