Aprilia responds strongly to Michelin amid escalating debate over Jorge Martin’s crash

Massimo Rivola sharply criticizes Piero Taramasso

Jorge Martin has had an operation to address the injury he got during the Sepang test. However, questions linger about the reasons behind his crash.

On Wednesday, the MotoGP titleholder experienced a severe crash, hitting the asphalt face-first, which resulted in injuries to his hand and foot.

Following his operation, Aprilia has strongly refuted Michelin's assertion regarding the cause of the incident.

Jorge Martin has a successful operation Jorge Martin had a successful procedure on his right hand on Friday.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Xavier Mir in Barcelona.

He sustained a closed fracture to the head of the fifth metacarpal bone in his right hand and closed fractures to the third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal bones in his left foot.

He was hospitalized for a night in Malaysia before going back to Spain to undergo surgery.

Martin's foot injury does not need an operation, and doctors will evaluate his recovery timeline in the next few days.

Dr. Mir stated: "Jorge Martín, the rider, has had an operation to address a displaced fracture in the head of his right fifth metacarpal. The procedure involved reduction and percutaneous fixation with the use of an intramedullary screw."

"The recovery of functions will begin shortly, depending on the patient's clinical condition."

Massimo Rivola, the CEO of Aprilia, expressed his relief that Jorge's surgery was successful and emphasized that a quick recovery is now the main focus, with Jorge's well-being being the top priority.

Dispute between Aprilia and Michelin

Following Martin's crash, Aprilia's chief, Rivola, quickly asserted that the incident wasn't due to any issues with the motorcycle or mistakes made by the rider.

The remark suggested that his Michelin tire might have been at fault.

On Friday morning, Piero Taramasso, who is in charge of two-wheel operations at Michelin Motorsport, shared his perspective on what he thinks led to the accident.

Initially, Massimo Rivola mentioned that the tire temperature was acceptable. However, according to Taramasso, he was referring to the surface temperature of the tire, which can fluctuate significantly due to factors like sliding and the bike's spinning.

"The temperature at the back, which is the key metric we use to determine whether the tire is functioning properly, is measured from the inner layer. This data, for example, is provided by the McLaren sensor."

Taramasso stated, "The final takeaway is straightforward: when Jorge departed the pit for his last attempt prior to the accident, the tire's temperature was 15 degrees lower."

"Therefore, 15 degrees is a significant amount."

However, Rivola from Aprilia has rejected that assertion.

In response to the crash, Aprilia clarified that their data does not support Piero Taramasso's claims.

"I think ensuring the safety of the riders is paramount, and I've already advised him to organize a meeting with all the teams to address what is obviously a serious issue, highlighted by the rising number of injuries."

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Aprilia responds to Michelin amid escalating conflict over Jorge Martin's crash

Massimo Rivola issued a stern statement directed at Piero Taramasso

Jorge Martin has had an operation to address the injury he suffered during the Sepang test, but questions remain about the reasons behind his accident.

The MotoGP titleholder suffered a severe fall on Wednesday, landing face-first on the pavement, which resulted in injuries to his hand and foot.

Following the operation, Aprilia has strongly refuted Michelin's assertion regarding the cause of the incident.

Jorge Martin has a successful operation

On Friday, Martin had a successful procedure on his right hand.

The surgery was performed on him by Dr. Xavier Mir in Barcelona.

He sustained a fracture in the head of the fifth metacarpal bone in his right hand and also suffered fractures in the third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal bones in his left foot, all of which were closed fractures.

He stayed overnight in a Malaysian hospital and then traveled back to Spain to undergo an operation.

Martin's foot injury does not need an operation, and the evaluation of how long his recovery will take is expected in the next few days.

According to Dr. Mir, Jorge Martín, the rider, had an operation to address a displaced fracture in the head of his right fifth metacarpal. The procedure involved reducing the fracture and securing it with a percutaneous fixation using an intramedullary screw.

"The restoration of function is expected to commence soon, based on the patient's clinical condition."

