A MotoGP competitor acknowledges feeling tense on the motorcycle following an accident.

The racer from Trackhouse underwent a hand surgery recently.

Raul Fernandez reports feeling "devastated" following his initial experience with the Trackhouse Aprilia during the MotoGP test session in Buriram, coming shortly after undergoing an operation for a broken hand the previous week.

The second-place finisher in the 2021 Moto2 championship experienced a high-speed accident during the first day of the Sepang trials last week, resulting in a fracture to his left hand.

He was deemed unable to participate in the remainder of the test and returned to his home country for an operation. Fortunately, the surgery was a success, allowing him to make a comeback in Thailand this week.

He finished 33 circuits on Wednesday during the Buriram trial, landing in the 19th position on the leaderboard.

Raul Fernandez makes a comeback after being injured

Fernandez described the day as generally good, yet he acknowledges that his injuries prevent him from feeling comfortable while riding.

"I'm not in the best shape," he remarked.

Following the accident, I find it impossible to feel at ease while cycling.

"Fortunately for me, there aren't many left turns here, and particularly on those left turns, I'm unable to exert much effort due to my issues with both my finger and my foot."

"I'm unable to assume my usual posture on the bicycle; it feels nearly unachievable."

"For my experience, the initial day turned out to be very encouraging, with the level of discomfort being manageable. This was the most important aspect."

"Basically, we're currently focusing on our speed, making an effort to adapt to the used tire, instead of concentrating on achieving a faster lap time."

"I'm aware that nearly everyone is on the verge of demonstrating their speed capability through lap times."

"I don't see things that way. My attention is more on my own progress, and I'm genuinely pleased with our accomplishments today. All in all, it was a good day."

"I find myself unable to relax during left-hand turns, which complicates things since I struggle to position my feet as I'd prefer, forcing me to remain tense while navigating the bend."

"I'm devastated. Aside from that, the day went well."

Despite his discomfort, Fernandez anticipates returning to peak physical condition in time for the Thai Grand Prix happening at this month's close.

"In the competition, the aim is to be fully prepared because undergoing surgery was a step I took not just to participate, but also to ensure I'm in peak condition for the race week," he further stated.

"If the surgery doesn't go as planned, I might not be able to compete in the race. However, I'm optimistic and believe that I'll be between 95% to fully prepared for the event."

"If things don't go as planned, I'll stay concentrated and strive to give my all as usual.

"Overall, I find myself content. My aim today is to concentrate on the here and now, and for tomorrow, I'm hopeful since we're exploring a new approach, and I'm eager to discover the outcomes."

During Wednesday's test at Buriram, Fernandez had the opportunity to spend additional hours riding the 2025 RS-GP. He observed significant improvements compared to last year's model, though he mentioned the need for an adjustment period due to the bike's challenging handling.

"He mentioned noticing many positive aspects while cycling."

"I've noticed a couple or a few areas where we faced significant challenges since joining Aprilia, but we've made substantial progress in those areas."

"I find that the bicycle is quite simple to operate and I notice a distinct difference when riding it."

"Additionally, I believe this motorcycle possesses greater possibilities, especially regarding speed and circuit performance."

"I believe this bicycle has the potential to achieve greater speed. However, we require additional time to make improvements. It's not a simple bike to enhance."

"I require additional time to grasp the concept, and my team requires more time to determine the right configuration for speed. The real query is about the duration it will take for me to regain my speed on the motorcycle."

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Luca Marini announces significant decision regarding Honda – unresolved queries persist

Luca Marini discusses Honda's advancements in Buriram

Luca Marini revealed that Honda is clear about the specific setup they plan to use for the MotoGP race in Thailand.

The company has finalized their choices for the season's first race following a decision made in Buriram.

Marini delivered a remarkable performance by securing the sixth-fastest time on the first day of the official MotoGP testing, held at the same track where the season's opening race is set to take place.

Marini responded, "In Sepang too, I started off quickly. However, subsequently, everyone else delivered an incredible lap time.

"Today mattered significantly as our attention was centered on the environment."

"We explored every option, implementing all available updates. During our time in Sepang, our attention was dedicated to finalizing the components for the inaugural race."

"Here, at the starting point of the inaugural race, our aim is to unleash the full capabilities of this motorcycle."

"We made efforts to enhance the bicycle, and it turned out to be a productive day for that purpose."

Marini has stated that Honda's setup will remain unchanged until the early stages of the 2025 season.

"Absolutely, the motorcycle will remain as is for the initial four competitions. We've made all our selections," he confirmed.

"After the initial quartet of races, we will gauge our capabilities and aspirations."

Luca Marini suggests Honda competitors might enhance their performance

On Wednesday in Buriram, Marini wasn't the sole standout Honda.

