Acosta tops Sepang Shakedown – Rookie on top after three-day test

MotoGP Sepang Shakedown
Day Three – Saturday

Pedro Acosta got his 2024 campaign going with a three day Shakedown at Sepang this week. As the sole rookie, Acosta was joined on track by test riders on the first day, and other MotoGP riders allowed to test following the new concessions rules shared the track with him from day 2. Three important days of experience were taken before the rest of the class gets their first school day on February 6 at the Sepang Test, for the first three days of official testing of the year.

Looking fresh in newly revealed Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 colours Acosta delivered an impressive first day after he finished just 0.152 seconds away from fastest rider Dani Pedrosa with a 1’59.385. That is 1.894 seconds off the all-time lap record of the Sepang International Circuit, taken by Pecco Bagnaia in qualifying of the 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix just two months ago. Not bad at all for what was only day number 2 on a MotoGP bike.

The learning process continued on Friday in a hot and humid Sepang as Acosta continued the work to discover the category, sharing the track with more riders than the past day. Halfway through the day, he had already lowered his fastest lap time to 1’58.531, closing the gap to the circuit’s record (1’57.491). Friday was interrupted by quite heavy afternoon rain.

Saturday saw the rookie continued his efforts for a final day before being joined by the rest of the class next week, lowering his marker to a 1’58.189. A small crash put an end to the morning session, before the afternoon one was again disrupted by heavy rain. After that, Acosta got his first sensation on a wet track with the MotoGP bike. He finished the final day of Sepang Shakedown at the top of the timesheets, 0.066 seconds ahead of Pol Espargaro.

Two rest days are now ahead, before the entire MotoGP grid hits the track for three days of testing.

Pedro Acosa Sepang Shakedown Times

Day 1 – Time: 1’59.385 – Laps: 45

Day 2 – Time: 1’58.531 – Laps: 42

Day 3 – Time: 1’58.189 – Laps: 33

For reference, the all-time lap Sepang record was set by Pecco Bagnaia at 1m57.491 during qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix last year. The race lap record at Sepang was set by Alex Marquez last year at 1m58.979.

Pedro Acosta

“We spent these three days mainly trying to work on my riding style, trying to understand the tyres in MotoGP, find a bike set up, and we have to be happy with this first test. We did some good fast laps, but we most importantly had a good race pace on the dry. We even got a bit of time in the wet, which is always a bonus. I tried to follow Dani Pedrosa a bit today, and it was not that easy! In the Sepang Test, we will try to follow the lines of the other riders, and understand everything a bit more. Very happy, now I am going to enjoy two days of rest!”

Nicolas Goyon – Tech3 Team Manager

“The Sepang Shakedown is a tradition and usually kicks off the MotoGP season, and this year it was quite interesting as there were more bikes on track with the new concessions rules, so more references for our rookie. Pedro Acosta and the whole Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 team are really happy with these three days, everything went really well. Pedro could set some decent lap times on the dry, and he got to try a bit the wet too, which is always good to take. We did not turn the bike upside down, we just tried to find a comfortable setting for him, and it worked out well because he did an amazing job. This is just the beginning of the season, but it is a good one, and we are looking forward to the Official IRTA Sepang Test with all riders on track.”

Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) was spotted testing a different swingarm on Saturday, while Yamaha Test Rider Cal Crutchlow ventured out with a new, longer exhaust and an updated aero body.

Additionally, Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) has confirmed that Honda’s 2023 bike isn’t in Sepang. Honda are focussing on the package they had at the Valencia Test and on a new prototype they’ve got.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) finished the Shakedown in P4, with Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) the second fastest HRC rider in P6 – just behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Test Rider Dani Pedrosa.

The progress of the two Japanese factories will be closely monitored at the Sepang Test.

MotoGP Sepang Shakedown Times
Saturday

1. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) 1:58.189
2. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.066
3. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) + 0.211
4. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.249
5. Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.289
6. Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.328
7. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 0.354
8. Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.746
9. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Factory Racing) + 0.794
10. Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) + 0.883

Provisional 2024 FIM MotoGP World Championship calendar (Updated)

Reserve Event: Hungary – Balaton Park Circuit.
Portugal & India remain subject to contract.
Kazakhstan is subject to contract and homologation.