Aprilia's Chief Executive Officer, Massimo Rivola, expressed his relief that Jorge's surgery was successful and emphasized that the main focus now is on his quick recovery, with his well-being being the top concern.

Dispute between Aprilia and Michelin

Following Martin's accident, Aprilia leader Rivola promptly claimed that the mishap was not due to any fault in the motorcycle or any mistake by the rider.

The remark suggested that the responsibility lay with his Michelin tire.

On Friday morning, Piero Taramasso, who manages the two-wheel segment at Michelin Motorsport, shared his thoughts on what he believes led to the crash.

Initially, Massimo Rivola mentioned that the tire temperature was acceptable. However, he was referring to the surface temperature of the tire, which can change significantly based on factors like sliding and the bike's spin, Taramasso explained.

"The temperature at the back, specifically the value that helps us determine whether the tire is functioning properly, is the temperature of the inner layer. For example, this information is provided by the McLaren sensor."

Taramasso stated, "The findings are evident: before Jorge's accident, when he exited the pit for his final stint, the tire was 15 degrees cooler."

"Therefore, 15 degrees is a significant amount."

However, Aprilia's Rivola has rejected that assertion.

Aprilia stated that concerning the accident, their data does not support the claims made by Piero Taramasso.

"I think the safety of the riders must come first, and I have proposed that he arrange a meeting with all the teams to address this serious issue in a productive way, given the high number of injuries."

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Summary of Day 2 at the 2025 Sepang MotoGP Official Testing

Chronicle of the events from Thursday's continuation of the 2025 Sepang MotoGP official testing.

The second session of the official Sepang MotoGP testing kicked off at 10am on Thursday, following a challenging first day that resulted in injuries to Jorge Martin, Fabio di Giannantonio, and Raul Fernandez.

On the first day, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo led the pack, with Ducati's recent recruit, Marc Marquez, trailing closely behind.

There are only five designated days for official pre-season trials, split between three days in Sepang and two in Buriram, leading up to the inaugural race of the 2025 MotoGP season in Thailand on February 28.

Trials at Sepang are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., succeeded by sessions for practice launches…

Lap times at 6pm – Sepang MotoGP Official Test, Second Day

The moment has arrived for the beginning of practice, a highly anticipated time for spectators, team personnel, and journalists, all of whom gather at the start/finish line.

Here's to wishing that what happened to di Giannantonio last night doesn't happen again. The VR46 team member suffered a fall due to an unintended wheelie, resulting in a broken collarbone during a practice start on the track.

As the clock hits 6pm and the second day of the Official Sepang test wraps up, several riders are in the midst of setting their personal best times. However, none are close to overtaking the long-standing frontrunner, Franco Morbidelli.

The rider from VR46 concluded the session with a lead of 0.114 seconds over Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo.

Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer, Francesco Bagnaia, Joan Mir, Pedro Acosta, Miguel Oliveira, Marco Bezzecchi, and Jack Miller round out the top ten.

Approaching the final 10 minutes, Fabio Quartararo, who is just behind Morbidelli in second place, is achieving record-breaking sector times. The leader from the Shakedown is aiming to maintain his leading position for another consecutive day…

…however, as the second half of the lap progresses, he loses time and stays 0.114 seconds adrift of Morbidelli.

Acosta advances in his time trial, ascending to 6th place. His team colleague, Brad Binder, has moved up to 9th position.

With 25 minutes remaining, Pedro Acosta moves up into the top ten, securing the eighth position.

Bagnaia, who skipped a time attack the previous day, is achieving personal records in sectors and has now moved up to 5th, trailing behind Morbidelli, Quartararo, and Alex Marquez.

Lap times as of 5pm – Official Sepang MotoGP Testing, Second Day

With just over an hour left in the testing session, the leading ten positions are currently held by: Morbidelli, Quartararo, A. Marquez, Aldeguer, Oliveira, Bagnaia, Zarco, Miller, Rins, and Mir.

Francesco Bagnaia has climbed to the 6th position. His team member, Marc Marquez, remains in 11th place.

