Pedro Acosta cautions KTM on the importance of heeding essential advice to prevent an erratic Sepang MotoGP test outcome. He asserts that KTM veered off course in the previous year.

Pedro Acosta has expressed the view that KTM may have experimented excessively with its MotoGP bike during parts of 2024, suggesting that the team take a page out of Moto2's book for its testing strategy at Sepang in 2025.

Acosta is set to kick off his second season in the top tier by participating in the Sepang pre-season test this week with the KTM factory team.

The brand has faced a challenging winter owing to its financial difficulties. Despite this, motorsport chief Pit Beirer has assured that the company's preparation for the upcoming season remains on track.

Pedro Acosta suggests strategies for KTM

Acosta mentions that there is a plethora of options to explore on the RC16 in the coming three days, yet he cautions the company against going overboard by experimenting with too many alternatives.

He believes this was an obstacle in the previous year, and recalls that a few years back in Moto2, KTM encountered a similar setback, becoming more competitive after halting development.

"Let's observe what it's like for me to not be on a MotoGP bike for three months," he commented in response to Crash.net's inquiry about his anticipations for the Sepang test.

"I'm feeling alright, though it's clear there's plenty to explore. However, it's important to stay grounded, not to lose oneself, and recognize the right moments to decline or accept opportunities."

"Throughout the previous year, we often experimented with various strategies, even during race weekends, which possibly led us to stray from our intended path."

"When KTM participated in Moto2, their development came to a halt just as Brad Binder and Jorge Martin began to make progress."

"It's important for us to stay grounded and approach the exam calmly to see how far we can go."

Acosta is eager to figure out how KTM's competitors managed to outperform them last year. He also mentions that during the off-season, he has concentrated on adjusting his riding technique, acknowledging that he might have been "too aggressive" towards the season's close.

"He emphasized the need to identify how competing brands are distinguishing themselves from us."

"I'm not certain of the precise location, but ultimately, they're employing the back tyre differently from how we do, and it's in that specific aspect where they're gaining an advantage."

"This winter, I made an effort to alter my approach to riding slightly, aiming not to concentrate solely on leading but to ease up on the brakes and adopt more flowing lines instead. My goal was to achieve greater smoothness in my movements, as I realized that towards the season's close, my technique had perhaps become overly aggressive."

Comments shared by Peter McLaren, the Editor for Crash MotoGP

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Yamaha's explanation proposed for severe crashes during Sepang tests

"There were hardly any crashes, if any at all, during the Shakedown…"

During the first day of the official MotoGP test at Sepang, numerous riders experienced crashes. Yamaha's Alex Rins attributed these incidents to the gusty weather conditions at the Malaysian track.

After ending the first day in 14th position, Rins, who participated in the second and third days of last weekend's Shakedown test in Sepang, observed a stark difference. While the Shakedown test saw minimal incidents, the initial day of the official test was marked by numerous crashes.

Raul Fernandez suffered a crash that resulted in a fracture to his left hand, preventing him from participating in the rest of the test. Similarly, reigning World Champion Jorge Martin experienced a high-side crash at turn two, leading to fractures in his hand and foot. Consequently, he will not be able to take part in the second and third days of testing.

"In truth, during the Shakedown, we barely witnessed any crashes," Rins mentioned following the initial day of the official testing in Sepang.

"I'll highlight the wind, as it was extremely powerful."

"I felt a bit frustrated because I completed just 41 laps. It would have been great to make it 42."

"I completed just 41 laps and spent a considerable amount of time waiting for the wind to calm down."

Rins elaborated on the sections of the track that were most impacted by the wind.

"The wind was particularly troublesome at turn four, and it was quite strong at turn five. It was also noticeable at turns nine, 11, and 13, especially after changing directions at the spot where [Pedro] Acosta had his crash. I'm not sure if the wind was the cause of his accident," he mentioned.

Yamaha's Strategy Shift

Rins proposed that the large number of crashes on the first day in Sepang was due to the wind. He also indicated that both he and Yamaha would be altering their testing strategy.

"To be truthful, the gusty wind today has somewhat altered the original plan," he mentioned.

"During the Shakedown, we had the opportunity to try out various elements, including adjustments to the setup and some new components such as the chassis."

