2025 Official Buriram MotoGP Test – First Day Recap

Real-time coverage from the first day of the 2025 Official Buriram MotoGP testing.

Wednesday marked the start of the last pre-season test for the 2025 MotoGP, taking place in Buriram, Thailand.

Last week at Sepang, Alex Marquez from Gresini Racing took the Ducati GP24 to the lead, and after setting the pace in the Barcelona test in November, he's poised to achieve a complete victory in the winter tests.

At the same time, the Ducati factory team, comprised of Marc Marquez and his teammate Francesco Bagnaia, is facing significant choices regarding the engine selection for their upcoming GP25 model. This is especially crucial as the engines for all European motorcycles will be locked in without changes allowed from the beginning of the first round up until the close of 2026.

Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha managed to secure the position just behind Ducati at Sepang, taking advantage of additional time on the track during the Shakedown. However, the question remains whether they can maintain their speed in Buriram, where the conditions are the same for everyone.

Honda stands out as the sole maker to have completed laps at the Chang International Circuit before 2025, thanks to an exclusive test session held in January involving riders Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami.

This week, Aprilia's latest recruit and the current MotoGP title holder, Jorge Martin, along with VR46's Fabio di Giannantonio, who both sustained injuries at Sepang, will not be participating. Raul Fernandez, who also suffered an injury on the opening day in Malaysia, will attempt to compete in Buriram.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the testing in Buriram will be conducted from 10 in the morning until 6 in the evening, which will then be succeeded by practice starts.

End-of-Day Summary: 2025 Buriram MotoGP Trials, First Day Results

Wow! In a stunning move, Marc Marquez excels in the final moments, achieving the fastest times of the day across all four sectors, surpassing the rest of the competitors by 0.465 seconds, with his brother Alex leading the chase.

To provide perspective on that benefit, 0.4 seconds is the gap that separates the entire top ten!

The key inquiry currently centers on the specific bike setup employed by Marc Marquez…

Franco Morbidelli emphasizes Ducati's rationale for potentially retaining the GP24 engine in their upcoming GP25 factory models by securing the 4th spot, trailing behind Alex Marquez, Marc Marquez, and Marco Bezzecchi.

Following Pedro Acosta's previous crash, it now appears that Brad Binder has also suffered a mishap in the last sector, as his timing has abruptly stopped, indicating a possible fall.

Zarco isn't the sole Honda competitor advancing in the rankings; Joan Mir has climbed to 11th place, mirroring a pattern observed during the Sepang trials where the RC213V appeared significantly better in a time trial setup.

Johann Zarco of LCR Honda impressively clocks his best times in all four sectors, landing him in sixth place on the leaderboard, a mere 0.312 seconds behind Alex Marquez and right after HRC's Luca Marini.

Alex Rins secures the third consecutive Yamaha slot by wedging himself between Miller and Quartararo for the 10th position. Miller's colleague, Miguel Oliveira, finishes in 15th place.

Leading ten as day 1 nears its final 30 minutes:

1. Alejandro Marquez, 2. Marcelo Marquez, 3. Marco Bezzecchi, 4. Pedro Acosta, 5. Luca Marini, 6. Francesco Morbidelli, 7. Francesco Bagnaia, 8. Bradley Binder, 9. Jackson Miller, 10. Fabio Quartararo.

Binder achieves four personal records and advances to 8th position, surpassing Jack Miller.

KTM's Brad Binder climbs a position to 9th and appears to be on a faster lap with his best initial sector yet.

Fabio Quartararo, who is currently in 9th position just behind the leading M1 rider Jack Miller, appears to have finished for the day as he is now talking to the media by the track at 5:40pm.

To put it into perspective, the main tester Alex Marquez trails just slightly from his time that secured him the ninth spot on the grid during the grand prix held last October.

Francesco Bagnaia, who started in the pole position for the race, is currently 1.3 seconds behind his Qualifying 2 lap time.

According to the latest temperature reports, the air remains at a sweltering 35 degrees, while the track temperature has gradually decreased from its earlier high of 52 degrees to a current 38 degrees.

5pm Outcomes – MotoGP Testing in Buriram 2025 (First Day)

The last sixty minutes commence…

It appears that Pedro Acosta from KTM, who is currently fourth in the rankings, has had a mishap in the last sector. His lap time hasn't progressed past the third sector.

The aggregated leaderboard of the top ten, with slightly more than an hour remaining in Wednesday's testing session:

1. Alexander Marquez, 2. Marcus Marquez, 3. Marco Bezzecchi, 4. Peter Acosta, 5. Lucas Marini, 6. Frank Morbidelli, 7. Francis Bagnaia, 8. John Miller, 9. Fabio Quartararo, 10. Bradley Binder.