Johann Zarco finished in seventh place, while Joan Mir came in 11th.

It signifies a beacon of hope for the producer of the least impressive motorcycle in 2024.

Marini humorously remarked, "My mood always lifts when they can't keep up with my pace!"

"We need to pause and observe the initial race. Several competitors still have tricks up their sleeves."

"We can remain optimistic and make the most of what we have."

Marini suggested what Honda could potentially explore in their Thursday trials, saying, “Given the quality of the tyres at our disposal, completing the entire distance isn't crucial. The tyres maintain their performance consistently across an entire race without any issues.

"Completing 20 laps rather than 27 is fine; it's still acceptable."

"The key factor is the speed during the initial 10 laps. This allows you to secure a spot and maintain it by effectively handling the tyres."

Marini stayed guarded regarding Honda's expectations for the initial race on March 2.

"He mentioned, 'Our performance has enhanced since our previous race at this location, the motorcycle has improved.'"

"However, we acknowledge that the competition has the upper hand."

"We're making significant efforts to advance. From our perspective, everything has improved."

"However, it's crucial for us to grasp the speed of our competitors during a race weekend."

Statements made by Derry Munikartono, Editor at Crash Indonesian

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Pecco Bagnaia has decided to discard the 2025 frame, acknowledging the need to scrutinize Marc Marquez's information. "Thankfully, on the opposite end of the pit…"

Francesco Bagnaia acknowledged the need to review Marc Marquez's performance metrics following a challenging test day in Buriram.

Issues with the engine, chassis, and fairing led to a more challenging day for Bagnaia compared to his Ducati team colleague, Marquez.

"Bagnaia admitted that Wednesday was a challenging day."

We needed to put in considerable effort to address issues we encountered across multiple sectors.

Luckily, on the opposite side of the garage, they've achieved some advancement, so we'll examine their findings, which boosts my confidence.

"As always, my team performed excellently, and now we're taking a break. We'll resume our efforts from this point tomorrow."

Bagnaia concentrates on Ducati's 2024 MotoGP frame issues

Bagnaia has disclosed that he is prioritizing work on the 2024 Ducati MotoGP frame, opting to overlook the enhancements slated for the 2025 model.

The brand from Italy unveiled a fresh chassis design for the 2025 season during the previous year's testing session in Barcelona. Initially, Bagnaia had a favorable view of it while in Spain. However, the subsequent testing in Malaysia presented challenges, leading to Bagnaia setting aside the new chassis during this week's MotoGP testing in Buriram, at least temporarily.

"Frankly, our attention will shift more towards the 2025 chassis going forward," he stated.

"At present, our attention is directed towards different aspects of the motorcycle, as is typical, given the limited time we have to prioritize and make decisions on matters of greater significance."

Following the test in Barcelona the previous year, Bagnaia was initially pleased with the new chassis. However, he noted that his viewpoint shifted somewhat during the subsequent test in Malaysia.

Upon reaching Malaysia, we found that the new framework was functional; however, we encountered some problems. As a result, we opted to remove it and consider the possibility of reevaluating it at a later time.

Discover more: Marc Marquez points out significant flaws in the 2025 Ducati MotoGP power unit.

Pecco Bagnaia discusses the 2025 fairing

Comments from Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia on Ducati's engine for 2025 are in ⚙️🗣️#MotoGP #BuriramTest pic.twitter.com/BMuCMrdJ2m— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 12, 2025

Feedback from Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia regarding Ducati's 2025 engine ⚙️🗣️#MotoGP #BuriramTest pic.twitter.com/BMuCMrdJ2m

Bagnaia is moving forward alongside his Ducati Lenovo team member Marc Marquez towards adopting the 2024 Desmosedici engine and seems to be continuing with the 2024 frame as well. However, he is persisting in testing the 2025 fairing, despite not being completely convinced of its benefits.

Bagnaia noted that the track in Buriram offers an excellent testing ground due to its limited grip, highlighting his ongoing determination.

"Bagnaia believes this is the case due to the minimal grip at the Buriram International Circuit."

"Additionally, our tire casing is unique compared to the usual design, but it doesn't offer much traction, so that's a factor to consider."

On the initial day at Buriram, Bagnaia was the sole rider to test the 2025 fairing, encountering issues he chose not to elaborate on. These problems hindered his capacity to provide useful insights to the Ducati engineering team, particularly concerning the new fairing. As a result, further assessments are slated for Thursday.

"At this point, I believe the fairing is key since you have the opportunity to modify it only once throughout the season, and the 2024 version was performing effectively," commented Bagnaia.

