ESPARAGARO TOPS RAIN-HIT JEREZ 850CC TEST

Pol Espargaro topped the opening day of a private 850cc MotoGP test at Jerez, with rain limiting track time and making the results difficult to assess. The KTM rider finished 0.798 seconds ahead of Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega, according to GPone.com.

Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori was third, 2.3 seconds behind Espargaro. It was his first outing since extending his RS-GP testing agreement. Ducati development rider Michele Pirro completed the small group, splitting his work between Superbike and 850cc machinery.

Iker Lecuona, Bulega’s WorldSBK team-mate and this year’s championship runner-up, chose not to ride on Wednesday, hoping for improved conditions on Thursday.

The Jerez outing is the final private test before Pirelli’s first official MotoGP test, scheduled for Valencia on 1 December. That session is expected to bring together the 2027 grid, including Bulega, who is set to join VR46 Ducati, and will feature official timing.

MotoGP’s current season is due to finish with consecutive rounds at Portimao and Valencia later this month.