Francesco Bagnaia climbs to the 7th position, trailing Alex Marquez by 0.379 seconds. The marginally lower temperatures of the track surface have enabled riders including Marc Marquez and Joan Mir to achieve some of their fastest individual sector times.

With 80 minutes remaining in the first day, Tech3's newcomers Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales find themselves once more positioned towards the lower end of the rankings, in 18th and 19th places respectively.

Raul Fernandez, who is dealing with injuries, narrowly leads in front of them, with newcomer Somkiat Chantra and Aprilia's test pilot, Lorenzo Savadori, trailing the Tech3 competitors.

Fabio Quartararo secures a spot for Yamaha among the top eight, trailing just behind Miller and 0.584 seconds away from Alex Marquez.

Quickest cyclist per manufacturer:

Alex Marquez, riding for Ducati, secured the 1st place

Marco Bezzecchi, riding for Aprilia, secured 3rd place

Pedro Acosta, riding for KTM, finished in 4th

Jack Miller (Yamaha) finished in 7th place

Johann Zarco, riding for Honda, finished in 12th place

As of 4:20pm, the atmospheric temperature remains at 35 degrees, while the surface of the track has cooled down to 40 degrees, a decrease from its highest point of 52 degrees.

Marc Marquez achieves his quickest lap of the session, securing the second position, just 0.126 seconds slower than his brother Alex. The question remains, however, whether he's riding a GP24 or a GP25. We're looking to get clarity on this, though it's possible the official Ducati team members may not fully disclose the specific components in play.

Should they revert to the GP24, it would mirror the decision taken at the outset of 2022, when the Ducati team's primary racers, Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller, unexpectedly transitioned from the GP22 to an engine similar to the GP21.

The GP21 may not have clinched the title, yet it's widely regarded as Ducati's most versatile MotoGP motorcycle to date, a reputation that the GP24 has the potential to dispute.

Pedro Acosta, riding for KTM, reached the fastest speed today, hitting 337.5 kilometers per hour. Francesco Bagnaia, from the Ducati team, and Marco Bezzecchi, representing Aprilia, both clocked speeds of 336.4 kilometers per hour, sharing the second-fastest speed of the day.

Leading the pack with a top speed of 334.3km/h is Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, while Honda, struggling with a less powerful new engine, finds itself at the bottom, represented by Joan Mir with a speed of 331.2km/h.

Outcomes at 4pm – MotoGP Testing in Buriram 2025 (First Day)

Only two hours left of testing on Wednesday…

Jack Miller from Pramac Yamaha made significant progress, ascending to 6th place in the aggregate standings for day 1 as the top Yamaha M1 competitor. Following him as the second-highest Yamaha rider is Fabio Quartararo, positioned in 11th.

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Marco Bezzecchi: "It felt like a fresh start, a significant duty" in shaping a motorcycle

"I've never before had the chance to shape a motorcycle…"

Marco Bezzecchi described his initial experience testing with the Aprilia MotoGP factory team as an odd sensation, especially since he had previously been part of a satellite team.

The racer, who has claimed victory at three grand prix events, spent the initial three seasons of his MotoGP career racing for Valentino Rossi's squad, utilizing Ducati equipment from the previous year, before securing a factory contract with Aprilia for the 2025 season.

Due to injuries preventing Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez from participating in the first day of the Sepang test last week, Bezzecchi has had to take the lead on the RS-GP's winter development efforts.

Bezzecchi acknowledged that initially, it was an unfamiliar and somewhat overwhelming experience to engage in bike development, describing it as both "odd" and a significant emotional moment.

"It felt odd to me in Sepang," he remarked on Wednesday, during the halfway point of Buriram test's first day.

"Everything was unfamiliar. I had never had the chance to evolve a MotoGP motorcycle.

"Thus, it was a significant emotional moment for me, coupled with a substantial duty to strive for excellence in my work."

"In Sepang, thankfully, all went well, aside from the absence of Jorge, as is widely recognized.

"Once more, we're off to a positive start. Given our limited time, we must elevate our performance and enhance our precision to fine-tune all aspects."

"The team is performing exceptionally well. Therefore, I am committed to providing them with positive feedback."

When questioned about whether he likes the increased expectations that come with being a factory rider, he responded, “Actually, it’s just a trial, so there’s some pressure, but not exactly. But yes, I find it enjoyable.”

By the mid-point of the first day in Buriram, Bezzecchi found himself in the fifth position in the aggregate rankings.

He and Aprilia have dedicated Wednesday to trying out all the remaining new components, so they can concentrate entirely on getting ready for the Thai Grand Prix on Thursday.