During the Shakedown, the performance of the chassis wasn't very impressive, but Yamaha managed to make some improvements. Today, the plan was to evaluate the slightly modified new chassis and to try out a new upper wing on the fairing.

"However, the wind prevented us from doing so."

Although Rins faced challenges due to the wind, his teammate Fabio Quartararo viewed the situation differently.

"There are 15 turns on the track, and I felt that the wind was causing issues for me in about four or five of them," he mentioned.

"In my view, you can determine from the remaining 10 whether the new component was an improvement."

Due to concerns regarding the conditions, Rins decided to alter his strategy. Rather than evaluating Yamaha's new parts, he concentrated on testing the tyres.

"We altered our strategy and evaluated the three front Michelin tires provided to us," he stated.

"There were three distinct types. The first was like the soft compound we use here, but with an alternative construction that wasn't too bad. The other two featured a different casing and were of a different size."

Rins mentioned that the two tires featuring different casing sizes are the ones being developed for the 2026 season. However, he was uncertain whether the third tire would be used in competition in 2025.

As the final two days of the test approach, the Spanish participant is focused on realigning with his original testing schedule.

He added that he wouldn't have been able to accomplish much else.

"Certainly, we still have two days left. I didn't use any qualifying tires to achieve a fast lap time because it wasn't the appropriate moment, as we discussed with our team."

"We'll be examining the chassis and the fairing tomorrow to determine if we can discover any improvements."

In contrast to Rins, Quartararo opted to fit a fresh tire towards the end to target a fast lap time. Ultimately, this time was just slightly better than the one he achieved in Q2 during last year's Malaysian Grand Prix. He recorded a 1:57.592 last November, compared to the 1:57.555 he set on the first day of this year's test.

He expressed optimism, saying, "It's a good thing. It's preferable to being slower. Additionally, we weren't specifically aiming for a time attack, so it's encouraging that we were already […] quicker than during the qualifying session."

"I was feeling pretty positive; during the qualifying session, the main goal is to achieve a fast lap time. At that point, we were experimenting with different setups and added a fresh set of tires towards the end to aim for an impressive lap time."

"We've been riding for two days, taken two days off, and then returned to improve our lap times. I believe this approach has been beneficial, and we performed well."

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Pecco Bagnaia: Jorge Martin's accident was "as unfortunate as it gets"

"Perhaps fans should keep in mind that handling these bikes is far from simple…"

Francesco Bagnaia thinks that Jorge Martin's crash during the MotoGP test in Sepang was due to unfortunate circumstances instead of excessive risk-taking.

Current MotoGP titleholder Martin, who was riding the Aprilia RS-GP for just the second time, experienced two crashes on the first day of the official test. His second crash was a high-side at turn two, which resulted in fractures to both his left hand and left foot. Consequently, he will be unable to participate in the second and third days of testing.

Bagnaia admitted that he doesn't really think about the dangers of MotoGP, even after spending a few months away from the bike, as he commented following the first day in Sepang.

"I understand that such incidents are always possible, but today was particularly unfortunate. Martin fell and returned to the garage, and then during his first timed lap, he suffered another crash, which was quite severe."

"It’s possible that the back tire hadn’t reached an optimal temperature since it was the harder type, which isn’t very effective. Perhaps the temperature wasn’t ideal, leading to a crash similar to the one Marc Marquez experienced in 2019."

"I find the situation unfortunate, but I'm hopeful he'll return to Thailand or be prepared for the first race."

"I believe he wasn't taking any risks today; he simply had an accident at the slowest turn, in the most unfortunate manner. It's one of those things that can occur."

"Perhaps some supporters should keep in mind that handling these motorcycles isn't as simple as it seems."

"Improved power delivery, but braking issues on the GP25"

Regarding Bagnaia's performance, it was relatively subdued when looking at lap times. The three-time World Champion ended up in 17th place, trailing Fabio Quartararo's leading time by 1.392 seconds.

The Italian explained that his ability to run was restricted because he didn't have enough tires. This shortage also stopped him from effectively evaluating how the new Desmosedici GP25 stacked up against the earlier model, the GP24.

"It’s challenging to comment on the bikes as we lack sufficient tires for proper testing, making today more of a day of compromise," Bagnaia remarked regarding his first day of the season.

