2025 Sepang MotoGP Official Test: Franco Morbidelli Claims the Fastest Time on Second Day, Marc Marquez Experiences a Fall

VR46 Ducati's Competitor Takes the Lead During Thursday's Session in Malaysia

Franco Morbidelli steered his VR46-operated Ducati GP24 to the leading position on the second day of the 2025 Sepang MotoGP trials, while his counterpart from the official team, Marc Marquez, experienced a crash towards the end of the session.

Wednesday's opening day was filled with tension as reigning world champion Jorge Martin, along with Trackhouse Racing's Raul Fernandez and VR46's Fabio Di Giannantonio, were sidelined due to injuries. In contrast, Thursday unfolded in a much more serene manner.

Morbidelli claimed the fastest time for the majority of the day, securing the lead in the second hour with a lap of 1 minute and 57.210 seconds.

Despite Morbidelli's last-minute push to set a faster lap time on new tires, no one was able to beat his lap time before the session ended with the waving of the chequered flag at 6pm local time.

Morbidelli, sticking with the GP24 bike from the previous year, led his ex-Yamaha colleague, Fabio Quartararo.

In 2021, the reigning world champion maintained their impressive form on the M1, as Quartararo ascended to the second position towards the end, marking a time of 1 minute and 57.324 seconds.

The Gresini Racing pair, consisting of Alex Marquez and newcomer Fermin Aldeguer, secured third and fourth positions riding their GP24s.

Aldeguer completed just 26 laps on Thursday, having participated in the shakedown, with his team at Gresini deciding to sideline him early to prevent him from pushing too hard.

Ducati's team member, Francesco Bagnaia, finished among the top five.

On Thursday, Bagnaia completed 42 laps, achieving his fastest lap at 1 minute and 57.652 seconds, despite experiencing a minor mishap earlier in the day.

Throughout Thursday, both riders from the Ducati factory team ended up in the gravel pit, including Bagnaia's colleague Marc Marquez, who fell during the final 15 minutes of the practice session.

The eight-time Grand Prix world champion emerged without injuries from the crash and finished 14th with a time of 1m58.447s, as he was unable to finish the fastest lap he was attempting when he went down.

Joan Mir secured the sixth position riding for the official Honda team, as Pedro Acosta, who had a fall on Thursday, emerged as the top rider for KTM in seventh place, just ahead of Miguel Oliveira from Pramac Yamaha.

Marco Bezzecchi emerged as the top Aprilia rider, securing ninth place with a time of 1m57.995s. This marked an improvement from his Thursday performance, where he clocked a time of 1m59.207s on his upgraded factory RS-GP.

Jack Miller secured a spot in the top 10 riding the Pramac Yamaha, as the Australian was observed testing a new Yamaha frame on the second day of the official trials.

Michele Pirro was called upon to fill in for Di Giannantonio, finishing 21st following 46 laps, whereas Aprilia introduced Lorenzo Savadori in place of Martin.

The Italian finished at the bottom of the time charts following 51 laps.

Complete Thursday Outcomes from Sepang MotoGP Trials

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Highlights and Lowlights from Each Manufacturer at the Sepang MotoGP Test

An overview of the standout performances and challenges faced by all five manufacturers during the recent MotoGP testing at Sepang.

The 2025 MotoGP season recently began with the Shakedown, followed by the official testing at Sepang, where all the manufacturers experienced both successes and challenges on the track.

Ducati

Starting from the pinnacle is often ideal, and in 2025, Ducati continues to hold that position.

Alex Marquez led the test on the Gresini-operated GP24, indicating that Ducati has a solid foundation to build upon this year.

Certainly, with victories in every Grand Prix race except one in 2024, the GP24 has undeniably secured its place as one of the most exceptional motorcycles in the realm of two-wheeled racing. However, this success brings a new challenge for Ducati: figuring out how to surpass this achievement.

For Bologna's brand, the solution involved introducing a new fairing, chassis, and engine. However, with an impending development freeze set for 2026, the engine decision became crucial and dominated most of the two-day discussion.

Pecco Bagnaia mentioned that Marc Marquez is the first teammate to share "exactly the same perspective" when providing input to the engineers 🤝#MotoGP #SepangTest pic.twitter.com/ToX9CXquFk— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 6, 2025

The progress of the program faced a setback when Fabio Di Giannantonio ended up in the hospital after performing a wheelie on the first day. However, this didn't overshadow the positives for Ducati, as Bagnaia secured the second-fastest time and Marquez demonstrated impressive speed during his Sprint practice, making it difficult to point out any negatives in this test for the team.

If you want to stretch the point – their speed in this year's test was no different from last year's. We're confident they'll move past it.