"He began by stating, 'Our journey commenced at Sepang.'"

"We're currently developing a few new products for testing."

"We're aiming to test a few more things today and tomorrow, with a greater emphasis on getting ready for the race weekend. Overall, not a bad start to the morning."

"Our goal was to complete all tasks by today. We made great progress in Sepang."

"We meticulously prepared for the test here as well. The team performed exceptionally, so I'm looking forward to providing them with positive feedback, ensuring it's detailed enough to avoid any need for a review tomorrow."

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Jorge Martin's substitute vows crucial commitment for MotoGP championship retention

Lorenzo Savadori details Aprilia's adaptation strategy

Lorenzo Savadori has taken over the testing responsibilities for Jorge Martin's Aprilia.

Savadori, who serves as Aprilia's test pilot, is stepping in for the sidelined Martin during the MotoGP Buriram preseason test that spans two days, just as he filled in at Sepang.

Martin's hand injury, incurred at Sepang, implies he will start his championship defense with minimal experience on his new bike since his departure from Ducati.

Aprilia focuses on Jorge Martin's setup

Savadori described his duties filling in for Martin during his absence at Wednesday's Buriram event.

"He emphasized their commitment to digital strategy, noting that it's neither an easy nor quick task."

"At times it becomes more challenging, other times it improves, and occasionally, modifications are necessary."

"Our objective is for Jorge to come back and quickly select the most straightforward bicycle to speed up immediately."

"We sought an alternative route to our usual configuration. The engineer implemented a fresh approach."

"I gave it a go. Upon my return, I shared my emotions and reviewed the information.

"I collaborate with the engineers to identify the precise location."

Savadori elaborated, "This isn't an entirely novel setup; we're simply implementing modifications.

"There's always room for enhancement; we must continuously strive to get better."

Savadori has contributed his expertise across various domains, encompassing engine deceleration, wheelie prevention, and managing traction.

He confidently stated, "Upon Jorge's return, there's a 99% chance that both the chassis and the swingarm will remain unchanged."

Martin aims to compete in the season's opening race, the Thailand MotoGP, scheduled from February 28 to March 2.

However, his arrival will be under less than optimal circumstances, as he is still recuperating from an operation and will be using an alternate bicycle.

He met with an accident only several laps into his initial trial run on an Aprilia.

The dispute regarding the cause of his crash, involving Aprilia and Michelin, continues to persist.

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For ten years, James served as a sports reporter at Sky Sports, where his coverage spanned a wide array of sports including American games, soccer, and Formula 1 racing.

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Enea Bastianini has expressed that his current method of handling the KTM MotoGP bike is flawed. He admitted that the bike doesn't feel instinctive to him, and as a result, he is unable to match Pedro's speed at this time.

Enea Bastianini believes that the 2025 MotoGP winter testing session has wrapped up earlier than he would have liked. He feels he still needs to adjust his racing technique to suit the KTM RC16, a change from the Ducati he previously rode.

After completing the 2025 MotoGP preseason in Buriram, the Italian racer felt that he had made headway but also recognized that he still had a lot of room for further improvement.

"In general, I'm feeling slightly more satisfied than I was on Wednesday, as this afternoon I managed to slightly enhance my lap time," Bastianini remarked following the last day of MotoGP preseason testing in Buriram.

"I'm currently dissatisfied with my speed because I've been making numerous errors during my laps. Sometimes I'm unable to brake firmly, other times I can, and right now, I'm not entirely sure about the overall situation."

"For the competition, we need to take additional steps to gain a deeper understanding."

"It's crucial to use this time between the test and the race to thoroughly analyze the data and gain a better understanding, as the bike has changed and my current approach is not appropriate."

Enea Bastianini clarifies 'the issue'

Bastianini mentioned that he and his crew chief, Alberto Giribuola—who had collaborated with him at the Avintia and Gresini Ducati teams—attempted to implement strategies that were effective when he rode the Desmosedici. However, they ultimately found that Pedro Acosta’s configurations were more advantageous.

"The issue is that we've applied the approach we used at Ducati, but it isn't effective with this motorcycle," stated the Tech3 KTM racer.

"I attempted to increase my speed through the corners, but Pedro Acosta has a totally different approach—he brings the bike to a stop before accelerating again."

"We experimented with his setup, and it turned out to be quite successful. I was noticeably quicker, and this seems to be the right strategy for this bike."

"However, it doesn't come naturally to me, and right now, I can't match Pedro's speed."

He remarked, "It's not intuitive, as adapting from other bikes to this one is quite challenging, but ultimately, I managed to complete a successful lap."

