Alex Marquez Tops Sepang MotoGP Test as Field Gears Up for Buriram

Sepang, Malaysia — Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) ended three intense days of MotoGP testing at the Sepang International Circuit on top of the timesheets, reaffirming his strong form at a venue where he claimed victory in last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix. The #73 edged out Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) in second place, while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completed the top three as teams wrapped up preparations ahead of the Buriram Test.

Marquez also delivered the fastest Sprint race simulation of the test, posting an impressive average lap time of 1’58.027 over 10 laps. He capped off the final day with the quickest lap overall, a 1’56.402, underlining his consistency and pace on Ducati machinery.

Ducati Camp Shows Depth and Variety

Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) focused heavily on aero development, running the 2025 front aero and testing elements of the 2026 package. The #93 suffered his first crash of the year at Turn 1 but walked away unscathed. Teammate Francesco Bagnaia reported feeling more comfortable than at any stage during last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix weekend and revealed a clear preference for one of the tested aero options. Notably, Bagnaia held the advantage over Marquez in a 10-lap Sprint simulation, offering intriguing insights for the factory Ducati squad.

Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) continued adapting to the GP25, despite a crash at Turn 14, and finished seventh overall. Di Giannantonio, meanwhile, impressed aboard the GP26, securing third across the combined standings.

Aprilia Finds Momentum at a Challenging Venue

Marco Bezzecchi emerged as the top Aprilia rider, finishing second overall and topping the final session of Day 3. Aprilia Racing showcased innovative aero developments, particularly around the seat unit, and left Sepang encouraged despite Jorge Martin’s absence. Bezzecchi’s Sprint simulation ran consistently in the high 1’58s, a promising sign at a circuit that has historically posed challenges for the Noale-based manufacturer.

At Trackhouse MotoGP Team, Raul Fernandez enjoyed a strong turnaround, finishing seventh on the final day and P10 overall. Rookie Ai Ogura continued to make steady progress, ending the test P12 and now looking ahead to Buriram, where he recorded his best result of 2025.

Honda Shows Encouraging Progress

Honda HRC Castrol entered the final day with optimism after Joan Mir topped the timesheets on Day 2. Lower grip conditions following midweek rain made the final sessions more challenging, but both Mir and Luca Marini highlighted clear gains with the 2026 RC213V, particularly in engine performance. Mir finished the test P5 overall, with Marini in P13.

At LCR Honda, Johann Zarco remained positive about the updated package, while rookie Diogo Moreira reflected positively on his progress after six consecutive days on track in Malaysia, including the Shakedown Test. The Moto2 World Champion cited braking performance and a solid base setup as key takeaways.

KTM and Yamaha Assess Progress

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) were separated by just 0.010s, finishing P8 and P9 respectively. Viñales, despite a late crash, said he would be comfortable racing his initial setup choice in Buriram. Enea Bastianini ended the test P11, while Brad Binder finished P15, admitting he never put together a full flying lap.

Yamaha’s test concluded with cautious optimism after resolving a technical issue that sidelined the team on Day 2. Alex Rins was the top Yamaha rider in P14 overall, while Fabio Quartararo finished P17. Prima Pramac Yamaha riders Jack Miller and rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu placed P18 and P19 respectively.

With the Sepang Test complete, attention now shifts to the MotoGP Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur, before teams regroup for the Buriram Test in two weeks’ time. Swingarms, chassis updates, and new aero packages have all been evaluated — and with a new Yamaha YZR-M1 also in the mix, the countdown to the 2026 MotoGP season is well and truly underway.