Aprilia's testing got off to a particularly rough start. On the first day, crashes were reported for Jorge Martin, Raul Fernandez, and Ai Ogura. Out of these riders, only Ogura managed to continue participating in the tests on the second and third days.

The Japanese motorcyclist showed decent improvement and managed to achieve lap times in the 1:57 range by the conclusion of the test. However, the majority of the development responsibilities were assigned to Marco Bezzecchi, despite him having no previous experience as a factory team rider.

Bezzecchi's last recorded time didn't stand out, as he ended the day trailing the Honda riders, Joan Mir and Johann Zarco. However, his focus was mostly on testing components for a bike he had only used for a single day prior to this week, which meant he had fewer opportunities to push for faster laps.

Assessing Aprilia's test as entirely successful is challenging, particularly since two of its racers, one being the current World Champion, had to exit due to injuries before the test was even a third finished. However, the efforts of Bezzecchi and the official test rider, Lorenzo Savadori, who stepped in to cover for the missing Martin and Fernandez, managed to somewhat redeem the situation.

Despite facing financial challenges, KTM managed to introduce a significant number of updates at the Sepang test. Among the new features was a redesigned seat unit that includes a mass damper.

The goal of KTM's winter development largely focused on addressing certain vibration issues that emerged in 2024 following Michelin's introduction of a new rear tire.

The issue with vibrations on the RC16 appears to persist, with only Pedro Acosta managing to secure a spot in the top 10 by the conclusion of the test. Nonetheless, the Spanish rider demonstrated a decent speed during his Sprint simulation.

Brad Binder felt reassured that KTM is making progress in getting ready for the season. However, it's difficult to depart from Sepang believing that the Austrian brand is any nearer to the leaders than it was a year earlier.

Yamaha and Fabio Quartararo have seen a 0.8-second enhancement in their performance from the Sepang Test in 2024 to the one in 2025. 👏😈 #MotoGP #SepangTest pic.twitter.com/9qXu4N79rR— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 7, 2025

Following a long stretch of what looked like a downturn, Yamaha demonstrated real improvement at Sepang. Fabio Quartararo managed to complete some solid extended runs and recorded a 1:56.724 during one of his timed laps.

Prior to this week, the French rider had not achieved a lap time in the 1:56 range, and Yamaha lagged over a second behind the fastest time during last year's Sepang test. Therefore, the fact that the 2021 World Champion was only a few tenths of a second behind Alex Marquez, who led the timesheets, indicates genuine improvement.

As always, there's a note of caution regarding the high grip levels of the track. Notably, Yamaha had all four of its racers participating in the three-day Shakedown event held shortly before the official testing began. Impressively, Yamaha managed to improve by 0.8 seconds compared to their performance in the 2024 Sepang test. This progress suggests they might now be competing in the same league as KTM and Aprilia, just behind Ducati. Only time will reveal the full story.

Honda continues to be the least successful manufacturer in MotoGP following the test at Sepang. According to Luca Marini, although Honda has made some progress, other teams have improved as well, leaving Honda in a similar position as before.

According to reports, the bike is considered more manageable for long races, yet it continues to struggle with traction and maximum speed.

In light of the present situation, it would be unfair to label Honda's test at Sepang as a complete failure. However, while they previously shared the back of the pack with Yamaha, they now appear to be isolated as the prominent manufacturer trailing behind the others.

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Kimi Antonelli dismisses the notion that he is "taking over" from Lewis Hamilton, stating, "He's achieved so much." He further clarifies, "Honestly, the idea that I'm stepping into Lewis Hamilton's shoes doesn't seem accurate to me."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli refutes the idea that he is "taking over" from Lewis Hamilton, stating that he sees himself simply as the "upcoming driver for Mercedes."

With Hamilton heading to Ferrari, Mercedes decided to bring Antonelli on board as his successor.

Antonelli, at only 18 years old, is the most junior driver on the 2025 Formula 1 circuit.

Due to his limited experience with single-seater vehicles, Mercedes has provided him with extensive opportunities to drive older Formula 1 cars to help him improve.

Antonelli has the potential to set a new record as the youngest race winner in Formula 1 history by clinching victory in one of the first three races, surpassing the record held by Max Verstappen.

During an interview with Sky Sports at the event marking the collaboration between Mercedes and Adidas, Antonelli promptly stated that Hamilton is irreplaceable.

Antonelli expressed that he sees himself as a fresh face behind the wheel of a Mercedes. He added that it's not quite accurate to say he is taking over for Lewis Hamilton.

"He's a huge presence in the world of racing and has accomplished a lot. I see myself as the next driver for Mercedes, eager to carve out my own path and strive for outstanding success."

Antonelli is gearing up for a "tough" experience in F1. All eyes will be on him as he competes for one of the top teams in the sport.