The mercury is falling, and we're beginning to see personal records being broken on the timing displays. There's an hour and fifteen minutes left of the second day's testing session.

Lap times at 4pm – Sepang MotoGP Test Official Results, Second Day

The showers have cleared and bicycles have returned to the path.

The illuminated rain signals flicker along the primary straightaway, prompting every racer on the circuit to come in.

It

As we approach 4pm, it appears the temperature is beginning to drop, prompting more riders to hit the track. With the cooler conditions, we can expect faster lap times leading up to the track's closure at 6pm.

Alex Marquez ends his quiet period, returning to the circuit with Gresini. He's presently in third place, trailing the test front-runner Franco Morbidelli by a mere 0.130 seconds, who is also riding a Ducati GP24.

Lap times as of 3pm – Day 2 Official MotoGP Testing in Sepang

Several ominous clouds are beginning to form above the final stretch, and considering today's warmth, it wouldn't be shocking if the typical afternoon storm of Sepang decides to show up eventually.

As of 2:25 PM local time, the track remains empty with no riders in sight.

Maximum velocities achieved today:

Lap results at 2pm – Official Sepang MotoGP Trials, Second Day

At 2pm in the blistering heat of Sepang, the leading trio remains Morbidelli, Quartararo, and Alex Marquez.

At present, just three motorcycles are navigating the circuit, specifically the Ducati GP25s ridden by Marc Marquez (in 9th place), his Ducati colleague Francesco Bagnaia (positioned 13th), and test pilot Michele Pirro (ranked 20th), likely collecting information under simulated race conditions.

Leading six: Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer, Miguel Oliveira, Johann Zarco.

Lap times at 12pm – Sepang MotoGP Official Testing, Second Day

Just past noon and, with the rising temperatures, it's going to be more challenging to achieve faster lap times.

Franco Morbidelli remains in the lead, followed by Fabio Quartararo, Alex Marquez, and Fermin Aldeguer. Meanwhile, Miguel Oliveira has climbed to fifth place riding for Pramac Yamaha, with Johann Zarco securing the sixth spot for LCR Honda.

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2025 Official Sepang MotoGP Test – Day 2 Coverage

Summary of the second day’s events at the 2025 Official Sepang MotoGP testing.

Following a grueling first day that resulted in injuries to Jorge Martin, Fabio di Giannantonio, and Raul Fernandez, the Official Sepang testing resumed for its second day at 10am on Thursday.

On the first day, Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo led the shakedown, clocking the fastest time ahead of Ducati's new recruit, Marc Marquez.

A mere five days have been allocated for formal pre-season trials, with three days scheduled at Sepang followed by two at Buriram, leading up to the kickoff of the 2025 MotoGP season in Thailand on February 28.

Trials at Sepang are scheduled from 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening, succeeded by practice launches…

Lap times at 6pm – Sepang MotoGP Official Test, Second Day

The time for practice to begin has arrived, a highlight of the day eagerly anticipated by fans, team personnel, and journalists, all of whom gather at the start/finish line.

Here's to wishing that we don't see a recurrence of di Giannantonio's regrettable wheelie mishap from the previous evening, where the VR46 team member took a fall and fractured his collarbone during a practice start lap around the circuit.

As the clock hits 6pm, marking the close of the second day at the Sepang Official test, several riders continue to clock their personal best times. However, none have come close to challenging the long-standing frontrunner, Franco Morbidelli.

The rider from VR46 ended the day with a 0.114-second lead over Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo.

Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer, Francesco Bagnaia, Joan Mir, Pedro Acosta, Miguel Oliveira, Marco Bezzecchi, and Jack Miller round out the leading ten.

With just 10 minutes remaining, Fabio Quartararo, who is right behind Morbidelli in second place, is achieving record-breaking sector times. The leader of the Shakedown is aiming to maintain his leading position for the second consecutive day…

…however, as the lap progresses into its latter stages, he finds himself losing time and ends up 0.114 seconds adrift of Morbidelli.

