Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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MOTOGP FIM MOTOGP TEST – VALENCIA NOVEMBER 19-20, 2019 RICARDO TORMO CIRCUIT / VALENCIA, SPAIN P68 tory KTM as "like another world," with a time of 1:32.367. Two more days of testing follow this week at Jerez, before the winter test ban comes into effect until the beginning of February. In a change to previous regula- tions, however, full-time riders will be permitted to take part in "shakedown" tests at Sepang on February 2-4, before the official three-day test starting three days later. CN Valencia MotoGP Test 1. Maverick Vinales (Yam) 2. Fabio Quartararo (Yam) 3. Franco Morbidelli (Yam) 4. Cal Crutchlow (Hon) 5. Joan Mir (Suz) Espargaro placed 16th and An- drea Iannone 19th, but the latter got more air time, after a smoky blow-up on the main straight led to a hasty stop with flames licking his feet, bringing the red flags out while it was cleared up. He explained that they had been experimenting with a higher rev limit when the engine let go. Danilo Petrucci did not test, suffering from tendonitis in his shoulder; while satellite Ducati rider Pecco Bagnaia—who missed the Valencia MotoGP race after his pit-exit crash on Saturday—was also absent. Slowest was newcomer Brad Binder, Moto2 race winner on Sunday, who described the fac- next week at Jerez," said Dovizio- so. The Andalusian circuit has faster corners than the compact Valencia circuit, and all were hop- ing for warmer weather further south. There were several to crash in the cold conditions, including Quartararo, new Red Bull KTM factory rider Brad Binder and Crutchlow, all at Turn 10. Crutchlow was fourth fastest; then Mir and Rins, with Marc Marquez finally seventh, some seven tenths down. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM), with two new chassis available for comparison, was eighth. Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) completed the top 10, with factory Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso 11th, saying, "The lap time today was not important for us." KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa was out on track, running in 14th, one place and less than a tenth ahead of new KTM signing Iker Lecuona. New Repsol Honda rider Alex Marquez started badly with a big crash on only his eighth lap. He was out again for a total of 53 laps (compared with Quartararo's 82), but did more than any other rider on the second day, with 79 laps putting him 20th, two laps down on Honda factory tester Stefan Bradl, with a time of 1:32.235. Aprilia was the only factory rid- er with nothing new to test, apart from some bodywork changes for test rider Bradley Smith. Aleix Aleix Espargaro was furious that Aprilia bought no new parts to test at Valencia, describing it as "unacceptable."