It is uncertain if Mercedes will compete for the championship since they have faced challenges with maintaining consistency over the last three years.

Antonelli has admitted that his first season as a newcomer will present challenges.

Antonelli remarked that his first year in Formula 1 will be challenging, as he will be competing against the 19 top drivers globally.

Certainly, the realm of motorsport, with Formula 1 in particular, can often be quite harsh. However, my plan is to concentrate on myself and remain focused.

"I am focusing on making progress daily and over the weekends, consistently striving to demonstrate my abilities. My attitude is centered on aiming for victory, and we'll see how things unfold. As mentioned earlier, I am surrounded by supportive individuals who are particularly helpful right now in guiding me to disregard outside distractions and concentrate solely on the present."

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Results from Day 2 of the Official 2025 Sepang MotoGP Testing

Complete lap times from Thursday's session during the 2025 Sepang MotoGP official test.

The conclusive outcomes from day two of the MotoGP Sepang trials this week have been announced, showing Franco Morbidelli leading with the quickest lap, followed closely by Fabio Quartararo and Alex Marquez.

It appears that

^X Rider has ascended X spots since the last hour.

Rider's position remains unchanged from the last hour.

X Rider has dropped X places since the last hour.

Quickest opening day performance:

Fabio Quartararo, riding for Yamaha, clocked a time of 1 minute

Quickest Trial Run Duration:

Fabio Quartararo on a Yamaha clocked 1 minute and 57.794 seconds (Third Day)

Authoritative records from the Sepang MotoGP:

Top circuit time: Francesco Bagnaia on a Ducati achieved 1 minute and 56.337 seconds (2024).

Quickest lap in the race: Alex Marquez on a Ducati clocked at 1 minute 58.979 seconds (2023)

I'm sorry

X Rider has climbed X spots since the last hour.

Rider remains in the same spot as they were an hour ago.

˅X Rider has dropped X places since the last hour.

Quickest initial day record:

Fabio Quartararo, riding for Yamaha, clocked a time of 1 minute

Quickest Trial Run Duration:

Fabio Quartararo on a Yamaha clocked 1 minute and 57.794 seconds (Day 3)

Authentic records from the Sepang MotoGP:

Top lap time: Francesco Bagnaia on a Ducati clocked in at 1 minute and 56.337 seconds (2024).

Quickest circuit time: Alex Marquez on a Ducati set a record of 1 minute and 58.979 seconds in 2023.

Following a three-day warm-up session for newcomers, designated test riders, and competing racers from Yamaha and Honda, the Official Sepang MotoGP Test is scheduled to take place from Wednesday to Friday in Malaysia.

The first day was harsh, leading to Jorge Martin, Fabio di Giannantonio, and Raul Fernandez being sidelined due to injuries. Meanwhile, at the top of the timesheets was Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, fresh off a Shakedown success, with Ducati's new recruit Marc Marquez closely following.

Following the Sepang trials, there will be just one remaining official test session scheduled in Buriram from February 12-13, ahead of the commencement of the Thai racing season on February 28.

The technical specifications for Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia motorcycles will remain unchanged from the Thailand Grand Prix through to the close of 2026, as a measure to cut down on development expenditures in preparation for the upcoming shift to 850cc engines in 2027.

Honda and Yamaha currently have the liberty to proceed with engine improvements, thanks to their D-level concession status.

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Peter has spent two decades in the racing world, witnessing Valentino Rossi's rise and retirement. He's leading the coverage on Suzuki's withdrawal and Marc Marquez's health struggles.

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Aprilia provides update on Jorge Martin following significant MotoGP test accident

Aprilia's head Paolo Bonora updates on Martin's condition

Aprilia's sports director has stated that the current MotoGP world champion, Jorge Martin, "is in good condition" and is scheduled for surgery in Spain this Friday after his severe crash during the Sepang test.

Martin experienced two crashes at the start of the test day in Malaysia on Wednesday, with the latter being a severe highside incident at Turn 2.

He sustained numerous broken bones and was rushed to the hospital, resulting in Martin being sidelined for the remainder of the Sepang trials, and his involvement in the Buriram trials is now highly uncertain.

In a conversation with After the Flag on MotoGP.com, Bonora provided an encouraging report on Martin's health status, also mentioning that Aprilia had to intervene to prevent him from getting back on the track following his accident.

"Frankly, we're looking forward to recognizing the benefits of this situation," he expressed.

"Definitely, our initial sentiment is one of immense relief that Jorge is doing well today. He's in a comfortable state, had a good night's sleep, and hasn't experienced any specific issues."

"Therefore, we're pleased with this outcome because following such a crash, he was on everyone's mind."

"We're pleased, truthfully. The challenge we faced yesterday was maintaining his composure since he was eager to get back on the track. He was curious about the progress of the test and what we were examining."