"I wasn't at full capacity, and that's okay because reaching my peak isn't crucial right now. However, the lap time was fairly decent."

Ultimately, Bastianini admitted that he must alter his "approach" to achieve success with the RC16.

"The strategy must change since the bike operates in a distinct manner, requiring adaptation to a new style," he explained.

"When you switch from a new tire to a used one, the bike's behavior changes drastically, requiring you to adapt to a different riding style once more."

"I skipped the Sprint simulation today due to an issue with vibrations. I anticipate that the race will be challenging as well."

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Ducati's decision to ditch several 2025 spec parts during the Buriram MotoGP test has caused quite a stir, especially with Marc Marquez's concerning starts being observed.

As the 2025 MotoGP World Championship draws near, with only a handful of weeks left, the testing session in Buriram this week holds significant importance for several manufacturers, such as Ducati, in finalizing their configurations for the forthcoming season.

During the recent trials at Sepang, Ducati, along with their main riders, Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, found themselves at a crossroads, unable to settle on a specific model. They were contemplating between a complete GP25, an entirely GP24, or a blend of both motorcycles.

Two elements played a crucial role: the first being the dominance of the GP24, which secured victories in all but four of the Grand Prix races in 2024, and the second, the introduction of a two-year homologation period for this year's engine due to the upcoming development suspension set for 2026. This situation made the Bologna-based manufacturer particularly cautious about taking unwarranted risks, a sentiment echoed by Marc Marquez following the Sepang race, in finalizing their plans for the 2025 motorcycle.

As the test in Thailand marks the last opportunity before the season kicks off in Buriram in three weeks, it represents Ducati's ultimate moment to finalize its decision.

However, rather than persisting with consecutive tests of the GP25 and GP24 components in Buriram, Ducati seems to have completely switched back to using the GP24, as highlighted by Jack Appleyard on X (previously known as Twitter). He observed that the team is not using the updated engine, chassis, or fairing in today's Buriram session.

As of now, there haven't been any standout lap times at Buriram, yet the Ducati team's pit area draws attention… Bagnaia and Marquez are exclusively focusing on the GP24! The upgrades introduced in Sepang, including a new engine, chassis, and aerodynamics, are notably absent.

Ducati leader Davide Tardozzi hinted at deploying their 2024 engine for the upcoming season.

During the first day's afternoon segment in Thailand, Bagnaia took to the track using the updated fairing.

Issues at Launch

The focus isn't solely on Ducati's seemingly complete switch back to the GP24 on the first day of the two-day test in Buriram, but also on the starting drills performed by its main team riders.

Currently, it appears that both Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez struggle to achieve consistently strong starts with the Desmosedici bike from the factory team.

"Louis Suddaby from MotoGP.com mentioned they observed the practice starts of Bagnaia and Marquez."

"Bagnaia's initial move left a prominent dark streak on the straightaway!"

"The remaining starters found it difficult to maintain control over their front wheel."

Check out this Instagram post from Crash MotoGP (@crashmotogp_)

MotoGP.com's pit lane correspondent, Jack Appleyard, shared: "Some of the team members I talked to on the pitwall mentioned that, specifically regarding Marquez, they believe they haven't witnessed him making a solid start throughout the entire preseason testing!"

"They expressed astonishment at how, in every practice session Marquez has participated in, he appears not to be fully prepared."

In my view, it seems Ducati is in pursuit of enhanced performance with the GP25 but currently struggles to perfectly fine-tune the launch controls.

"Bagnaia and Marquez were both struggling with their bikes' rear wheels spinning uncontrollably. They simply couldn't find a solution!"

Within the independent team ranks, Ducati competitors also encountered difficulties initiating their race, particularly newcomer Fermin Aldeguer, who narrowly avoided colliding with his Gresini teammate Alex Marquez during the start. Aldeguer experienced trouble as he inadvertently spun the rear wheel and veered to the left while attempting to kick off his GP24.

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Marc Marquez's performance in race simulations is impressive, yet he identifies someone else as the top contender for the Thai MotoGP. "I'm in second place…"

Marc Marquez has refuted claims that he is the leading contender to win the first race of the 2025 MotoGP season in Thailand, even after delivering a remarkable performance during a race simulation on the final day of testing.

During Thursday's Buriram test, the official Ducati rider executed a 23-lap race simulation, achieving an average lap time of 1 minute and 30.378 seconds. This performance was notably half a second faster than the record-setting lap time from the 2023 grand prix at the same location.

During the Sepang test, Marquez made headlines with his sprint simulation, and he also led the combined standings on both days at Buriram.

As a result, numerous people now consider him the frontrunner to kick off the 2025 season with a victory. However, he maintains that his teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, deserves that recognition.