"However, today I managed to do a few circuits on the 2025 model; the experience wasn’t completely straightforward due to some concurrent problems, but we endeavored to discover some positive aspects of it."

“I didn't lag too much, because truthfully, even without executing a time trial with this fairing, my time was only 0.8 seconds behind compared to when I did a time trial. So, it's not a huge gap, but we need to concentrate more on it tomorrow.

"We need to begin virtually from scratch tomorrow to gather additional feedback."

He emphasized, “Conducting a lengthy session on Thursday will be crucial, but initially, we must provide more insights to our team. This is because offering any feedback today was challenging due to the day's unfortunate circumstances.”

Statements given by Derry Munikartono, the Indonesian Editor for Crash.

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Maverick Vinales calls for patience over KTM switch

The Spanish rider downplays worries following poor first day testing results at Buriram

Maverick Vinales has expressed that he's unworried about where he stands in the MotoGP pre-season tests on the KTM, feeling confident that he will adapt seamlessly in due time.

The KTM team members Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder finished among the top 10 on the first day of testing in Buriram, whereas the Tech3 duo of Enea Bastianini and Vinales found themselves in 16th and 18th positions, respectively.

On Wednesday, Bastianini conveyed to the press that he's facing difficulties adjusting to the RC16 as he continues attempting to pilot it similarly to how he would a Ducati.

Vinales, after spending three years with Aprilia, is facing challenges adjusting to the unique characteristics of the KTM. However, he remains confident that everything will fall into place in due time.

"He believes it's about dedicating time and having faith in the advancement," he stated.

"Undoubtedly, there will come a moment, sudden as a click, when all our efforts pay off. Hence, it's crucial that we persist in enhancing and adjusting to the bike."

"At present, our preference would be to find ourselves in a different situation, yet it's essential that we continue to deepen our understanding of the motorcycle."

In response to whether this pre-season has been more difficult than anticipated, Vinales commented, "Not really, each pre-season brings its unique challenges.

"Likely, our focus should shift from what it was in the past years. It's all about the journey. We must find joy in the effort and aim to make incremental progress daily."

"I generally enjoy everything about the bike. The only issue is mastering its full potential, which I believe will happen in time. I just need to put in more practice laps."

Regarding the aspects he must enhance, Vinales acknowledges his proficiency in handling the middle part of a corner and coming out of it but admits he has yet to master the braking technique necessary for the RC16.

"He clarified, stating, 'When it comes to peak performance and fuel, I'm quite knowledgeable.'"

"Thus, it seems I'm at a pretty high standard. However, the braking technique required differs significantly from what was needed with past brands."

"Thus, it requires patience, it's not effortless."

"Subsequently, installing new tires makes everything more challenging."

"Thus, adapting to the system requires patience. I'm quite familiar with the process, having acclimated myself over the past years. The key is to stay composed, and eventually, everything will fall into place."

Statements given by Derry Munikartono, the Indonesian editor for Crash.

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Joan Mir discusses Romano Albesiano's influence at Honda

"I believe our performance has improved compared to last year."

Following two particularly challenging years in MotoGP during 2023 and 2024, Joan Mir has expressed optimism about Honda's advancements with its RC213V model in 2025.

The Spanish rider, now in his third year with HRC, believes that the RC213V has made progress and is more competitive this season compared to the last. This comes after he secured the 11th spot on the second-to-last day of MotoGP preseason trials in Buriram, while his fellow Honda HRC Castrol team member Luca Marini clinched the sixth position.

"Surpassed expectations? Not quite," stated the rider from Honda HRC Castrol. "However, there's an improvement. I sense that our performance has enhanced compared to last year.

"We are nearing the right speed and approaching the desired lap times."

"Therefore, my answer is affirmative; we're better equipped this year compared to the previous one—not to the fullest extent, but progress has been made. The motorcycle handles better now, and today we enhanced its braking capability. However, it's been somewhat challenging due to technical issues we encountered this morning, leading us to alter our original strategy. This likely indicates that tomorrow, we'll be testing more elements than initially intended."

"Regardless, it's fine, such incidents occur, and I believe that tomorrow, we'll make further progress. I think we have room for it."

Joan Mir discusses Romano Albesiano's influence

Mir elaborated on the issues he faced earlier in the day, mentioning that they were related to the ride height mechanism.

"He mentioned that they encountered a few technical issues with the rear ride height device as it wasn't functioning properly, but they were able to resolve them."

"A technical glitch was the reason our schedule was pushed back, but ultimately, I believe it turned out fine."

In 2025, Honda will see a significant shift as Romano Albesiano joins from Aprilia to assume the position of technical director at HRC.

Mir was questioned on whether he observed any alterations in the operational approach following Albesiano's entrance at the conclusion of the previous year.

