Jerez MotoGP Test Results | Nakagami on top as countdown to 2022 starts

His 2021 season might have ended in the gravel trap on Sunday but Takaaki Nakagami got his preparations for the 2022 MotoGP World Championship season underway in fine fashion with te quickest time in testing at Jerez.

Crossing over from Valencia for two days of post-season testing that begins the countdown towards 2022, Nakagami was on top throughout the day aboard the LCR Honda. 

His best time was set on the 2021 Honda but he ended the day having gotten his first taste of the 2022 RC213V prototype.

Johann Zarco led the expanded eight Ducati Armada of entries on the Pramac Racing machine in second place, just holding off Enea Bastianini, who gave Gresini Racing an impressive third place in its first session with Ducati machinery having split from Aprilia.

Valencia MotoGP finale race winner and 2021 runner-up Pecco Bagnaia was fourth fastest, ahead of top Aprilia rider Maverick Vinales in fifth and Alex Rins in sixth.

Yamaha’s challenge was headed up by Franco Morbidelli, with the Italian and 2021 World Champion Fabio Quartararo sandwiching eighth place Jack Miller, while top KTM rider Brad Binder was tenth fastest.

With five rookies making their MotoGP debut today, Raul Fernandez was the quickest of the quintet in 19th of the 29 riders on track for Tech 3 KTM, while Fabio di Giannantonio followed in 22nd, with Moto2 champion Remy Gardner in 25th.

Marco Bezzecchi and Darryn Binder [pictured above] - making his MotoGP debut having stepped up from Moto3 - in 25th and 27th as the remaining timed riders.