Maverick Vinales tops Valencia MotoGP test, updated Yamahas 1-2-3

Maverick Vinales topped the timesheets on the second and final day of MotoGP testing at Valencia as Yamaha demonstrated impressive performance from its upgraded M1 package.

Though the Yamaha M1 has been rapid in the hands of Maverick Vinales this season, especially over a single lap, his time of 1m 29.849secs achieved with an hour of the test remaining bettered Fabio Quartararo’s pole-winning time from Saturday.

Better still, it was achieved using the newest version of the Yamaha M1, which has an upgraded engine and chassis designed to deliver better top speed without affecting its superior handling.

Though still using the 2019 engines, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli tested the carbon swingarm and new aero parts to prove similarly quick in second and third, leaving Yamaha 1-2-3 on the timesheets.

Cal Crutchlow proved ‘best of the rest’ as he – along with seventh place Marc Marquez – shared duties in developing the 2020 iteration of the RCV engine and chassis.

Using a more powerful Suzuki GSX-RR engine, Suzuki will be encouraged to see both Joan Mir and Alex Rins at the sharp end in fifth and sixth respectively, while Pol Espargaro’s work on the heavily-modified ‘beam frame’ KTM - designed with input from Dani Pedrosa - yielded eighth quickest.

Valentino Rossi was only ninth fastest from the highest-placed Ducati rider Jack Miller, sporting a larger ‘sandwich box’ on the back of his Desmo. Ducati counterparts Andrea Dovizioso, Tito Rabat and Michele Pirro followed directly behind.

Though competing under the LCR banner for this test – essentially in place of the injured Takaaki Nakagami while Stefan Bradl assumed ‘Repsol’ duties – Alex Marquez rode with full HRC assistance and even had his brother Marc Marquez for company as they shadowed each other on a run. He was 20th quickest.

After Tuesday’s crash-strewn day, there were a number of other falls on Wednesday. Both Pol and Aleix Espargaro, Iker Lecuona, Crutchlow and Brad Binder all came down, albeit without serious consequence, while Andrea Iannone’s Aprilia suffered a fiery expiration of his engine.

2019 Valencia MotoGP Testing Results – Day 2 [20 November]