Bezzecchi fastest on day one of Malaysia MotoGP test

Italian Marco Bezzecchi was fastest on day one of the MotoGP pre-season test on Friday, with Ducati dominating at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Outpacing 23 other riders, the 24-year-old Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider on a Ducati, clocked the fastest time of 1min 58.470 sec late into the session and completed 54 laps.

Spaniard Maverick Vinales, 28, riding for Aprilia Racing, came second after he was 0.130 sec behind Bezzecchi but finished a punishing 65 laps.

Enea Bastianini came in third on his Ducati Lenovo machine with a time of 1min 58.732 sec, followed by Pramac's Jorge Martin – also on a Ducati – who came in fourth, having topped the time charts for long periods of the session.

Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia of Italy – racing for Ducati Lenovo – came in fifth, 0.387 sec off the leader.

Four out of the top five riders rode on a Ducati machine.

The opening day belonged to Bezzecchi, who secured one podium finish last year in his premier class debut.

Day 1 of the Sepang Test ?
The fastest time set by Marco Bezzecchi ??#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/fV6UjDU8Nv
— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 10, 2023

The Italian admitted it was "nice" to see his name at the top.

"It's just a test, so it doesn't mean so much. But it is nice to see your name on top. We need to stay calm, stay focused and continue to work because it will be a long season," he said.

Ducati ended the 2022 MotoGP season by winning seven of the final 10 Grand Prix, while also clinching their first premier class title since Casey Stoner in 2007.

The Moto GP test continues until Sunday.

The first MotoGP race of the 2023 season gets under way at the Portugal GP on March 26.

PRE-SEASON MOTOGP TEST TIMES ON FRIDAY AT THE SEPANG CIRCUIT (5.543KM):

1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/VR46 Racing) 1min 58.470sec

2. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) 1min58.600sec

3. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati) 1min58.732sec

4. Jorge Martin (ESP/Pramac) 1min58.737sec

5. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 1min58.857sec

6. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Ducati) 1min58.941sec

7. Johann Zarco (FRA/Pramac) 1min58.966sec

8. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/Ducati) 1min59.021sec

9. Alex Marquez (ESP/Gresini) 1min59.036sec