Interestingly, his recuperation was impressively swift. He's scheduled for surgery in Spain the next day.

Currently, we are just awaiting the health assessment and the formal announcement from the authorities.

"Thus, we are currently anticipating only favorable outcomes concerning him because his strength and skill are essential to us, and we eagerly await his return."

On Wednesday, Aprilia's CEO, Massimo Rivola, stated that according to the data, the motorcycle was functioning normally and Martin's actions were not out of the ordinary at the time of his accident.

The absence of Martin posed a challenge for Aprilia's testing schedule, but according to Bonora, having a successful preliminary test with Lorenzo Savadori has mitigated the impact.

"In this scenario, we were fortunate, as we conducted a thorough review with Lorenzo," he further stated.

"We conducted trials on every component we intended to examine."

"Thus, by the conclusion, prior to the formal IRTA (International Race Teams’ Association) trial, we already possessed a detailed understanding of the pros and cons of the novel components."

Lorenzo performed exceptionally well. Speaking truthfully and with complete transparency, Marco, over the course of two days, provided us with an abundance of information – information that was concise. He remained consistent in his approach.

"He wasn't concerned with the clock; his attention was entirely on executing his strategy, and he delivered a very successful trial for us."

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Additional circuit hours deemed 'no benefit' for Fabio Quartararo during MotoGP trials

Yamaha competitor asserts robust trial speed isn't due to increased circuit hours

Fabio Quartararo has expressed that participating in the shakedown didn't provide him with any benefits, despite demonstrating consistent high performance with Yamaha during Thursday's MotoGP test at Sepang.

Yamaha has kicked off the pre-season testing for the 2025 season on a positive note, thanks to its latest M1 model. Quartararo led the pack on the initial day of testing in Sepang and secured the second spot on the following day.

Over the course of two days, three out of the four M1 factory bikes secured positions within the top 10, with Quartararo reducing his time from 1 minute 57.555 seconds to 1 minute 57.324 seconds by Thursday.

Yamaha's competitors in the race benefited from an additional two days on the circuit due to their participation in the shakedown. However, Quartararo is skeptical that this is the reason behind their impressive performance in this week's time trials.

"No, I wouldn't say that's the case, because by the second day of the test run, if I remember correctly, I clocked in at 1 minute and 57.7 seconds, and that was under rainy conditions," he explained in response to inquiries about whether his impressive speed was due to additional time on the track.

"In my view, it doesn't actually pose a benefit."

"For me, it served as excellent physical preparation, as you don't get the opportunity to ride the GP motorcycle during the winter. Therefore, it was beneficial for my physical conditioning to achieve it."

"Truthfully, having completed so many laps on the track, I'm genuinely pleased that tomorrow marks the final one before we switch tracks."

Quartararo mentioned that his primary attention on Thursday was on adjusting the electronic configurations to enhance the Yamaha's rear traction. However, he noted that they didn't quite reach the improvements he had hoped for in this aspect.

Quartararo acknowledges that although there's been an enhancement in rear traction during high-speed turns, issues remain with acceleration in areas requiring lower gears, predicting that the upcoming Buriram test will pose greater challenges.

"He noted that while there were improvements in rear grip in certain regions, other areas saw no change," he remarked upon inquiry about the enhancement of rear traction.

"The odds are split evenly. Our riding technique has significantly improved, yet we continue to struggle with minimal grip."

"The upcoming Buriram trial is expected to be more challenging, in my opinion. However, our engine has shown an improvement in speed compared to the previous year."

"Therefore, I believe this could be beneficial. However, particularly in corners where we slow down, we're facing significant challenges with maintaining grip at the back."

"In high-speed turns, the traction is quite decent. However, our main challenge arises when accelerating out of particularly slow corners."

"Hence, the primary objective for Buriram, and throughout the four days of our stay, this was the central point of emphasis for the test."

Yamaha has experimented with several innovations, but among the most noticeable is the introduction of a new chassis, distinct from what was trialed in Barcelona the previous November.

Quartararo views the newer model as not inferior, yet he favors the previous version due to its compatibility with his riding approach.

"Therefore, my preference leans towards the black version [older specification] from the Barcelona trial, although I find the new version acceptable – it's not inferior," he mentioned.

"I prefer riding with the previous year's model; it just feels right to me. However, during the test, I found that the performance with the new one was almost identical – very close indeed. But given the choice, I'd go for the black one."

Remarks offered by Peter McLaren, Editor at Crash MotoGP

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Francesco Bagnaia believes that those currently facing challenges in MotoGP will improve and shake up the current rankings. He predicts a change, suggesting that the lineup trailing behind Ducati will be different in the future.

