Rookie Francesco Baꦰgnaia thinks he has only understood 65% of what it takes to become a MotoGP rider, but that was still good enough to finish second fastest - under the all-time lap record - during this week's official Sepang test.

The #63 put his Pramac Ducati just 0.063s behind factory Ducati's Danilo Petrucci, courtesy of a 1mꦓ 58.302s lap time.

"For sure, I was not expecting to make a '58. My objective was '59 and to make a '58 and beat the [old] record is incredible," grinned the reigning Moto2 champion, who has a 2018 spec Desmosedici and received last year's fairing update on the fina♉l day at Sepang (pictured).

"I still need to improve a lot of things, but I'm very happy with the work done in the♔se days because I understand a lot more.

"Most of all about how ܫto ride a MotoGP bike, like a MotoGP rider. Making the racing line and especially the acceleration like a MotoGP rider."

How far along the MotoGP lea🎶rning process does Bagnaia thinꦰk he now is?

"At the 𓆉moment I'm about 65%. Because I understand a lot more now, but you only get points in the race and I have to understand how to be more consta🗹nt with used tyres.

"I'd like to win the car🍌 for qualifying this year, but with Marc it's ve🗹ry difficult!"

Bagnaia explained that he had taken big steps in ditching the flowing Moto2 riding style for a hard braking, lift-up-the-bike-and-g🀅o tech🧸nique needed in MotoGP.

"The first day I wa𒉰s riding more similar compared to last year [in Moto2], with more mid-corner speed, and it has been very important to understand how to pꦏick up the bike and use more traction on the exit," he said.

"One other thing where I improved a lot is in the braking, because last year in November and the first two days here ♒it has been difficult, but we made a good set-up of my bike and I'm very confident with the front, which is very important for me.

"I prefer to have a good feeling with the front than the rear and in this moment I think we are in a good way, to have a good base to start the test in Qatar and t𒐪o understand more things."

Next on Bagnaia's toꦗ do list isᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ how to keep his pace with used tyres.

"I still𝓡 need to improve in a lot of things. I have to understand how to be more constant with used tyres, but this morning has been another step because I started with used tyres and I made '59.9 in the first exit.

"That has been very positive, but for the race pace I need to improve a littleܫ bit more because the tyre drop in the race is different. Bigger. And I have to understand how to use the different engine maps ♑as the tyre grip drops."

Despite finishing a whopping 12 places highꦗer than next-best 🌜rookie Joan Mir (Suzuki), Bagnaia won't be changing his goals for the season ahead.

"No🌺, I think I made a good lap and also a good pace but I prefer to be calm, work step-by-step and arrive in Qatar with the same objective, which is to be the rookie of the year.

"It hasn't changed anything at the moment."

Team-mate Jack Miller, on 🐻ღthe GP19, was 0.064s behind Bagnaia in third.