"We initiated this process primarily to sort everything out. We began by tackling the most significant issue and realized that the other specification wasn't performing optimally. However, we gained valuable insight into the right path to take, thanks to Marc Marquez's impressive time attack on the GP24 towards the end of the day."

"We have additional information to review, and I believe we performed excellently today. Our impressions were quite similar, and we have confidence in this. We experimented with a new approach and united by the end of the day."

"We provided extensive information to the technicians and engineers, allowing us to begin work with clear direction tomorrow."

Even though Bagnaia was hesitant to firmly state his opinion on the GP25 in comparison to the 2024 model, he did share a few thoughts on the new bike's characteristics.

He expressed that one positive aspect of the GP25 is its power delivery, noting that it feels smoother and more precise. In comparison, the GP24 had a somewhat uneven power delivery when exiting.

"The standout feature of the GP24 was its braking and corner entry capabilities, which are not currently matched by the GP25. We need to address this, but fortunately, there is ample time to make improvements."

Bagnaia explained that he believes the engine is affecting his perception of the GP25's braking performance, suggesting it seems to be a downgrade compared to the GP24. However, he emphasized that this issue is not related to inertia.

He stated, "I believe it's primarily about how the engine is built, rather than the engine's inertia."

"It could be the arrangement."

The Italian mentioned that on Wednesday, he had been using the GP24 chassis to concentrate more on the new engine.

"The structure we used today was the GP24 frame, paired with the new engine," he explained. "Initially, it's crucial to focus on understanding the engine, and afterward, we'll incorporate the new frame."

Fabio Di Giannantonio, who was already trying out the new frame, expressed satisfaction with its performance during braking. Therefore, I believe it will be beneficial.

The new chassis is being introduced later than planned due to limited testing opportunities before the season starts, coupled with the engine development freeze set for 2026.

Bagnaia explained that the reason for prioritizing engine testing at Ducati is the upcoming development freeze, and they don't have as much time as they used to.

"After completing these five days of testing, we will head to Thailand one week later for the opening race."

"The most crucial aspect is to comprehend the engine, as we've previously had to take a step back, and we wish to avoid repeating that scenario. The GP24 demonstrated remarkable qualities in certain areas, and our goal is to build on those strengths."

"In my opinion, the engine performs excellently when accelerating and delivering power, but there's a need to enhance the braking system; fortunately, we have an idea of the necessary improvements."

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Honda's latest MotoGP prospect acknowledges challenges with ride height mechanism

"How does it compare, moving from Moto2 to MotoGP?"

Somkiat Chantra has acknowledged facing initial challenges with Honda's ride height mechanism.

The newcomer to MotoGP used the three days of testing at the Shakedown, a provision allowed by the regulations for his debut season in the category.

Chantra, alongside fellow Honda racers and competitors from the MotoGP, will participate in the official three-day Sepang test this week, where he'll continue adjusting to his motorcycle.

"Everything went smoothly. We tested out the new motorcycle," commented Chantra.

"Additionally, we were in the process of improving our skills with the bicycle. Our proficiency was on the rise."

"Transitioning from Moto2 to MotoGP? It's primarily the advanced electronics and the ride system."

"Additionally, utilizing the data, we dedicated significant effort to accurately positioning the ride apparatus. It was improving, becoming more precise."

Chantra was questioned on whether he was activating the ride height mechanism sooner or later than he should.

"He was significantly ahead of me, especially when you compare it to Takaaki Nakagami's timing," he responded.

Somkiat Chantra from Honda discusses adjusting to challenges

Chantra reveals that getting used to the demands of handling a MotoGP motorcycle is a significant challenge.

He stated, "Currently, we possess two motorcycles. My crew isn't attempting to alter the configuration.

"They expect me to familiarize myself with the bicycle and grasp its functioning, then return and share my insights on it."

Following the Barcelona trial, I experienced discomfort while riding. Since that time, I have focused on rehabilitating my back and improving my overall physical condition.

"In Sepang, the turns are rapid. Personally, the goal is to harness additional power to propel the motorcycle forward."

Chantra needs to familiarize himself with the numerous technological components on his Honda, a significant change from Moto2.

"He mentioned that his bicycle was equipped with a pair of brakes, one attached to the back wheel and the other operated by his hand."

"It's not the same. My group mentioned, 'we'll maintain it as is'."

"At a certain moment, we apply the brake pedal."