Marc Marquez demonstrated remarkable speed during his race pace simulation. On average, he was 0.7 seconds quicker per lap compared to Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez, both of whom covered a similar distance. #MotoGP #BuriramTest

He stated, "In my opinion, Pecco is the top contender, and I see myself as the next in line."

"Here's how we concluded the championship last year."

Over the past four years, he competed for the championship and emerged victorious on two occasions.

"We're at the world championship level, where speed is a given. While testing is just testing, how often does one rider consistently show incredible speed during the pre-season?"

"We are aiming to establish a strong foundation. We've identified it, but maintaining a well-balanced approach is crucial."

"And let's not overlook [Jorge] Martin. Sure, he's absent right now, and it's easy to forget about him when his name isn't visible."

"However, he is a world champion, and as demonstrated by Marco Bezzecchi's performance today on the Aprilia, he was quick."

Marc Marquez Comments on Ducati's Engine Choice

During the last day of testing, Ducati announced that it will compete with its 2024 engine for the upcoming two seasons. This decision came after failing to achieve significant improvements with the 2025 engine model.

Regarding the decision, Marquez commented, "Initially, I noticed that, in my opinion, there were two unfamiliar motorcycles."

"Right from the start, I noticed that the balance of the '24 model was excellent."

"However, we continued to focus intensively on the model '25 to see if we could address its weaknesses, as it also had some very strong aspects."

"Testing the bike across three different circuits allowed us to realize… or rather, it highlighted Ducati's wise choice to remain composed and stick with the 2024 model's base engine. This approach enabled us to incorporate a few minor updates here and introduce them during the races."

“The motorcycle is functioning properly, so there was no justification to gamble on approving an engine that remains uncertain for the next couple of years.”

Marquez minimized the significance of his standout performance during the last day of testing, pointing out that few other riders completed full race distances as he did. He also mentioned that his brother, Alex Marquez, experienced a problem with his bike.

He mentioned that his goal was to complete a long race, something he believed few others had attempted.

"I understand it might be dull, but competing with my brother gave me motivation since he's quick too, although he did encounter a minor issue."

The approach was to tackle the task separately rather than collaboratively, with the plan to compare results afterwards. In the end, this method proved effective as he demonstrated excellent riding skills.

"I had an extensive checklist covering technical aspects, performance factors, and my own riding style, and we successfully completed everything. Therefore, I'm prepared to begin the season."

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Ducati leans towards favored engine choice, yet “final call is still pending”

Ducati faces dilemma between 2024 or 2025 model specifications

Ducati's team leader, Davide Tardozzi, has indicated that the company is inclined to approve the GP24 engine for its MotoGP motorcycle set to release in 2025, although an official decision remains pending.

The GP24 emerged as an exceptionally dominant motorcycle in MotoGP history, securing victories in 16 out of the 20 grand prix races that took place last year.

Heading into a period where engine development will be halted for two years beginning in 2025, Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia dedicated significant effort in evaluating the GP24 and GP25 engines during the Sepang trials.

Both riders emphasized the necessity of confirming a substantial improvement in the GP25 engine before committing to its use for the forthcoming two seasons, considering the high standard already established by the GP24 engine.

During the initial day of the testing session in Buriram, Thailand, this week, the primary Ducati racers seemed to prefer the GP24 engine, as Tardozzi affirmed, indicating this is probably the path they will follow.

"Up until now, no final decision has been made, but it seems we are leaning towards 2024," Tardozzi shared with MotoGP's After the Flag.

"However, this evening marks the moment when Gigi and the engineering team will make the ultimate choice. I have a hunch that [we'll opt for the GP24], though it hasn't been officially confirmed yet."

Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia to Use Ducati Engine?

Ducati's decision to use a previous version of their engine in their latest motorcycle isn't unprecedented. The manufacturer opted for a last-minute switch to a combined 2021/2022 engine for their GP22 model.

This decision turned out to be wise, as Bagnaia eventually clinched the title, whereas the Pramac pair, utilizing the complete 2022-spec engine, only managed to secure eight podium finishes combined.

Tardozzi has acknowledged that the probable choice of the GP24 is due to the impending two-year freeze on engine development.

"Indeed, as previously mentioned, we are making this choice due to the necessity of halting [the engine's] development for two years, aiming to avoid any risks during this period," he explained.

"Hence, the feedback and reliability we've received from the 2024 engine in previous instances were positive. Therefore, I believe this will likely be our decision."

Marquez caught attention on Wednesday in Thailand by opting not to test Ducati's aerodynamic setup planned for 2025.

Yet, Tardozzi clarified that the variation was merely a result of the riders following distinct schedules, and he also minimized the significance of both competitors facing difficulties during a practice start session.

