Quartararo Tops the MotoGP Post Catalan Race Test

Fabio Quartararo, the MotoGP title leader, won the post-Catalan Grand Prix test day in Barcelona by 0.004s, while Aprilia tested key modifications for its RS-GP.

The firm also tested what seemed to be aero appendages on the seat unit, as well as a package with what is practically an F1-style sidepod cutout.

It also featured the single-seater-inspired ‘rear wing,’ which was originally seen on test rider Lorenzo Savadori’s bike during his Mugello wildcard appearance.

Leix Espargaro, whose Catalan GP error has dropped him 22 points behind championship leader Quartararo, was the leading Aprilia in fourth place in the test, with the top four riders separated by only 0.111s.

Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati, who was wiped out with Alex Rins in Sunday’s collision by Takaaki Nakagami, was only 0.004s behind Quartararo, having slipped in between the incumbent champion and his countrymen Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) at the finish of the race.

In the fifth position, Pol Espargaro led the Honda team, while Brad Binder led the KTM team in 11th – with Binder crashing immediately after establishing his time.

The only Suzuki rider on the track was Joan Mir, who finished 12th, with Rins in the garage but unable to ride due to a fractured left wrist sustained in the Nakagami-caused collision.

Nakagami was not riding after spending the night in the Hospital General de Catalunya’s intensive care unit after colliding with Bagnaia’s Ducati in the incident. He acknowledged on Monday that he had “no significant damage” and that he, like Rins, will try to get back in shape in time for the Sachsenring race.