Acosta advances his time trial, moving up to 6th place, while his team-mate Brad Binder makes progress to 9th.

With 25 minutes remaining, Pedro Acosta climbs into the top ten, securing the eighth position.

Bagnaia, who opted out of a time trial yesterday, is now recording his fastest sector times and has moved up to 5th place, trailing behind Morbidelli, Quartararo, and Alex Marquez.

Lap times at 5pm – Authorized Sepang MotoGP Trials, Second Day

With slightly more than an hour left in the testing session, the leading ten riders are as follows: Morbidelli leads, followed by Quartararo, A. Marquez, Aldeguer, Oliveira, Bagnaia, Zarco, Miller, Rins, and Mir in that order.

Francesco Bagnaia has advanced to 6th place. Meanwhile, his team member Marc Marquez remains in 11th position.

The mercury is falling, and the timing displays are beginning to light up with orange indicators (signifying personal records). There's 1 hour and 15 minutes left of the second day's test session.

Lap times at 4pm – Sepang MotoGP Official Test, Second Day

The showers have moved on, and bicycles are once again hitting the road.

The main straight is illuminated by blinking rain lights, prompting all the riders on the track to come in.

It

Approaching 4pm, it appears the temperature is beginning to drop, prompting more cyclists to hit the track. With the track set to close at 6pm, we can expect to see better lap times as conditions improve.

Alex Marquez ends his quiet period, returning to the circuit with Gresini. Presently, Marquez holds the third position, trailing the top tester Franco Morbidelli by merely 0.130 seconds, who is also riding a Ducati GP24.

Lap times as of 3pm – Sepang MotoGP Official Testing, Second Day

Some ominous clouds are beginning to form above the final stretch, and considering today's warm temperatures, it wouldn't be shocking if the typical Sepang late-day storm decides to show up eventually.

As of 2:25pm local time, the track remains empty with no riders present.

Fastest velocities reached today:

2pm race circuit results – Official Sepang MotoGP Trial, Second Day

At 2pm in the blisteringly hot Sepang, the leading trio remains Morbidelli, Quartararo, and Alex Marquez.

At present, just three motorcycles are on the circuit, those being the Ducati GP25s ridden by Marc Marquez in 9th position, his Ducati colleague Francesco Bagnaia in 13th, and test pilot Michele Pirro ranking 20th, likely collecting information under 'race time' scenarios.

Leading six: Franco Morbidelli, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Marquez, Fermin Aldeguer, Miguel Oliveira, Johann Zarco.

Lap times as of 12pm – Official Sepang MotoGP Trials, Second Day

It's just past noon, and with the current high temperatures, achieving faster lap times will be more challenging.

Franco Morbidelli continues to lead ahead of Fabio Quartararo, Alex Marquez, and Fermin Aldeguer, while Miguel Oliveira has moved up to fifth position representing Pramac Yamaha, followed by Johann Zarco in sixth for LCR Honda.

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A MotoGP newcomer is pleasantly taken aback by how quickly he's adjusting

"In the simulator, I felt really comfortable…"

During the Shakedown last weekend, Fermin Aldeguer managed to participate in a Sprint simulation where he demonstrated remarkable speed, even though he experienced a crash early on.

"During the simulation, it was an amazing experience," he expressed. "There was a minor accident on the second lap, yet once I got my bike back up, I kept going and the sensation was phenomenal."

"Tomorrow, we'll conduct another simulation to examine the changes between the Shakedown and the present. This will help us understand our current position."

Indeed, Aldeguer has the advantage of riding the Ducati Desmosedici GP24, one of the most formidable motorcycles in the history of MotoGP, during his first season. He is also collaborating with crew chief Frankie Carchedi, who previously led Marc Marquez to three Grand Prix wins in 2024 and guided Joan Mir to a championship title in just his second year in the top tier.

However, it's also accurate to say that in just a few days as a MotoGP rider, Aldeguer has proven he can match the speed of riders with significantly more experience on identical bikes.

