MotoGP has revealed its pre-season testing schedule including a first visit to Indonesia since 1997 with a test at the new Mandalika Bay circuit before the opening race of the year in Qatar.
The season will begin at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on January 31, with three days of shake-down testing open to official manufacturer test riders and class rookies.
That will likely mark the first time we will see Marco Bezzecchi on a VR46 Ducati, Fabio Di Giannantonio riding for Gresini Ducati and Darryn Binder on the newly-rebranded WithU Yamaha.
They’ll then be joined by the full grid three days later, for the first full test since racing concludes at the final round of 2021 in Valencia.
Running only on February 5-6, it is the first time that the Malaysian pre-season test will be shortened from three days to two.
After that, MotoGP makes the short hop across to Indonesia’s Lombok island, for three days of riding at the brand new Mandalika International Street Circuit, where action gets underway on February 11.
There will then be a brief respite until the start of the racing, with the opening round of the year provisionally set to take place on the 6th March under the floodlights of Qatar’s Losail International Circuit, marking the earliest ever start to the MotoGP season.
Pre-season testing dates
Shakedown Test: January 31-February 2
Sepang Test: February 5-6
Mandalika Test: February 11-13