Francesco Bagnaia expects a shift in the MotoGP hierarchy this season following Yamaha's impressive performance during the initial preseason test in Malaysia.

In recent years, European manufacturers have taken the lead in Grand Prix's top category. Meanwhile, the two surviving Japanese brands, Honda and Yamaha, have found themselves at the lower end of the rankings for both 2023 and 2024. During this period, Aprilia and KTM have emerged as the main competitors to Ducati.

Bagnaia hinted that the situation might be different in 2025, following Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo being the sole rider not on a Ducati to achieve a lap time in the 1:56 range on the last day of testing in Sepang.

After the conclusion of this week's three-day testing session in Sepang, Bagnaia remarked that he believes there will be a change in the person backing Ducati during this season.

"I believe Yamaha performed exceptionally well, but we need to see how things unfold in Thailand. They completed six days of testing, and due to their concession status, all four of their race riders participated in the Shakedown. This extra testing might have contributed to their performance."

"Indeed, Fabio Quartararo demonstrated remarkable speed throughout all three days, and during the time attack—an area where Yamaha struggled last year—he was impressively quick today."

"In my opinion, they performed exceptionally well."

Pecco Bagnaia provides an overview of the Sepang test. However, he mentioned several reservations, primarily concerning the constraints of his testing schedule, which resulted in reduced opportunities for setting fast lap times.

"In my own view, I wasn't able to exert the effort I had hoped for during this test," he expressed.

"My setup for the time trial allowed me to surpass the lap time, but with only one attempt, it was challenging to achieve the explosive performance I usually reach during a time trial."

"However, I'm pleased that all the completed tasks helped us identify areas for improvement and determine the foundation we should adopt in Thailand."

Fabio Quartararo's impressive time attack wasn't the only noteworthy performance, as Alex Marquez topped the charts by the conclusion of the third day.

The Gresini Ducati racer is set to ride the Ducati Desmosedici GP24 this year, a bike that was a top performer last season. The engine of this model is still being evaluated by the factory team, as Bagnaia has notably pointed out the differences in braking characteristics when compared to the 2025 engine.

Does Marquez's showing on the GP24 add complexity to the decision-making process regarding the choice of engine for the next season and for 2026 due to the upcoming development freeze?

Bagnaia expressed that he doesn't feel the same way, explaining that it's natural for performance to dip slightly when you're tasked with trying out multiple things.

This morning, I told my team, "I want to try a time attack just once."

"I couldn't attempt two or three like other riders since we had to concentrate more on our tasks."

"However, I understand that as engineers, our role involves cycling because it's essential for our testing process. We must maintain peak performance for their benefit, even if it means our own performance takes a back seat."

Different Setup Results

On the last day, Bagnaia managed to complete laps in the 1:56 range, narrowly trailing Marquez's leading time by just 0.007 seconds. However, his lap time of 1:56.500 was still nearly 0.3 seconds slower than his pole position time from the previous November.

Nonetheless, the three-time World Champion was pleased with his overall test performance.

"Bagnaia summed up the test by saying it had been three genuinely good days."

"We had some time, though not a lot, which allowed us to sift through numerous aspects and conduct tests on almost everything."

“We were unfortunate that Fabio Di Giannantonio couldn't participate in the test, as he would have been a great help. However, we managed to accomplish excellent work with Marc Marquez.”

Both Bagnaia and Marquez conducted Sprint simulations, with Marquez achieving lap times that were, on average, 0.3 seconds quicker than those of Bagnaia.

The Italian rider did not specifically mention this distinction, but he did point out that there were varying "configurations" between his motorcycle and Marquez's during the 10-lap test runs.

"Additionally, we chose to test two separate bike setups during the simulations today to provide the engineers with as much data as possible, which proved to be extremely beneficial," stated Bagnaia.

He explained, "During the Sprint simulation, I had to compromise on performance to test something out. This left me somewhat dissatisfied because an issue arose—I experienced some vibration. Although it wasn't the same as last year, it got progressively worse with each lap."

A key distinction between Bagnaia's setup and Marquez's on the last day involved the chassis.

Bagnaia expressed that they were engaged in separate tasks.

"Throughout the day, we experimented with two distinct approaches, and I focused more on testing the chassis than Marc did."

The initial feedback was favorable; however, the Italian rider intends to test it on surfaces with reduced traction, which he anticipates encountering in Thailand in the coming week.

"I enjoyed it, although, as with most things, it has its pros and cons. I'm eager to experience it more thoroughly in Thailand."

"We require less grip right now. Today felt like I was trying something new each time I exited, then returned and increased my speed, only to improve again with the latest adjustments. It's challenging to gauge what's happening when the grip level is this high."

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Speculation surrounds the performance of the Ducati GP24 in comparison to the much-anticipated GP25 models. Franco Morbidelli stands out during tests in Sepang.