"Today, their tasks and schedules vary," he clarified.

Marc is exploring alternative seating arrangements on his bicycle as he appears to be experiencing some discomfort.

"He's experimented with various ergonomic designs, including handlebars, to improve his seating position on the bike."

"I believe the issue stemmed from beginning with the hard tire, yet I noticed that other brands encountered similar difficulties."

"It appears that there was an issue with the bike's clutch not being correctly adjusted. However, I believe that, as always, Marc and Pecco are expected to have a strong start in the upcoming race."

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Joan Mir expresses concern regarding the engine, pointing out Honda's "vulnerabilities." He acknowledges, "When it comes to racing, we've already been defeated…"

Joan Mir expressed his satisfaction with the advances Honda has made in MotoGP following the last day of preseason testing in Thailand. However, he still has reservations about certain shortcomings of the RC213V.

Mir's positive outlook was sparked by his performance during the last day's time trial. Although he completed just a single attempt, he still achieved a speed that ranked him sixth overall.

"The lap wasn't impressive," remarked Mir. "I struggled to piece everything together since we only fitted one tire at the end and didn't perform two time attacks as many other riders did."

"I'm pleased about this, as it indicates that we achieved the lap time and still have some room for improvement."

Joan Mir highlights the benefits of Honda. The Spanish rider expressed his satisfaction with his comfort on the motorcycle and his consistent speed during extended rides.

Mir stated that what matters most to him at present is how he feels while riding the bike.

"The speed we achieved in the Sprint simulation is the best I've experienced since joining Honda, so I couldn't ask for anything better."

He stated: "My current emotions are quite different from what I experienced last year. I am optimistic that we can maintain this progress and avoid losing our way during the development process, as we did around the same time last year."

"I trust that we will gain insights from our errors, and I also wish to commend my team for achieving such progress in a short timeframe, which is no small feat."

"I'm really pleased for the team. While these tests might seem insignificant, they hold great importance for the employees involved."

"It’s remarkable to be nearing the top five with such a gap, especially considering that just a few months back, we struggled to compete even against some test riders."

During this preseason, Mir has repeatedly expressed a mix of hope for the advancements achieved and concern over the remaining weaknesses of the Honda in 2025.

"We have a few vulnerabilities, and the issue is that these vulnerabilities are quite significant and very fragile," he stated.

"I'm concerned about the engine. Although the bike performs nicely and allows me to ride in a manner that I enjoy, I can't deny that there's an issue. The problem is that we're the slowest on the straight sections."

"Today, we managed to achieve a lap time that placed us in a strong position, even though the bike might not match the competition on the straights."

"In the context of racing, we've already been defeated, which is somewhat concerning to me."

Marini seeks validation of a “normal GP”

Luca Marini, who is Mir's teammate at Honda HRC Castrol, shared a similar sense of careful hopefulness. However, Marini's main worry was about the grip on the track. The excellent conditions in Buriram, along with the high grip resulting from continuous practice over two days, suggested that the test—particularly on the second day—did not accurately reflect what one would expect during a typical race weekend.

"Marini remarked that achieving a 1:29 was straightforward on the last day of testing."

"In the Grand Prix, it's essential for us to verify everything, as the track conditions both today and yesterday were unbelievable."

"The conditions were masking certain issues we face, such as grip. In these situations, the grip is exceptional, allowing us to apply more power to the bike when accelerating out of slow corners, and making it easier to bring the bike to a stop."

"Thursday was definitely a great day, and Wednesday was also successful, making the entire preseason a positive experience overall."

"We have a clear understanding of the setup needed for the initial races, and we are fairly pleased as we've improved upon our performance from this time last year."

"It's somewhat premature to make a definitive statement, as we need to assess our standing in a regular Grand Prix."

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

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Jack Miller draws a comparison between his riding technique and that of Fabio Quartararo on the new Yamaha. "I am working on figuring out how to adjust my style to replicate those actions," he said.

Jack Miller has taken Fabio Quartararo as a reference point while familiarizing himself with his Yamaha.

During preseason trials, Yamaha has drawn significant attention, as Quarararo led the first day of testing in Sepang.

During the last day of testing in Buriram, Quartararo secured an impressive eighth place, whereas Pramac Yamaha's Miller finished in 10th position.

Miller drew a parallel between his experience on the Yamaha and that of Quartararo, noting, "I've primarily been comparing myself to Fabio, since he is the quickest rider."

"He has notable strengths, certain weaknesses, and some unique qualities."

"With this bicycle, he performs unique actions."

"I am working on adjusting my style to accomplish tasks like that, while also recognizing my strengths."

