Marc Marquez Tops Day 1 of 2026 MotoGP Test as Quartararo Withdraws After Crash

The 2026 MotoGP season roared into life on Day 1 of pre-season testing with major talking points already emerging, led by Marc Marquez’s return to the top of the timesheets and Fabio Quartararo’s early exit following a crash at Turn 5.

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) wasted no time making his presence felt, finishing the opening day fastest with a late-session benchmark of 1:57.018. It marked a strong statement from the reigning World Champion, who was back at the Sepang circuit for the first time since the same test last season.

Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), meanwhile, suffered a fall at Turn 5 and, despite initially being cleared of fractures and returning to the track, later reported persistent pain in his arm and hand. Further assessment revealed a broken finger, prompting the 2021 World Champion to withdraw from the remainder of the test and focus on recovery.

Ducati Lead the Way as Marquez and Di Giannantonio Shine

Marquez’s Ducati Lenovo Team garage enjoyed a positive opening day overall. Francesco Bagnaia finished eighth, 0.702s off his teammate, with team management describing the double world champion as a “new Pecco” as he targets race simulations on Day 2.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) continued Ducati’s strong showing by securing second overall. The Italian briefly topped the times late in the session before ending the day just 0.256s behind Marquez. Teammate Franco Morbidelli completed a solid day inside the top ten.

At BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, Alex Marquez led the opening session but was the only rider in the top 13 not to improve in the afternoon. The Spaniard remains the most recent MotoGP race winner at Sepang.

Viñales Lifts KTM Into the Top Three

Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) completed the top three with a late flying lap, expressing optimism about KTM’s direction after testing a new chassis, swingarm and aerodynamic package. The Austrian manufacturer focused heavily on development rather than outright lap time, with Brad Binder, Enea Bastianini and Pedro Acosta all prioritising long-run work.

Honda Show Clear Progress

Honda HRC Castrol emerged as one of the day’s biggest positive surprises. Luca Marini and Joan Mir both finished inside the top seven, building on gains made during the Shakedown Test. Honda’s improvement was underlined by lap times more than half a second quicker than at the same test last year.

Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) narrowly missed the top ten in P11, while Diogo Moreira endured a disrupted day after a morning crash limited his track time.

Aprilia and Trackhouse Deliver Encouraging Signs

Marco Bezzecchi led the Aprilia charge in fifth, as the Italian manufacturer evaluated several new components, including a revised swingarm and aerodynamic updates. With Jorge Martin sidelined, test rider Lorenzo Savadori continued development work.

Trackhouse MotoGP’s Raul Fernandez enjoyed a confidence-boosting day, finishing without incident and confirming positive feelings from late 2025. Rookie Ai Ogura focused on rebuilding comfort and rhythm ahead of more intensive testing on Day 2.

Yamaha Face Early Setback Without Quartararo

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP endured a challenging start to 2026. Quartararo’s withdrawal leaves Alex Rins to lead development duties, with the Spaniard finishing 16th, 1.2s off the pace.

At Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, Jack Miller logged valuable mileage in P14, while MotoGP newcomer Toprak Razgatlioglu continued adapting to the V4 machine. The Turkish star reported progress in braking performance and gained valuable experience following Marc Marquez on track.