Aldeguer himself acknowledged that he has spent an additional three days at the Sepang circuit this year compared to many of his competitors, due to his participation in the Shakedown the previous weekend. However, when questioned whether his rapid adjustment to the MotoGP motorcycle was unexpected, the Spanish rider confidently answered, “Yes, definitely.”

"In conclusion, we participate for an additional three days compared to other competitors," he added, "yet the racecourse remains identical for everyone involved."

"We must keep going in this manner – ignoring our current standing and the clock – simply relying on my intuition and my ability to adjust, as we're making significant progress every day."

Just like other newcomers to MotoGP, Aldeguer is getting used to the series, and a significant aspect of this transition involves adapting to the tyres. In MotoGP, the Michelins offer a different feel and performance compared to the Dunlops and, as of late, the Pirellis he previously used in Moto2.

"Aldeguer stated, 'The difference comes not only from the new tyres but also from the bike itself, which has been entirely changed.'"

"In the Moto2, I'm able to maintain speed through the curve, whereas with the MotoGP motorcycle, although possible, it's not the optimal method for achieving high speeds. The strategy involves aggressive braking followed by leveraging the bike's electronics to navigate the corner's exit. I'm not noticing a difference in the tire's performance."

Aldeguer mentioned, however, that when it comes to wear, Pirelli tires exhibit comparable traits to Michelin tires, especially when contrasted with the Dunlops that Moto2 utilized up until the conclusion of 2023.

"Aldeguer noted that in this regard, the Pirelli shares more similarities with the Michelin in terms of experiencing a noticeable decline, necessitating perhaps the same approach, yet it remains entirely distinct."

"Currently, I'm figuring out how to utilize this Michelin tire effectively, focusing on its application during braking and exiting maneuvers."

One of the challenges in grasping tyre performance during the Sepang test sessions stems from the restricted number of tyres provided, along with the medium-compound tyres not being well-suited to the prevailing conditions. This situation has led many riders to opt for conserving their supply of soft tyres rather than utilizing a medium one.

"Aldeguer mentioned that he exclusively utilized the soft [compound] tyre, explaining that the medium one doesn't perform as well."

Yesterday, we witnessed the accidents and all the chaos that ensued. Now is not the time to gamble; it's wiser to play it safe, avoid errors, and begin the season on a positive note without straying from our path.

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Ducati is facing a significant challenge, yet it poses an even greater concern for its competitors. The 2025 pre-season began for Ducati just as the 2024 season concluded, but the team departs Malaysia with a problem to address and only two more testing days remaining.

MotoGP pre-season testing is filled with numerous conditions and exceptions, rendering any concrete assessment of the on-track activities nearly unattainable. However, by interpreting the subtleties, one can often uncover some solid indications about the hierarchy of performance.

After the conclusion of the three-day testing session at Sepang, the results mirrored those from the conclusion of the previous year. Alex Marquez, riding the Gresini-operated GP24, achieved the fastest lap with a time of 1 minute 56.493 seconds. This time was just 0.156 seconds short of the all-time lap record established by Francesco Bagnaia during the qualifying rounds of last season's Malaysian Grand Prix.

In the combined rankings, Ducati claimed four out of the top five positions. Alex Marquez was closely followed by Bagnaia, while Franco Morbidelli from VR46 secured fourth place on a GP24, and Marc Marquez took fifth riding a factory Ducati.

When it comes to sheer performance, Ducati has a significant edge according to the top laps recorded by each manufacturer.

Top Speeds Achieved by Each

During time attack laps, the difference between the fastest and slowest times across the five manufacturers was just 0.835 seconds. In defense of Aprilia, the team faced the challenge of conducting the Sepang test without the participation of reigning world champion Jorge Martin and Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez, who was the sole returning Aprilia rider in 2025 and was out due to injuries. Consequently, the majority of the testing responsibilities fell to Marco Bezzecchi, newcomer Ai Ogura, and test rider Lorenzo Savadori.