"During the initial day of the trial run, recalling every detail proved to be challenging."

"After completing two circuits, they switched the layout…"

"Day after day, I made an effort to recall every detail."

Chantra felt uplifted after receiving a visit from Nakagami, the dedicated Honda test rider for this season.

Additionally, Ai Ogura is joining him in moving to MotoGP, signing with Trackhouse.

"On the final day, Nakagami paid me a visit. He made an effort to avoid exerting any pressure on me.

"He expressed his wishes for me to have a good time with the bicycle."

"Ai is making the transition from competing in Moto2 to racing in MotoGP."

"During our leisure moments, our conversations often revolve around MotoGP, discussing its intensity and velocity."

Statements given by Peter McLaren, Crash MotoGP Correspondent

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Another injury sidelines a MotoGP competitor following the tumultuous events at Sepang. Fabio di Giannantonio has been confirmed to have sustained an injury during the Sepang testing session.

Fabio Di Giannantonio of the VR46 Ducati team will not participate in the remainder of the Sepang MotoGP test due to a collarbone fracture sustained in a crash on Wednesday.

The Italian decided to skip the last two races of the 2024 season to undergo surgery on his shoulder, which he injured at the Austrian Grand Prix, leading to a recovery period during the winter.

Ahead of the upcoming pre-season, Di Giannantonio worked towards regaining full fitness and recently made a comeback to track activities at Mandalika. Last week, he participated in a private track day riding a Panigale V4 Ducati.

During the Wednesday session of the Sepang test, he was among the riders who experienced crashes, but his VR46 team initially indicated that he was unharmed.

VR46 has announced that Di Giannantonio has broken his collarbone and will return to Italy to undergo surgery, which means he will miss the remainder of the test.

Francesco Bagnaia from Ducati has stated that he sustained the injury following a second accident at Turn 5, which occurred during the practice start session at the conclusion of the day's activities.

A statement briefly announced that Fabio Di Giannantonio suffered a fracture to his left collarbone after crashing at Turn 5 during the Sepang Test.

"The rider from the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team is set to return to Italy this evening to have surgery."

Di Giannantonio is among just three racers riding a GP25 Ducati this year. He was unable to test the bike for the first time in Barcelona last November because he underwent shoulder surgery.

With only seven days remaining before the upcoming test in Buriram, Di Giannantonio faces a quick recovery to ensure he is ready to spend crucial time on the GP25 track ahead of the season's kickoff in Thailand.

Even after his accident, he managed to secure the seventh fastest time by the end of Wednesday's session, completing a total of 49 laps.

Three riders are leaving after the first day of testing because of injuries, and he is one of them.

World champion Jorge Martin, who is currently holding the title, is set to travel back to Spain for an operation due to several fractures he sustained following a severe accident on his Aprilia.

Raul Fernandez, who rides for Trackhouse Aprilia, will miss the remainder of the test to undergo surgery for a fracture in his left hand.

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Marc Marquez: Recent GP25 Improvements Noticeable, Yet Sepang MotoGP Test Reveals Ongoing Issues

Eight-time world champion kicks off pre-season testing with promising performance

Marc Marquez has noted that the newest Ducati development, introduced during the Sepang MotoGP test, shows some improvement over the GP25 model he tested in November. However, he did mention that there are still "some problems" that need to be addressed.

Last year, Marquez competed using the GP23 at Gresini. He experienced the factory Ducati equipment for the first time during the post-season test in November, where he rode both the GP24 and a prototype of the GP25.

Ducati introduced a new bike at the Sepang test this week, building on the GP25 model used in Barcelona. During the test session in Malaysia on Wednesday, Marquez clocked the second-fastest time of the day.

Marquez mentions that the general "idea" of the bike remains consistent, although in certain aspects it seems "improved," even though there are some initial problems that need addressing.

Marquez expressed that right from the initial ride, he felt extremely comfortable on the bike, as if he hadn't spent two months away from MotoGP.

"This simplifies matters significantly, as having that sense allows for more accurate feedback, which is crucial right now given that we are experimenting with numerous ideas."

"Today, we focused on the top priority, which was the engine. This is similar to what every manufacturer does because once you approve the engine, it remains unchanged throughout the entire year."

"We aimed to concentrate on the tasks at hand. A particularly encouraging aspect was that Pecco and I once again shared the same observations."