Jack Miller Transitions from KTM to Yamaha

During the 2025 preseason tests, Jack Miller's switch from KTM to Yamaha has shown mostly favorable results.

He expressed that he had always believed Yamaha had a solid foundation. His main curiosity was about how his riding style would mesh with the bike and what adjustments he might need to make.

"I'm having a great time riding it. Whenever I put on a new tire, I find myself thinking, 'I should have let go sooner and taken the corner just a bit faster.'"

"It's an enjoyable bike to ride, especially when pushing it to its limits. That's when its true qualities really shine."

"We've taken significant strides and are certain to see progress in the initial races."

"The path looks promising. I'm feeling positive. I'm eager to start racing now."

Miller commented, "I believe I'm as prepared as possible. The bike is performing well, and I'm pleased with our current situation."

"We tossed two tires onto it, something we hadn’t tried before. It was enjoyable. While it's always a bit nerve-wracking, it’s also exciting. Completing it brings satisfaction."

"The bike handles nicely in that scenario, which is impressive."

The focus is on grasping the necessary steps to prepare the motorcycle for achieving that specific lap time. This involves techniques such as scrubbing the rear tire, optimizing the performance of the front, and finding ways to make up the time.

"I completed the sprint simulation and was very pleased with my timing."

"I encountered a problem with one of the maps when trying to start. There was a preset qualifying map that caused me to begin the lap immediately! The last three laps became quite intense."

"It was useful to have her take that action to grasp the situation."

"When we return in 10 days, the situation will largely remain unchanged."

"I'm prepared to ride, and I find the bike enjoyable. Each day is an opportunity to discover something new about it and understand what it requires from me."

Statements shared by Derry Munikartono in Buriram

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James worked as a sports reporter at Sky Sports for ten years, where he reported on a variety of sports including American leagues, football, and Formula 1.

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—

Reword

Fabio Quartararo reacts to Yamaha being labeled as the underdog in MotoGP, stating, "Setting a specific goal is quite challenging."

Fabio Quartararo has stated that he is not setting any specific goals for the 2025 MotoGP season. Although Yamaha's winter testing showed promising results, he mentioned that they are still in a phase focused on making improvements.

Following a second consecutive season without any victories in 2024, Yamaha seems to have made a strong start with its 2025 contender during the Sepang shakedown and two official pre-season tests conducted over the past month.

Quartararo finished the Buriram test in eighth place overall, and on Thursday in Thailand, the French rider performed a promising sprint simulation.

Yamaha's impressive performance over the winter has led some, including Ducati, to see the Japanese brand and Quartararo as contenders in the upcoming season.

However, the 2021 world champion is careful not to set high expectations before the start of the new season.

"I don't have any objectives or ambitions," he stated.

"At this moment, it's challenging for me to establish a specific goal because we are still in the phase where improvements are necessary."

"Currently, we are in a phase where we continue to make progress."

"I believe the objectives will be established shortly before the sprint event and the main race."

"It's advisable to establish goals once we have a reasonable understanding of our current situation."

Fabio Quartararo discusses problem with tires

Quartararo has faced difficulties with the front tires provided by Michelin during the Buriram test, and these issues continued on Thursday.

When questioned about whether the distance to the lead was greater than anticipated, he remarked, "I believe the conditions in Sepang were distinct."

Additionally, I lacked a strong sense of control at the front, which I believe cost me about two to three tenths of a second, particularly during the time attack.

"Regarding our speed, I believe that, similar to Malaysia, we were about three-tenths slower during the sprint simulation."

"In my opinion, we're about three to four-tenths of a second slower compared to the leading competitors."

"Indeed, I believe it's pretty much what I anticipated here. However, I thought the time attack would be quicker because I didn't foresee having an issue with the front end."

The French rider mentioned that Yamaha still hasn't resolved its issues with rear traction; however, the 2025 model has shown improvements in top speed.

"Regrettably, we were unable to enhance the traction grip."

"We enhanced the maximum speed, which is essential for us."

"Like I mentioned earlier, we struggled with the front corner speed, which was a challenge for us. We're hopeful we can address this issue during the race weekend."

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2025 Official Buriram MotoGP trial: Marc Marquez ascends to leading position on initial day

Eight-time world champion propels Ducati team to forefront

Marc Marquez concluded the first day of the Buriram MotoGP pre-season trials at the top of the leaderboard, pulling ahead of the competition by 0.465 seconds with a quick lap on his official Ducati during a late surge.

The concluding two-day trial before the season kicks off holds significance for everyone, yet it appears to be particularly crucial for the official Ducati team as it determines which engine to deploy for the upcoming two seasons.

