Shakedown testing for the 2023 MotoGP season begins today at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), with the team’s test riders fielding brand new race machines. Honda Test Team, Ducati Lenovo Team, Yamaha Test Team and Aprilia Racing are currently on the track.
Also present is GASGAS Factory Racing Tech 3 and rookie rider Augusto Fernandez, who received special dispensation from race organizers Dorna to take part in the test and hour course. Fernandez, who has been crowned Moto 2 World Champion for 2022, is the only newcomer on the grid and will ride the rebadged KTM RC16.
MotoGP shakedown testing is typically performed by factory test riders to gather data and test new components and improvements to race engines. Among the factory test riders heading to the SIC wet circuit are Honda’s Stefan Bradl, Ducati’s Michele Pirro, Aprilia Racing’s Lorenzo Salvadori, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jonas Folger and Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow.
paultan.org spoke to Datuk Razlan Razali, Team Principal of the CryptoDATA Aprilia RNF MotoGP Team, who raced as a satellite team for Aprilia after leaving Yamaha in 2022. “In 2023, we will race the last version of the Aprilia RS-GP, from the last race. the 2022 season, ridden by Alex Espargaro,” said Razlan.
The official 2023 MotoGP Winter Test at the SIC will begin on Friday, February 10 and Sunday, February 12, when all teams and riders will appear in the first race of the season. Public entrance to the Grandstand is free, parking is RM10 to RM5 for cars and RM5 to RM2 for motorbikes.