Franco Morbidelli is at the heart of interesting discussions about how competitive Ducati's two motorcycles will be in the 2025 MotoGP season.

Older models frequently demonstrate greater speed in the initial stages, whereas riders familiarizing themselves with newer machines usually perform better over extended periods.

However, the expected trend did not emerge for Ducati in the previous year.

The latest Ducati models outperformed the older versions in the factory, with Marc Marquez being the only exception to this trend.

By the end of the 2025 Sepang test on Friday, the Ducatis, which were a year old, dominated the scene.

Alex Marquez from Gresini led the rankings, while VR46's Morbidelli secured the fourth position.

Morbidelli mentioned that everyone had higher expectations for the GP23 last year.

"Only Marc managed to succeed, contrary to what everyone had anticipated."

"Let's find out what unfolds this year…"

"We were fast, which is a good thing. Let's put aside the heat, exhaustion, and the challenges that arise with the initial long run of the year!"

Franco Morbidelli is optimistic about joining VR46

Morbidelli has left Pramac to join VR46, while continuing to ride a Ducati model from the previous year.

Despite the fact that his teammate Fabio di Giannantonio suffered a broken collarbone in a crash on Wednesday, Morbidelli maintains that the Sepang test has been mostly successful for VR46.

"I'm thrilled about these past three days. The team performed exceptionally well, and I collaborated wonderfully with a new crew," he remarked.

During our initial three days of collaboration, we developed a solid understanding. The experience was quite positive, and we plan to grow from this point onward.

"Furthermore, it's an excellent beginning for the team. Transitioning from a challenging year to kicking off like this? It's a significant morale boost."

"Although we encountered a problem with Fabio on the initial day, things are progressing smoothly for us."

Morbidelli commented on his new team, highlighting the importance of communication. He emphasized the need to understand one another, clearly express his expectations for the bike, and have the team successfully implement those changes.

"Expressing your thoughts matters, and doing so effectively is equally crucial."

"The initial priority upon joining a new team is to focus on this aspect."

"I'm quite comfortable with my level of confidence! I consider myself a confident rider. Although I've experienced both highs and lows, right now I'm definitely on a high, so I feel self-assured."

Franco Morbidelli started the 2024 season with an injury sustained during preseason testing but concluded the 2025 testing session at Sepang in excellent condition.

Statements given by Peter McLaren in Sepang

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Brad Binder elaborates on emulating Pedro Acosta's technique on the KTM

Brad Binder discusses his test session in Sepang on Thursday

Brad Binder acknowledged his intention to emulate aspects of Pedro Acosta’s riding techniques to enhance his performance on his KTM.

Two days into the official MotoGP Sepang trials, Binder secured the 11th fastest time and has been trying out some of the techniques in corner entry that Acosta mastered during his debut season last year.

Acosta is teaming up with Binder at the factory garage this year to ensure the more experienced rider stays sharp.

In response to inquiries on emulating Acosta's approach to the corners, Binder mentioned, "I've been making an effort to shave off a few meters, wherever possible."

"When I'm compelled to exert effort, I fall back on my familiar habits. It's an area for improvement going forward."

"I've already noticed advantages in my cycling technique and braking method, particularly with initiating sharper and sooner turns at the front."

"I've discovered some exciting components to explore."

Brad Binder shares insights on KTM trials

Binder commented on the Sepang trials held on Thursday, stating: "The day kicked off quite well with consecutive runs in the morning, where we experimented with various engine setups. It was quite intriguing.

In the afternoon, we experimented with the suspension configurations. We discovered some elements that offer a slight increase in potential.

"This evening, we'll gather and piece everything together."

The recently observed tail design on the KTM still hasn't fully resolved the vibration problem.

"Binder noted, 'We're making strides. There appears to be an improvement in equilibrium, particularly with a few of our challenges.'"

"However, we must continue our efforts to acquire information."

In the previous year, Binder observed that his back tire was exerting pressure on the front one, but this issue did not recur in Sepang.

"Surprisingly, this track seems fine to me," he mentioned. "Well, for now at least!"

"However, the results from this trial can be misleading. The traction is surprisingly strong. To fully understand it, you'd have to try it on a fresh, unused track."

"The front has been comfortable."

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Brad Binder discusses advancements in emulating Pedro Acosta's techniques on the KTM

Brad Binder shares insights from his Thursday trial in Sepang

Brad Binder has acknowledged his intention to mimic aspects of Pedro Acosta's racing technique to enhance his performance on his KTM.

Just two days into the official MotoGP testing session at Sepang, Binder achieved the 11th fastest time and has been trying out some of the techniques on corner entry that Acosta mastered during his impressive debut season.

This season, Acosta will team up with Binder in the factory garage, pushing the veteran racer to stay sharp.