Within the team, the two riders began pursuing separate approaches while aiming to achieve the same objective.

"Alright, we're gradually working to achieve the right balance for the bike. Often, when a new bike hits the track, it can present various issues. However, the team is effectively addressing these challenges."

Essentially, the idea of the bike for the cyclist while riding remains mostly the same.

"There are a few distinctions compared to the November bike."

"There is some truth to the fact that they are beginning to address the issues. It's slightly improved compared to Barcelona. However, the 2024 model is a bike that will be available for a year, and once you start using it, it performs well."

"When you get a new bicycle, you have to learn how to balance it and discover various aspects about it."

"That's why Pecco [Bagnaia] and I are approaching things differently, yet we exchange many of our observations."

"Three days might seem like a substantial amount of time, but it's actually very limited. It's extremely brief."

Marc Marquez Highlights Characteristics of GP25

Marquez notes that the GP25 stands out due to its noticeably "smoother" engine, and he believes Ducati has successfully extracted additional power from it.

"The engine seems to be running more smoothly, which is a positive trait for the rider," he mentioned.

"You constantly seek to increase power, and we've managed to do that to some extent. However, we now need to address some issues, which I believe can be resolved with electronics and related technologies."

He mentioned that he is "very satisfied with the braking stability" of the GP25.

Marquez mentions that he is in better physical shape compared to the start of the 2024 pre-season. However, he acknowledges that his age and past injuries are affecting his readiness.

"I'm feeling really great today," he mentioned.

"However, we will find out tomorrow. I anticipate feeling more unwell physically. It's noteworthy that this is the first winter like this. Last year, the winter went well, but I underwent surgery for the arm pump."

"During the winter, I focused on training effectively. I paid close attention to my motocross sessions to ensure I was in top physical shape."

"Naturally, I have to put in extra effort and work harder than I'm accustomed to, as being 32 might be a contributing factor."

"I believe it has a lot to do with all the injuries I've experienced, so I have to put in extra effort. I accept this reality and commit to it. Out of the 24 hours in my day, I dedicate 12 to taking care of my body."

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Vinales Sets Benchmarks for a "Successful" Sepang MotoGP Trial

Vinales to spend three days acclimatizing to KTM in Malaysia

Maverick Vinales mentioned that a "productive" pre-season MotoGP test at Sepang with the KTM would help him "grasp the bike's maximum potential" rather than focus on performance metrics.

The racer, who has clinched victory in 10 grand prix events, will join KTM to compete under the Tech3 satellite team banner starting in 2025, after spending three and a half years racing with Aprilia's factory team.

Vinales expressed satisfaction with his initial trial of the RC16 in Barcelona last November but mentioned that he doesn't have specific performance objectives for his upcoming visit to Sepang this week.

"To tell the truth, I'll be occupied with my own matters," he remarked.

Adjusting to a new bicycle involves considerable effort.

"The experience is always fascinating, so I'm eager to fully immerse myself in the adaptation process. We'll find out, but I'm quite intrigued to discover how it feels on a unique circuit like Sepang."

"For me, achieving success in the test means grasping the motorcycle's threshold, comprehending the outcomes during a time trial, discerning the bike's behavior in racing conditions, and figuring out the dynamics when attempting to tail another rider."

Answering all these queries correctly will be crucial for me to ace the exam.

"Clearly, I'm not sufficiently familiar with the bike to determine what's improved or not."

"The sensation is palpable, and the indications are clear. However, my primary goal is to address the myriad of queries swirling in my thoughts."

Maverick Vinales eyes satellite team potential in 2025 MotoGP season

2025 marks Vinales' debut year with a MotoGP satellite team, which maintains a strong connection with the main factory team, as evidenced by all four KTMs sharing the same color scheme this season.

Vinales views the transition to a satellite team positively, especially after Pramac's victory in the championship last year, led by Jorge Martin.

"He also mentioned that the atmosphere was pleasant."

"Each of us is dedicated to a singular purpose, and I truly believe this is crucial."

"Previously, a satellite team determined the outcome of the championship, hence currently, it doesn't seem to be a matter of debate."

"Perhaps in past years, indeed, in a different time. But today, the bicycles are completely identical, without any differences."

"The sentiment among the team members is upbeat and optimistic, suggesting that this is likely to yield excellent results."