Before the session concluded, team leader David Tardozzi indicated the high probability of competing with the GP24 engine this season.

It seems that was the motor Marquez primarily used throughout the day, and it was also the one he utilized to achieve Wednesday's quickest lap time.

Positioned within the leading duo until the last hour, Marquez pushed ahead with a late burst, clocking a 1m29.184s to take the top spot.

He surpassed his sibling, Alex Marquez, who was riding for Gresini on a complete GP24, by achieving the best time of 1m29.649s in the third hour of the session.

The lap remained the standard until the final moments, when Marc Marquez dazzled everyone with his time on the scoreboard.

Franco Morbidelli secured a top three finish for VR46 on a Ducati, trailing Alex Marquez by just 0.034 seconds.

Marco Bezzecchi secured the fourth position riding the top Aprilia, clocking in at 1 minute and 29.794 seconds, as Pedro Acosta spearheaded KTM's effort, finishing fifth.

Luca Marini had yet another promising day of pre-season testing for Honda, securing sixth place with a time of 1 minute and 29.928 seconds, outpacing his HRC teammate Johann Zarco from LCR.

Francesco Bagnaia secured the eighth position riding for the affiliated Ducati team, while KTM rider Brad Binder finished ninth, even after a late fall at Turn 5.

Jack Miller from Pramac emerged as the top Yamaha rider, securing the 10th spot with a time of 1 minute and 30.047 seconds. Meanwhile, Honda's Joan Mir positioned himself among the M1 riders, surpassing both Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo.

Fermin Aldeguer led the newcomers for Gresini Ducati, finishing 14th, while Ai Ogura of Trackhouse Racing rounded out the top 15.

On Wednesday in Thailand, Tech3 KTM's Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales appeared to face difficulties once more, finishing 16th and 18th respectively, whereas Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse, returning from injury, ended up 19th after completing 33 laps.

Complete Results from the First Day of Testing in Buriram

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Pecco Bagnaia confesses: “I was dishonest and couldn't reveal the truth” regarding the Ducati engine choice. Pecco Bagnaia discusses Ducati's significant engine decision.

Francesco Bagnaia expressed that he was "certain from the beginning" that Ducati's engine for 2024 outperformed the 2025 model during the MotoGP winter testing sessions.

The primary focus of the 2025 pre-season testing has been Ducati's selection of engine, a topic that gained additional significance due to the impending two-year development freeze starting with the Thai Grand Prix.

On Thursday, during the testing session in Buriram, Ducati announced that it would approve the engine it plans to use in 2024 for its factory riders in 2025. This decision came because the latest version of the engine did not show a significant improvement.

Francesco Bagnaia, who ranked fifth in the Buriram testing session dominated by his teammate Marc Marquez, mentioned on Wednesday that while the 2025 engine showed competitive performance, it did not perform as well as the 2024 model when it came to braking.

At the conclusion of the Buriram test, Bagnaia confessed to deceiving the press and revealed that he had been confident from the beginning of the pre-season that the 2024 engine was superior.

He expressed that surpassing the '24 model was challenging, and he believes others might be willing to pay to experience something similar.

"However, from where I stood, I was absolutely certain. I must admit that I've been somewhat deceitful lately, but I was unable to reveal the truth."

"However, I had a strong belief from the beginning that the ’24 version was superior."

"After putting in some effort and attempting to make improvements, Marc and I both agreed on the first day in Malaysia that the GP24 was still slightly superior."

"Our efforts to enhance the braking system didn't go as planned. However, during our work on the '24 model, we realized there is still room for improvement, which is promising news."

Pecco Bagnaia discusses Ducati's testing in Buriram

Ducati appears poised to kick off the year with its 2024 aerodynamics and chassis in place. However, Bagnaia mentions that the bike he will be using is a "’24.9," indicating that it is extremely similar to the latest model.

On Wednesday, Bagnaia faced challenges in Thailand, prompting him to go back to the basics on the last day of testing to enhance his motorcycle.

After a period of hard work, Bagnaia concludes the test feeling satisfied with the improvements his team achieved.

"This morning, to be truthful, I began experiencing the same feelings I had the previous day," he mentioned.

"However, from that point onward, we began making progress with each practice, and I'm quite pleased with the results."

"Today was challenging, but we successfully finished our work despite losing everything the day before."

"We had to start over, but I was making progress. This makes me happy. I'm particularly pleased with my performance on worn tires, as I remained very competitive towards the end of the day using them."

"The only aspect that didn't go as planned today was the time trial I attempted towards the end of the session, due to factors beyond our control.

"I believe the race weekend itself won't pose any issues for us. Beyond that, there's nothing else to add. I'm simply content."

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