Francesco Bagnaia completed the clean sweep at Poritmao after posting a storming 1:37.968 on the final day of pre-season testing, while Fabio Quartarato showed promising speed for Yamaha.
The Ducati ace led the bulk of Sunday’s action after posting a 1:38.154s to move clear of early leader Jorge Martin in the second hour, before then making sure he leaded into the season opening Portuguese Grand Prix with an all-new lap record for the Algarve International Circuit – the 1:37.968s effort a shot across the bows for the entire paddock.
Johann Zarco ended the day second overall 0.296s adrift of his fellow Ducati rider, while Quartararo ended the day much happier than he did on Saturday after managing the third-quickest time just over three-tenths of a second down on the world champions benchmark – the Frenchman’s lap tally of 88 also the second highest of the day behind team-mate Franco Morbidelli’s 89.
VR46 duo Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi made it four Ducati’s inside the top five to complete 2023 pre-season testing, with the sister factory entry of Enea Bastianini claiming sixth.
The Italian manufacturer’s stranglehold on the top ten continued further back with Alex Marquez seventh for Gresini Racing – who only fielded a sole machine on Sunday after Fabio Di Gianantonio was ruled out of riding after suffering concussion-like symptoms following his crash on Saturday.
Martin followed up next in eighth, while Brad Binder enjoyed a more encouraging day for KTM in ninth overall only 0.512s down on Bagnaia’s time, though a morning crash blighted his day somewhat.
Aprilia man Aleix Espargaro completed the top ten ahead of RNF RS-GP ace Miguel Oliveira and team-mate Maverick Vinales in what was overall a strong couple of days for the Noale-based marque.
Joan Mir ended up as the best-placed Honda pilot in 13th, the 2020 MotoGP world champion shading team-mate Marc Marquez with a late 1:38.762s – Marquez taking 14th just 0.016s behind, while LCR Honda rider Alex Rins was only another 0.004s further back in what looks to be shaping up to be a thrilling Honda tussle in ’23.