"At the moment, the priority is to maintain simplicity and ensure we proceed efficiently."

"In conclusion, assistance is also provided by the manufacturing facility. On a technical level, it appears to be the case, yet upon closer inspection, it does not seem to match that expectation."

Remarks offered by Peter McLaren, the Editor at Crash MotoGP

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Fabio Quartararo clarifies the significance of a single-word alert on his dashboard, which serves as a reminder for him. He mentions that his natural tendency when he is on the track is to push himself to the limit.

On the opening day of the Sepang MotoGP official test, Fabio Quartararo was on his third day of riding in Malaysia. He keeps a single-word note in his cockpit as a reminder.

On the first day in Sepang, Quartararo was seen with the word 'smooth' displayed in his rider cockpit. He mentioned that this was an intentional move to adapt his riding technique.

"Quartararo mentioned that it was last year, particularly when they began focusing on the electronics, specifically from Thailand, that he noticed how the Ducati was performing in a certain manner. He expressed his desire to completely overhaul the electronics himself."

"When I'm on the track, my natural tendency is to push as hard as possible and make the most of every moment with the bike."

"Occasionally, a sense of going slower can actually help you go faster. To remind myself of this, I always have the word 'smooth' on my dashboard, which encourages me to remain composed while riding."

In general, Quartararo expressed optimism regarding his initial day at the official testing.

"We primarily focused on testing some electronics today, revisiting various settings that we had extensively examined during the Shakedown. It was essentially a reconfirmation," he explained.

"It was a positive day, particularly for the engineers, as it provided insight into the path we need to take."

Quartararo commented, "I prefer not to be overly optimistic from the start. I believe our approach is effective."

"It's just the initial day of the examination, and we still need to observe the remaining ones as well."

"It's clear that numerous participants started off at a rapid pace on the opening day, yet we have now been here for three days."

"We must maintain a neutral stance, focus on doing our job effectively, and we'll find out our position when we get to Thailand."

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Marco Bezzecchi highlights a standout feature of Aprilia that truly captivated him

Marco Bezzecchi provides a first impression of his recent Aprilia experience

Marco Bezzecchi has expressed his admiration for the Aprilia, even after parting ways with a Ducati.

Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin are set to be Aprilia's refreshed factory team pairing this year, however, each will need to adjust from their previous roles on varying Ducati models.

Martin secured the 2024 MotoGP championship riding a top-specification Ducati, whereas Bezzecchi struggled to adapt to the 2023 model he competed with in the previous season.

Sporting Aprilia's livery, he's optimistic about embarking on a new chapter, starting with the official Sepang test happening this week.

"Bezzecchi mentioned, “I require additional time cycling. But all things considered, I have no grievances.”

"We have identified both strengths and areas for improvement that we will focus on enhancing."

Overall, I have no grievances regarding the bicycle or its manufacturing.

"The initial sensation? Right away, I sensed it was truly excellent."

"The response from the forefront was incredible; it truly met my expectations."

"I found it genuinely remarkable."

"Discovering this assurance with the front end right away is fantastic, as it's more crucial than the back end when riding."

Bezzecchi transitions from Ducati to Aprilia

A significant change from last season's Ducati for Bezzecchi is the introduction of a manual ride height adjustment mechanism on his Aprilia.

"He maintained it was changed, yet not inferior."

"At times, it's beneficial to possess a gadget that operates instantly. It's not a switch, but rather a lever."

"I have to adapt to it. At Montmelo, we began our efforts on this front. I began to grasp the optimal timing for activating the device.

"In this place, I will be granted additional days to gain understanding."

Lorenzo Savadori conducted testing for Aprilia during the previous weekend's Shakedown.

Bezzecchi mentioned, "We had conversations with Sava as well as the entire Trackhouse team, including specifically the factory."

The team at Aprilia Racing has put in a great deal of effort this winter. It's time for us to provide our input.

"Starting off on the right foot is essential."

We maintained communication all through the colder months.

Following the Montmelo race, we shared our insights on the motorcycle's performance. Throughout the winter, they focused on addressing our comments and suggestions.

"My remarks and those made by Jorge were alike, giving them a straightforward path to adhere to."