Despite lacking confidence to fully push the RS-GP during his initial serious qualifying attempt, Bezzecchi managed to clock a lap time that was 0.718 seconds faster than the quickest Aprilia during the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying. This impressive performance placed him within the top 10 on the test timesheets.

Although Yamaha's advancements during the testing appear to be authentic, the exceptionally high grip levels on the last day, which Marc Marquez described as "unreal," somewhat distort the overall results.

The M1 continues to face challenges with its rear grip issues, and a significant amount of rubber on the track is likely to conceal these problems. Additionally, Yamaha had the advantage of two additional days for their race riders during the shakedown. Nonetheless, the achievement of improving its best-ever lap time at Sepang by 0.868 seconds since last November is highly remarkable, a point that Bagnaia mentioned following the test.

A change in the team supporting Ducati is expected this season, and Yamaha's performance has been notably impressive.

Ducati GP24 Stands Out in Sepang Testing

Today, both Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez successfully finished their Sprint race simulations. Pecco achieved an average lap time of 1 minute and 58.243 seconds, while Marc recorded an average of 1 minute and 57.930 seconds. #MotoGP #SepangTest

— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 7, 2025

The GP24's performance is as expected. This motorcycle claimed victory in 19 out of the 20 grand prix races last season, such as the Malaysian GP, and is perfectly tuned. Alex Marquez and Franco Morbidelli are focused solely on riding and enhancing their comfort and confidence with the bike, without needing to engage in any development efforts.

This significant benefit has allowed Ducati riders, even those with just a year of experience, to achieve early success in the MotoGP season. In 2022, Enea Bastianini secured three out of his four grand prix victories on the GP21 bike within the initial seven rounds. Similarly, in 2023, Bezzecchi clinched two out of his three wins on the GP22 bike in the first five grand prix events.

It was expected that Alex Marquez would be at the forefront during the sprint simulations on the last day of testing.

Average Results from Sprint Simulation on Day Three in Sepang Testing

During the sprint simulation, Alex Marquez clocked an average time that was 0.595 seconds quicker than the pace Jorge Martin used to secure victory in the 2024 Malaysian GP sprint. Similarly, Marc Marquez recorded a time that was 0.567 seconds faster. Although grip levels significantly influence these results, this achievement marks a noteworthy improvement, particularly for Marc Marquez.

Last year, while racing in the Sepang sprint on the Gresini-managed GP23, his average speed was 1 minute 58.550 seconds, earning him second place. The eight-time world titleholder secured victory in three grand prix events with the often-criticized GP23 last season and ended up third overall in the championship standings, significantly outperforming the next-best GP23 competitor by a margin of 219 points.

A major question mark for 2024 was the potential impact Marquez might have had riding a GP24 alongside Bagnaia and Martin. The Sepang test has provided some insight into this speculation, yet the status of Ducati's 2025 model continues to be unclear.

Ducati Faces Engine Dilemma

At the Sepang testing sessions, attention has largely centered on evaluating the differences between the GP25 and GP24 engines. With a two-year engine development freeze set to begin for manufacturers without concessions starting from the Thai Grand Prix, the current decision is of significant importance.

Adding to Ducati's challenges is the exceptional performance of the GP24, which means that the GP25 engine must demonstrate a noticeable improvement before it can be approved.

Marquez, experiencing his initial fall while riding for the factory Ducati team on Thursday, remained reserved about which bike he utilized during his sprint simulation. He merely commented, "It was a mix. I used the 2024 aero, but you can't see the other parts… Therefore, I only mention the aero."

Bagnaia, a member of the team, mentioned that Ducati opted for "two distinct bike setups" to enhance the collection of data.

Consequently, he believes his speed didn't truly reflect his capabilities, explaining, "I wasn't very satisfied because there was an issue causing some vibration. It wasn't like last year, but with each lap, it became more problematic."

Bagnaia had just a single opportunity to push for a time attack and feels he didn't fully capitalize on it. Despite this, he was a mere 0.007 seconds behind Alex Marquez's fastest lap and managed to stay more than half a second ahead of his teammate, Marc Marquez.