When questioned on mimicking Acosta's approach to the corners, Binder responded, "I've attempted to shave off a few meters, here and there."

"When I exert effort, I fall back on my familiar methods. It's an area for improvement moving forward."

"I've already experienced advantages, particularly in my cycling technique and braking methods, especially when it comes to leaning in closer and sooner with the front end."

"I've discovered interesting components to experiment with."

Brad Binder provides insights on KTM's trials

Binder remarked on the Thursday trials at Sepang, stating, “The day began quite well with consecutive sessions in the morning where we explored various engine setups. It was fascinating.

"In the afternoon, we experimented with suspension configurations. We discovered some elements that contribute a slight improvement in potential."

"This evening, we'll gather and assemble everything."

The recently observed tail design on the KTM has not fully resolved the vibration problem.

"Binder mentioned, 'We're making progress. It appears the balance has improved regarding several of our concerns.'"

"However, we must continue our efforts to gather more information."

Last year, Binder observed that his back tire was exerting pressure on the front one, but this issue did not resurface in Sepang.

"Surprisingly, the track seems fine to me," he mentioned. "Well, for now at least!"

"However, this trial can be misleading. The traction is excellent. To truly understand it, you must try it on a track that hasn't been worn in."

"The front has been comfortable."

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For ten years, James worked as a sports reporter at Sky Sports, where he reported on a wide range of sports including American sports, soccer, and Formula 1.

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Luca Marini and Joan Mir recognize advancements at Honda, yet a significant issue persists. "We've made progress, but so has everyone else, and that's the problem…"

Although Honda made advancements during the winter, Luca Marini feels the team is still as distant from leading in MotoGP as it was in 2024.

The Italian rider thinks that the RC213V has improved overall this year compared to the previous one, but it doesn't mean it's more competitive.

Marini stated that they have enhanced the bike from the previous year and have made progress with the 2025 model.

"However, we are still quite distant because we have made progress, but so has everyone else, and that's the issue. I believe the difference in performance is roughly similar to what it was last year."

Specifically, Marini mentioned that the 2025 motorcycle has shown enhancements at the beginning of the turn, although issues with acceleration are still present.

He mentioned that they have enhanced the bike's braking and cornering abilities compared to the previous year.

"Certainly, the engine and the maximum speed are still absent."

The essential factor for enhancing future potential throughout the season, particularly in terms of overtaking, is evident as Joan Mir and Johann Zarco delivered an outstanding performance today with their incredibly fast lap times.

"The issue arises during a race because overtaking becomes challenging, and the bike heats up excessively, which also affects the tires."

"We need to concentrate on creating more chances to pass other cars during the race, as we'll still be starting from the middle of the grid, rather than near the front."

Overall, Marini determined that the new bicycle is simpler to handle, particularly when conducting a race simulation. It's very straightforward to maintain your speed without wearing out the tires.

The time attack is extremely challenging, significantly harder, and requires taking considerable risks to achieve a successful lap.

Joan Mir: "That's not entirely accurate"

Joan Mir, who is Marini's teammate on the Honda HRC Castrol team and is acknowledged by Marini for suggesting the throttle connection enhancement seen in the 2025 RC213V, offered further explanation on some of the statements made by the Italian.

In order to avoid any conflict, Mir expressed his agreement with Luca Marini's remarks regarding braking and turning.

"However, that's not entirely accurate. He is aware of this, though he may have described it differently."

The 2020 MotoGP World Champion stated that the combination of the 2024 and 2025 package improves the bike's performance in turns.

"We've made significant progress in this area compared to last year. I would also highlight the improved stability when braking, as I tend to brake sharply, allowing me to make smoother turns."

"The package we currently have isn't entirely from 2025, which would improve the bike's turning capabilities. Instead, it includes a mix of elements, incorporating some components from 2024 as well."

Mir concurred with Marini's view that HRC had improved during the winter, largely due to his own progress in lap times compared to his performance in qualifying at the previous year's Malaysian Grand Prix.

"We should be pleased because these individuals put in a lot of effort during the winter months, which is evident, and they demonstrate this with an improved bike," he mentioned.

"Our current package is an improvement over the previous one. Indeed, the grip conditions today, on the third day, are superior to those typically experienced during a race weekend."

"I improved my lap time by 1.3 seconds during qualifying. It's not just about the bike; it's also about how the bike lets me push myself. It's a combination of factors."

"I'm definitely not content, as I'm always striving for more. However, we should find contentment."

Mir then moved on to discussing the bike's drawbacks, highlighting its top speed and traction issues.

"We do have some areas where we're still quite vulnerable," he mentioned.

"The maximum speed is not up to par, and our traction is lacking compared to competitors. Our grip doesn't match that of others. We need to concentrate on addressing these issues."

