As the sun dipped below the horizon at the Sepang Test, Alex Marquez showcased his prowess by holding onto the top position, narrowly fending off a late challenge from Marco Bezzecchi. Marquez, who clinched victory at last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix, demonstrated his skill and consistency, ultimately finishing ahead of Bezzecchi, who claimed second place. Rounding out the top three was Fabio Di Giannantonio, whose performance over the three days provided plenty of intriguing insights beyond just raw lap times.
Throughout the testing period, Marquez, representing BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, excelled in his Sprint simulation, clocking an impressive average lap time of 1’58.027 over ten laps. He capped off the day with the fastest lap of 1’56.402, indicating that he is in excellent form at a track where he previously triumphed.
Meanwhile, reigning World Champion Marc Marquez, riding for the Ducati Lenovo Team, experimented with both the 2025 front aero on his bikes while also testing aspects of the upcoming 2026 aerodynamic package. Despite experiencing a minor crash at Turn 1, the #93 rider remained unscathed. His teammate Francesco Bagnaia expressed greater comfort on the bike compared to the previous Grand Prix weekend, and notably, he excelled in a ten-lap Sprint simulation against Marquez, creating some interesting dynamics within the Ducati team. After three days of testing, Marc Marquez finished in fourth overall, while Bagnaia trailed in sixth, prompting their focus to shift towards the upcoming test in Buriram.
Franco Morbidelli, also associated with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, faced his own challenges, crashing at Turn 14 during the tests. His primary objective was to adapt to the new GP25 bike for the season, and he concluded the sessions in seventh place, showcasing resilience amidst the trials.
Bezzecchi emerged as the highest-placed Aprilia rider, securing second place after a highly productive few days of testing, including topping the final session on Thursday. The Noale factory has introduced innovative new aerodynamic options, enhancing their competitiveness, especially considering they had to navigate the challenges presented by Jorge Martin's absence. The final day saw Bezzecchi’s Sprint simulation clock in the high 1’58s, providing a strong indication of their improvement at a circuit where they have historically faced difficulties.
In the Trackhouse camp, Raul Fernandez shone brightly, finishing seventh on the final day, which marked a significant turnaround from his testing struggles in 2025, including an early crash on the first day. Ai Ogura’s steady improvements allowed him to finish P12 overall, with attention now shifting to Buriram, where he previously achieved his best result in 2025.
Over at Honda HRC Castrol, Joan Mir had topped the second day’s timesheets but encountered more challenges on the final day due to lower grip conditions following rain. Despite these hurdles, both Mir and teammate Luca Marini felt optimistic about the progress made with the 2026 RC213V motorcycle, particularly regarding engine enhancements, especially given their recent ranking adjustments in concessions. Mir wrapped up the testing in fifth position overall with a time of 1:56.8, while Marini placed thirteenth.
For the riders of Castrol Honda LCR, Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira also had noteworthy performances. After six days of intense testing, including the preliminary Shakedown, Moreira expressed satisfaction with his development, specifically in braking techniques. Meanwhile, Zarco continued to project positivity about the new bike setup, finishing sixteenth overall.
In a thrilling display, Pedro Acosta and Maverick Viñales from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 respectively, finished closely matched in eighth and ninth places on the combined timesheets. Viñales reported that he found a setup he was keen to take into the GP at Buriram, despite a minor crash near the end of the session. Enea Bastianini ended the test in eleventh place, just shy of Fernandez, while Brad Binder stated that his performances were improving, finishing fifteenth overall.
Day three started positively for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, as they returned to the track after diagnosing earlier issues. Alex Rins led the Yamaha contingent by finishing fourteenth overall, with Fabio Quartararo lagging behind in seventeenth. Jack Miller and rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu from Prima Pramac Racing were further back, securing eighteenth and nineteenth positions respectively.
To view the complete results from the Sepang Test, click HERE (https://www.motogp.com/en/gp-results). As the dust settles on this testing session, teams have explored various setups, including swingarms, chassis modifications, and new aerodynamic designs, all while Yamaha introduced an entirely new bike into the mix with the YZR-M1. With the Season Launch event scheduled in Kuala Lumpur, it’s time to transition from racing suits to formal attire, although the excitement will resume on the track soon as Buriram awaits in just two weeks, leading into what promises to be a thrilling 22-race calendar.