Ducati has previously faced uncertainty regarding their engine specifications during pre-season.

Just before the 2022 season began, Bagnaia made the decision to change the factory motorcycles to a hybrid engine combining elements from the 2021 and 2022 models. This choice was made because the complete 2022 engine did not suit his riding style and caused issues during testing. This turned out to be a wise decision, as Bagnaia went on to win the championship. Meanwhile, the Pramac team, which was required to use the full 2022 engine, faced difficulties.

This situation isn't exactly the same for Ducati, but Marquez points out that the foundation the brand has for 2024 is "challenging to enhance." He also advises being careful about the path they choose.

"You need to be confident that it's an improvement, as with the 2024 model, you can fully compete for the championship," he stated.

In that situation, we experimented with various elements since it's not just about the engine or the aerodynamics. There are numerous minor factors involved. Today, our focus was on those small details, aiming to determine which components are superior and which ones fall short.

The speed demonstrated by Alex Marquez on the GP24 is likely to contribute to the ambiguity about the path Ducati intends to pursue. However, neither rider believed this would have an impact, as Bagnaia pointed out that evaluating a factory bike often initially reduces performance.

The last two days of testing in Buriram are critical for Ducati as it prepares to make a decision that will affect the upcoming two seasons. However, the situation seems positive regardless of the outcome: Ducati will either compete with an engine that has already won championships or with an improved version of it.

Regardless of the situation, Ducati continues to hold a leading position, though there are indications that their competitors are becoming more formidable.

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Jorge Martin's Substitute Elaborates on Aprilia's Progress During His Recovery

Aprilia's Sepang Trials Proceed Unhindered by Jorge Martin's Injury

Lorenzo Savadori has taken on the majority of Aprilia's testing responsibilities, originally assigned to Jorge Martin.

Following a severe accident on Wednesday, MotoGP titleholder Martin will miss the remaining two days of the official Sepang trials.

On Wednesday, Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse was involved in an accident that resulted in injuries, resulting in Aprilia losing half of their racing team.

Consequently, test rider Savadori has been assigned to fill in for Martin.

"Instead of my test bike, we're using the official riders' bike," Savadori stated on Thursday in Sepang.

We experimented with various aerodynamic designs and an alternative electronic configuration.

"Our priority lies in advancing the bicycle's design, rather than its performance. It's essential for us to gain a deeper comprehension of certain solutions."

"We utilized certain components for the initial time in this context. During the preliminary testing, there wasn't enough time."

Savadori asserts that Aprilia is advancing in addressing their braking issue.

"Indeed, this bicycle represents an advancement over its predecessor, particularly in terms of braking capabilities," he stated.

"It's insufficient, yet it's a small move in the right direction."

Enhancements have been made to both the motorcycle's handling and the effectiveness of its engine braking

"Savadori described it as a combination. He noted that there were no major modifications to the RS-25. Overall, the motorcycle's performance and equilibrium were satisfactory, with enhancements made in certain aspects."

Jorge Martin sidelined, yet Aprilia continues to push forward

Aprilia has enhanced their power distribution, engine deceleration, and traction management, according to Savadori.

"He mentioned that at every stage, changes and enhancements were made."

However, their problem with the back tire continues and remains unresolved.

"Savadori mentioned that the task was far from easy."

"In this experiment, we're collaborating towards a common goal. It involves more complexity than merely interacting with the electronic components."

"It's crucial to grasp the trajectory and scrutinize the information; it's a significant task."

"Regrettably, Jorge can't make it to ride. That's why I'm stepping in to ride instead."

Savadori has also not had the chance to improve the Aprilia's performance across varying temperature conditions.

"Truthfully, I haven't found the opportunity to test it out," he mentioned.

"For Aprilia, the initial test spanned over three days! I evaluated the motorcycle to ensure everything was functioning properly.

"I couldn't explore every option. Perhaps in this experiment, we'll give it a shot."

Comments made by Peter McLaren in Sepang

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

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

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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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