"We continue to experience this well-known vibration issue. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to fix it yet. It's quite unfortunate because it significantly disrupts the rider and greatly affects how they tackle the corners."

Whenever there's vibration in a corner, time is wasted—each occurrence can easily cost you a tenth of a second.

"The truth is, we are significantly nearer."

"When the weather is hot, we face more challenges. Our engine has a harder time, and we experience significant grip issues."

"We need to focus on these two aspects and aim to advance in Buriram, as the initial race is likely to take place in warm weather."

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In August 2024, Alex became a member of the Crash.net team after spending two years reporting on motorcycle racing and consumer news at Visordown.

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Luca Marini and Joan Mir recognize advancements at Honda, yet a significant issue persists.

"We've improved, but so has everyone else, and that's the challenge…"

Although Honda made some advancements during the winter season, Luca Marini feels that the team remains just as distant from leading the MotoGP pack as they were in 2024.

The Italian rider feels that the RC213V has generally improved this year compared to the previous year, although it hasn't necessarily become more competitive.

Marini stated, "We have enhanced the bike from last year and have made progress with the 2025 model."

"However, we remain quite far behind because while we've made progress, so has everyone else. This is the issue at hand. I believe the gap is approximately the same as it was last year."

Marini specifically mentioned that while the 2025 motorcycle has made advancements when entering the corners, it still faces issues with acceleration.

He mentioned that they have enhanced the bike's braking system and cornering abilities compared to the previous year.

"Definitely, the engine and the maximum speed are still absent."

"This will be crucial for gaining more potential in the future, particularly throughout the season, as it will help with overtaking. Joan Mir and Johann Zarco put in an excellent performance today, clocking incredibly fast laps."

"The issue arises during a race because overtaking becomes challenging, and the bike heats up significantly, leading to similar problems with the tires."

"In my opinion, it's crucial for us to concentrate on creating more chances to pass other cars during the race, as our starting position will still be around the middle of the grid and not much closer to the front."

In summary, Marini determined that the new motorcycle is "simpler" to handle, particularly during a race simulation. It is very easy to maintain a consistent speed without wearing out the tires.

The time attack is extremely challenging, significantly harder, and requires taking substantial risks to achieve a strong lap time.

Joan Mir: "That's not entirely accurate."

Joan Mir, the teammate of Marini at Honda HRC Castrol, is acknowledged by Marini for initiating the enhancement in throttle response implemented in the 2025 RC213V. Mir offered some clarification on the remarks made by the Italian.

In an effort to minimize any drama, Mir stated that he would concur with Luca Marini regarding his remarks on braking and turning.

"However, that's not entirely accurate. He is aware of this, but likely chose to describe it differently."

The 2020 MotoGP World Champion mentioned that the combination of elements we have for 2024 and 2025 improves the turning section.

"We've made significant progress in this area compared to last year. Additionally, I feel more stable when braking, as I can apply the brakes firmly and then make much better turns."

"The package we currently have isn't entirely the 2025 version that improves the bike's turning capabilities, nor is it completely filled with new elements. We've also incorporated some aspects from 2024."

Mir concurred with Marini, acknowledging that HRC had made progress during the winter. This improvement was largely due to his own advancement in lap times compared to his performance in the qualifying round of the previous year's Malaysian Grand Prix.

“We should be pleased because these individuals put in a lot of effort during the winter, which was evident, and they have demonstrated it with an improved bike,” he remarked.

"Our current package is an improvement over the previous one. It's accurate to say that on this third day, the traction conditions are superior compared to those typically found during a race weekend."

"I improved my lap time by 1.3 seconds during the qualifying session. It's not just about the bike; it's also about how it enables me to push myself. It's a blend of both factors."

"I definitely feel discontent, as I constantly strive for more. However, we must find contentment."

Mir then turned his attention to the drawbacks of the motorcycle, highlighting its limitations in terms of maximum speed and traction.

"We still have some very significant vulnerabilities," he stated.

"The maximum speed is lacking, and our grip is inferior compared to our competitors. We need to concentrate on improving these aspects."

"We continue to experience this well-known vibration issue. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to fix it yet. It's quite unfortunate because it significantly bothers the rider and greatly affects how they approach the corner."

"When there's vibration in a corner, you easily lose a tenth of a second, which can take up a significant amount of time."

"The truth is that we are significantly nearer."

"When the weather is hot, we face more challenges. Our engine has a harder time, and we encounter numerous issues related to grip."

"We need to focus on these two aspects and aim to make progress for the upcoming race in Buriram, which is likely to take place in warm weather conditions."

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In August 2024, Alex became a member of the Crash.net team after spending two years reporting on consumer and racing motorcycle news at Visordown.

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