VOLUME 58 ISSUE 10 MARCH 9, 2021 P29
new aero changes on his GP21.
"Today I lapped mainly with the
new fairing; the sensations are
very positive and the bike seems
more stable," Miller said. "Despite
the regulation restrictions, the
team has done a fantastic job over
the winter! For now, as is often the
case here in Qatar, we are all very
close, and we will be even closer
at the end of these two tests."
Third place overall after two
days of testing went to an ecstatic
Aleix Espargaro on the factory
Gresini Aprilia. The Spaniard
topped day one on his team's first
public outing since the death of
team owner Fausto Gresini due to
Covid-19 and continued his pace
on day two to finish just 0.212
seconds off Quartararo in third.
"We made a big step forward
as the bike is a lot more stable,
and also the aerodynamic side,
they did a big, big job," Espargaro
said. "The bike is completely dif-
ferent. In acceleration I feel that
we made one improvement and
the bike has a lot more down-
force, so the bike is really physi-
cal, more than last season's bike."
Espargaro headed 2020
runner-up Franco Morbidelli on
the Petronas Sprinta Yamaha and
HRC test rider Stefan Bradl in the
overall timings.
Pramac Ducati debutant Jo-
hann Zarco made an impressive
showing in sixth place, bettering
the second factory Yamaha of
Maverick Vinales by 0.107 sec-
onds at the end of day two.
World Champion Joan Mir (Ec-
star Suzuki) was third on day one
but dropped to eighth on day two
as he spend the second evening
swapping chassis between his
2020-title winning unit and the '21
he will use this year, as well as
various electronic settings.
"It was a tough day because
we tried lots of new things such
as the new spec," Mir said.
Chassis items, some things with
the electronics, and some tires.
We tried to find the best way
forward and I'm happy with the
performance, and my lap times
so far. The team and I have done
a really good job, the test has
been positive, and for sure we
feel prepared for the next three
days of testing at the end of next
week."
Jack Miller has found
a happy home in the
factory Ducati team.
Aleix Espargaro was
flying on the new and
improved Aprilia RS-
GP to take the fastest
time on day one and
third on day two.
