Rookie Francesco Bagnaia thinks he ha🗹s only understood 65% of what it takes to become a MotoGP rider, but that was still good enough to finish secon𝄹d 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 1m 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 incre🐻dible," grinned the reigning Moto2 champion, who has a 2018 spec Desmosedici and received last year's fairing update on the final day at Sepang (pictured).

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

"Most of all abou🔥t how to ride a MotoGP bike, like a MotoGP rider. Making the racing line and espec♉ially the acceleration like a MotoGP rider."

How far along thไe MotoG🍃P learning process does Bagnaia think he now is?

"At the ✤moment I'm ab🍰out 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 constant with used tyres.

"I'd like to win t🤡he💜 car for qualifying this year, but with Marc it's very difficult!"

Bagnaia explained that he had taken big steps in di♍tching the flowing Moto2 riding style 🍌for a hard braking, lift-up-the-bike-and-go technique needed in MotoGP.

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

"One other thing where I improved a lot is in the braking, because l𓄧ast 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 momen🦩t I think we are in a ❀good way, to have a good base to start the test in Qatar and to understand more things."

Next on Bagnaia'🍌s to do list is how to keep his pace with used ♓tyres.

"I still need to improve in a lot of things. I have to understand how to be more constant with used tyres, bu🐓t 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 little 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 who𝓡pping 12 places higher 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 t𒀰o be the rookie of the year.

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

Team-mate Jack Miller, on the GP19, was 0.064s behind Bagnaia in thiඣrd.