12.03.2023 | 9 Images

GASGAS wrap MotoGP™ pre-season testing and get primed for Portugal!

2023 Motorsport news

Pol Espargaro 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo


Late winter sunshine beat down at the Algarve International Circuit for the second and final MotoGP test of the pre-season. GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 were getting hot with their lap-times and last set-up work for the Grande Premio de Portugal at the same venue in two weeks.


  • GASGAS round-out first testing plan for their 2023 debut Grand Prix campaign
  • GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 dial-in settings of the GASGAS RC16s for the Portuguese season-opener
  • Pol Espargaro sits 18th quickest but one second away from lap record pace after the two-day session in Portimao
  • Rookie Augusto Fernandez is less than 1.7 seconds away from the top time & getting into the MotoGP groove
 
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 ran through a wide range of technical options and ideas at the very first MotoGP test of 2023 at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia last month and then reconvened for a second pass of set-up work around the drops, curve and technical demands of the Algarve International Circuit. The second test allowed two days of focus in Portugal. The crew – in their distinctive red livery for the first time – continued to shape the base configuration of the GASGAS RC16 but then also look to the Grande Premio de Portugal two weeks later.
 
The final hours of the Sunday slot allowed a run at lap-times and Pol Espargaro registered the 18th best effort as the time sheets showed those 18 riders split by just one second. Augusto experienced a ‘race simulation’ and was encouraged to feel even more potential of the GASGAS RC16 package. He ranked 22nd and less than seven tenths of a second from his teammate.
 
The clock starts clicking even louder to the launch of 2023 MotoGP and the 21-round calendar. The paddock will form-up again in Portimao on the last weekend of the month where the Grande Premio de Portugal will not only drop the flag on the series but also introduce the brand-new Sprint format to the 75-year-old world championship.
 
Pol Espargaro, 18th position: “The second day here in Portimao has been pretty good. I know the result doesn’t show it but we’re just one second from a record lap-time at this racetrack. For sure we’d like to be further forward in the classification but we were trying quite a lot on the bike and testing things for the race pace where we are not so bad. We don’t have the best rear grip at this place so we are working on it and today was much better than Saturday. A good job and now let’s think about the race weekend.”
 
Augusto Fernandez, 21st position: “We had a good morning and made some good steps with the bike. I made a race simulation and I was happy because I could understand the bike more and how it feels in those conditions and it was positive. The afternoon was not so productive but I still need to work on my time attack to get the maximum of this new soft tire. We’ll see what we can do at the GP!”
 
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “I would like to thank both our riders, they did around 150 laps each, which is a lot of time on the track that allowed us to gather important data and information. Pol focused on trying to finalize a set up that suits him for the race. He tried many options and it looks like towards the end of the day some positive came out of it as he registered his fastest lap of the weekend. Augusto worked hard on a race simulation. What is very interesting is that he set his fastest lap right at the end. It is promising because it shows that he has understood how to manage both his physical condition and his tires. Overall, we are satisfied. It was also the first time our red GASGAS RC16 went on track and we were all really proud of our 2023 livery. We have two weeks to analyze the data but we feel ready!”
 
Sebastian Risse, GASGAS Technical Manager MotoGP: “At the previous test we went through the homologation parts and this weekend was about hardware and set-up and I believe we have the base setting for the riders. I think we made a step forward. Augusto is still adapting to the bike and the class and he is developing. I think he is doing a great job to try and understand what he needs to do to perform. We could also align on some technical specifications so very soon he can try this and compare to the other guys who have learned from it. With Pol we did some set-up and development work and it wasn’t easy but he worked his way forward.”
 
Grab GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 images from Portugal right HERE
 
Algarve International Circuit Official Test final combined times
 
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati 1:37.968
2. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati +0.296
3. Fabio Quartararo (FRA) Yamaha +0.334
4. Luca Marini (ITA) Ducati ) +0.342
5. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati +0.383
18. Pol Espargaro (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +1.006
21. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +1.699
 
PRESS CONTACT
 
EVANGELIA SISSIS
GASGAS BRAND & PR MANAGER ROAD RACING
MOTORSPORTS
M: +43 676 6652 742
E: Evangelia.sissis@gasgas.com

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Images (9)

Pol Espargaro 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
4 999 x 3 333 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo
Pol Espargaro 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
3 497 x 2 331 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo
Augusto Fernandez 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
4 999 x 3 334 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo
Augusto Fernandez 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
4 619 x 3 079 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo
Pol Espargaro 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
5 000 x 3 333 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo
Augusto Fernandez 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
4 241 x 2 827 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo
Augusto Fernandez 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
5 000 x 3 333 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo
Pol Espargaro 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
5 000 x 3 333 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo
Augusto Fernandez 2023 GASGAS MotoGP Portimao test
4 914 x 3 276 © GASGAS Motorcycles/Polarity Photo