Mandalika MotoGP Test: Martin, Zarco ‘competitive’ but suffer final day crashes

Pramac Ducati riders Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco suffer crashes on the final day of MotoGP testing in Mandalika.
Jorge Martin, Indonesia MotoGP test, 12 February 2022
Jorge Martin, Indonesia MotoGP test, 12 February 2022
© Gold and Goose

While both look competitive ahead of the 2022 MotoGP season opener in Qatar, Pramac Ducati riders Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco had a less than ideal final day of testing in Manda💯lika. 

Martin completed just 18 laps after a ‘small engine brake’ issue led to his crash, a fall that came whilst four tenths up on Pol Espargaro’s f💞astest time. 

Had Martin completed the lap then he would have beco♛me the first MotoGP rider to set a sub 1m 31s lap in Mandalika. 

However, it was not to be for t🌱he second-year rider who was then reduced to being a spectator for much of the day following further issues with his GP22 machine.

Still, Martin feels he and the team have figured out the best set-up ahead of next 𓆉month’s season opener: "Yeah it’s been a pity for me today because ridin🧸g just 15 laps in the last day of testing before Qatar is not easy," added Martin. 

"But yeah, I had this big crash when I was coming in hot,🎃 was up by four tenths. Finally, we found out that it was a small issue with the engine brake and that was a big part of the crash.&✃nbsp;

"Afterwards, at the end of the day we wanted to makeꦑ a long run but I couldn’t because we had some issues with the bike. 

"Anyway, I’m𓄧 happy with the base set-up we found during these days and I’ve been working a lot with the team and we’ve found the best way to start in Qatar. I feel competitive to start the season."

While team-mate Zarco completed a whopping 82 laps - only Takaaki Nak💃agami managed to do more (91) - the French rider also suffered a crash. 

Zarco, who’s fall occurred whilst in the middle of a race simulation, cited an overheating f✱ront tyre in what were sweltering conditions as the m🍒ain reason for his crash. 

"It was quite a hard day, but it was also a good day again. I’m surprised at the amount of laps I’m still doi▨ng," said th꧒e former two-time Moto2 champion. 

"I tried to get even more control. I had a small crash during a long run with used tyres as it was getting too hot and I think the front tyre was notไ working perfectly. 

"The lap time is not bad. It was only four tenths f𒉰rom the top lap time. Anyway, we knew it was always possible to do a good lap time and the biggest work is to find ✱consistency to win races. 

"I tried my best today, we are still working on the set-up to feel more comfortable. I did some good traini✃ng and I’m happy for this. Now we will keep focused and do the best training at home for Qatar."

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