
The prologue for 2018 MotoGP began on a tantalising note with the very first official test of the pre-season period at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. Cloistering heat enveloped the paddock as much as the feeling of expectation: this was the initial rundown on new parts, ideas and hopes for a nineteen round Grand Prix term to come.
Over the course of three days and hundreds of laps, spells of rain and varying levels of grip, there were curious signs for the Yamaha-mounted trio of Valentino Rossi, Maverick Viñales and Johann Zarco, prosperous tools for HRC’s Cal Crutchlow and, of course, sensational and exciting developments for Jorge Lorenzo.