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

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Jorge Martin Discusses His “Fixation” and Initial Goal with Aprilia

"I plan to maintain my approach from the previous season…”

Defending MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin has expressed that his primary goal for his debut season with Aprilia is to reach his highest potential, instead of concentrating solely on achieving specific outcomes.

Martin carries the prestigious #1 plate over to Aprilia following his championship victory with Ducati, a team that reversed its decision last year to elevate him to its premier squad.

The global titleholder completed a day of trials on the RS-GP in Barcelona last November and will proceed with getting accustomed to the motorcycle during this week's pre-season testing in Sepang.

As the reigning world champion and now a member of a factory team, there's a lot of anticipation surrounding Martin's performance in the upcoming season – however, he doesn't view it from the same perspective.

"Currently, I'm not experiencing any stress," he stated.

"What I'm aiming for is to achieve positive outcomes. However, I plan to maintain the same mindset I had in the previous season."

"I didn't have my sights set on victory. My aim was to improve daily, to become the best version of myself."

"I am deeply passionate about becoming the greatest version of myself, and when that moment arrives, it simply happens."

Jorge Martin senses a duty at Aprilia

"In my attempt to influence the mindset around here, I noticed upon my arrival that everyone was fixated on 'winning is a must, winning is a must'," he mentioned.

"However, victory isn't our primary goal. Our focus is on giving it our all and then assessing our capabilities. We possess considerable potential, but only time will reveal our true standing."

He stated, "I believe the stress I experienced last season will unlikely be matched at any point in my life."

"I don't experience pressure, rather I sense a sense of duty. It's about duty, not pressure."

"Competing for a championship brings immense pressure, the most intense kind. Reflecting on my experiences over the past few years, especially last year, it was an insane journey."

"Now, I'm truly at ease, eager to showcase my abilities."

"I've shed a significant burden and now my concentration is solely on excelling. Undoubtedly, bearing the weight of the entire factory's expectations is a responsibility."

Martin mentions that developing the close-knit "family" bond he experienced at Pramac is a gradual process at Aprilia due to his recent involvement with the team. However, he believes he has established a more solid connection with the leadership at Aprilia than he previously had at Ducati.

"He expressed the sentiment that, without a doubt, they have not yet achieved the level of cohesion reminiscent of the Pramac team."

"Arriving after spending four years with the same group and organization is notably challenging."

"I've brought along a few individuals from Pramac. I was already familiar with some folks at Aprilia through Aleix [Espargaro], so it seems like the team is meshing well together.

Additionally, it feels like a large familial community where I now share a connection with the supervisors, something that was previously non-existent for me.

"Therefore, I believe I'm genuinely involved in the project now and can contribute significantly. It's like when you step into this space, you're surrounded by a positive atmosphere. So, this is truly wonderful."

Statements furnished by Peter McLaren, the Editor for Crash MotoGP

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2025 MotoGP Official Sepang Test: Fabio Quartararo Sets the Pace Ahead of Marc Marquez on Opening Day

Exciting Start to Testing in Malaysia

On the first day of the 2025 MotoGP test in Sepang, Fabio Quartararo from Yamaha took the lead ahead of Marc Marquez, while the current champion, Jorge Martin, experienced a significant accident.

Fabio Quartararo dominated the timing charts for a significant portion of the initial testing day at Sepang, following his earlier participation in the shakedown session the previous week.

The Yamaha factory rider concluded the day with the quickest time, clocking in at 1 minute and 57.555 seconds, while conducting a testing program with three M1 motorcycles.

Overall, Yamaha has a lineup of 12 motorcycles shared among its factory team riders, the Pramac team, and test rider Augusto Fernandez, as the company aims to improve its position on the racing grid.

Quartararo was in the lead at the conclusion of the second hour, clocking a time of 1 minute 57.999 seconds, and then bettered that with a time of 1 minute 57.754 seconds.

With slightly more than 30 minutes remaining, Quartararo established a fresh standard with a time of 1 minute and 57.555 seconds, which is a little more than one second shy of the absolute lap record at Sepang.

The 2021 world champion faced a late challenge from Marc Marquez, the factory Ducati racer, who clocked a time of 1 minute 57.606 seconds after completing 54 laps on the GP25.

He led his brother, Alex Marquez, who rides for Gresini Ducati and had a moment at the front on Wednesday. Meanwhile, his rookie teammate, Fermin Aldeguer, was 0.297 seconds behind, securing fourth place.

Aldeguer participated in the shakedown event last week, which contributed to his strong placement on the first day's leaderboard.

The significant event on Wednesday involved a severe accident for current world champion Martin, who was thrown off his Aprilia motorcycle at Turn 2 earlier that day.

Martin, who experienced two crashes during his second day riding an Aprilia, has been transported to the hospital to undergo additional examinations.

The day of testing was marked by numerous crashes, with several riders experiencing falls. Among them was Franco Morbidelli from VR46 Ducati, who fortunately emerged unscathed and secured the fifth spot on his GP24.

Joan Mir was the leading Honda rider, finishing in sixth place. He was followed by Fabio Di Giannantonio from VR46, who made a comeback after missing the previous two rounds in 2024 due to undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury.

Jack Miller secured the eighth position representing the Pramac Yamaha team, finishing ahead of LCR Honda's Johann Zarco and Miguel Oliveira, who was riding the other Pramac M1.

Pedro Acosta, who had a minor fall earlier, was the top KTM rider, finishing in 11th place.

He led his teammate Brad Binder and Maverick Vinales, who was riding the Tech3 KTM. Francesco Bagnaia, on his factory Ducati, secured the 17th position with a time of 1 minute and 58.947 seconds, while Marco Bezzecchi, representing Aprilia, finished in 18th place.

Raul Fernandez, a rider for Trackhouse Aprilia, experienced a serious accident on the first day at Sepang and has been sidelined because of his injuries. He is currently returning to Barcelona to undergo surgery.

Results from the First Day of Testing at Sepang

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Trackhouse leader comments on the "bizarre" incident involving Raul Fernandez in Sepang.

Davide Brivio discusses the timeline for Raul Fernandez's recovery after injury.

Davide Brivio, the head of the Trackhouse MotoGP team, described Raul Fernandez's crash that concluded the test at Sepang as "somewhat unusual."

On the opening day of Aprilia's pre-season, which was marked by the reigning world champion Jorge Martin being hospitalized following a severe accident, Fernandez has been ruled out from continuing after experiencing a mishap at Turn 9.

Fernandez has sustained a fracture in the metacarpal bone of his left hand along with a broken little toe. He is currently on his way back to Barcelona to undergo surgery.

In an interview with MotoGP's After the Flag, Brivio mentioned that it was somewhat unusual as he remained composed and unhurried.

"Regrettably, he experienced an accident while trying to brake at Turn 9."

"He has now broken his left hand. We're arranging for him to return to Barcelona, where he will attempt to undergo surgery at the earliest opportunity."

He is hopeful about being ready to return for the Thailand event, as is typical with riders.

"Let's wait and hear from the doctors about the situation and how the surgery proceeds. We'll conduct all necessary tests, and in the next few days, we'll have a clearer understanding of what's happening."

Trackhouse Remarks on the Comeback of Raul Fernandez

Fernandez was absent from the entire initial pre-season testing session last year following an accident.

Brivio mentioned that Raul is eager to attend the Buriram test, noting that he experienced a comparable injury three or four years prior.

In just under a week, he returned to cycling and, if I recall correctly, he went on to win a race.

He wishes to replicate the process. However, as I mentioned, his plan is to return to Barcelona. There, I believe he intends to consult Dr. Xavier Mir for the operation. We will pay attention to his updates and proceed with additional evaluations to monitor the situation.

The status of Martin's health is currently unclear, and there is a possibility that Aprilia may have to finish the Sepang test with just two out of their four racers.

However, Brivio mentions that the testing schedule for newcomer Ai Ogura will remain the same.

"There has been no improvement," he commented regarding Ogura, who finished the first day in 16th place after completing 58 laps.

"We are also very satisfied with our collaboration with him and his approach to MotoGP."

"We describe it as a form of education, what he's currently engaged in. There are numerous things he has to learn, comprehend, become familiar with, and explore."

Here's what we're up to: following a three-day testing period, we're focusing on adjusting with worn-out tires and fine-tuning the electronic settings. Our aim is to understand how the motorcycle performs when the tire grip decreases—those kinds of aspects.

"There is a lot for him to learn, but it's reassuring to watch how he tackles it. He remains composed, asks questions, and seeks to grasp the concepts. Everything's going well so far."

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