He mentioned, "I believe the atmosphere in the garage remains consistent as I collaborate with my team. However, it's evident that there has been progress with the motorcycle, demonstrating that success is achievable."

"If we execute our tasks accurately, our biking efficiency will enhance, and the truth is, we've seen significant progress in a brief period."

"Now, I'm on a bicycle that, for the most part, offers a comfortable riding experience. It's a fact that we're still lagging behind in terms of acceleration and maximum speed, and there's a significant amount of vibration, but today we enhanced the braking system. We're gradually making progress."

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2025 Official Buriram MotoGP Test – Day 2: LIVE

Stay tuned for real-time coverage of the second and last day of the 2025 Official Buriram MotoGP test happening on Thursday.

Thursday morning kicked off the ultimate day of pre-season MotoGP testing for 2025 at the Buriram circuit in Thailand.

Marc Marquez, who recently joined the Ducati factory team, led the timesheets on the first day, finishing 0.465 seconds ahead of his younger brother, Alex Marquez. Meanwhile, Ducati announced that it is considering using the GP24 engine for its factory-spec GP25 motorcycles this season.

At the last two testing sessions in Barcelona and Sepang, Alex has consistently recorded the fastest times on the GP24. Today, he aims to secure another top position and complete a perfect series of winter P1s for the Gresini team.

On Wednesday, Franco Morbidelli of VR46 secured a spot in the all-Ducati top three, surpassing Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia, KTM’s Pedro Acosta, as well as Luca Marini and Johann Zarco who both ride for Honda.

Jack Miller emerged as the leading Yamaha rider in tenth place, as the Japanese manufacturer had a more subdued beginning at Buriram than its standout performance at Sepang.

Missing from this week's action are Aprilia's current MotoGP titleholder Jorge Martin and VR46's Fabio di Giannantonio, both sidelined due to injuries sustained at Sepang. Meanwhile, Raul Fernandez, who underwent surgery following a crash on the first day in Malaysia, has returned to compete for Trackhouse.

The testing sessions are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Following this, the next MotoGP activity on the track will be the start of practice for the Thai Grand Prix, set to begin on February

Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia, who was the highest-placed rider not on a Ducati and finished fourth on the first day, is the initial racer to start a quick lap. Bezzecchi mentioned his aim to finalize decisions on new components by the conclusion of the first day and intended to concentrate on race weekend preparations today.

The signal is given and the testing session starts, with ten riders immediately taking to the track.

On the first day, Marc Marquez set a leading time of 1 minute and 29.184 seconds, placing him 0.465 seconds ahead of his brother, Alex Marquez.

Based on remarks from Marc Marquez and his teammate Francesco Bagnaia, it appears the factory team intends to continue using the GP24 engine this year. However, they still need to make a decision regarding the approval of the newest aerodynamic design.

We are currently only ten minutes from the beginning of the last day of MotoGP pre-season testing in Buriram.

Today is expected to be extremely warm, as the air temperature has already reached 25 degrees.

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Maverick Vinales discusses issues regarding his transition to KTM

The Spanish rider calls for patience following a disappointing first day of testing in Buriram.

Maverick Vinales has expressed confidence that he is not worried about his current standing in the pre-season MotoGP tests with KTM, and he anticipates that his adjustment to the bike will happen suddenly and effortlessly.

At the conclusion of the first day of the Buriram test, the factory KTM riders, Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder, secured positions within the top 10. Meanwhile, the Tech3 team, consisting of Enea Bastianini and Vinales, finished in 16th and 18th places.

On Wednesday, Bastianini informed the press that he is finding it difficult to adjust to the RC16 as he continues to handle it as if it were a Ducati.

Having spent three years riding an Aprilia, Vinales is now facing challenges as he adjusts to the unique characteristics of the KTM. Despite these difficulties, he remains confident that everything will fall into place with time.

He mentioned that it's important to have patience and trust in the development process.

"Eventually, it will happen suddenly, like a snap, so we must continue to focus on enhancing our skills and adjusting to the bike."

"At the moment, we wish we were in a different situation, but it's crucial for us to gain a deeper understanding of the bike."

When questioned about whether this pre-season has been more difficult than anticipated, Vinales responded: "No, I believe each pre-season comes with its own set of challenges."

"We likely had to prioritize different aspects compared to past years. It's all about the journey. We should find joy in it and make an effort to advance a little bit each day."

"I’m quite pleased with most aspects of the bike. I just have to figure out how to optimize its performance. It’s a matter of doing more laps to get there."

When discussing areas for improvement, Vinales mentions that he excels in the middle of the turn and when exiting it. However, he still struggles to master the braking technique needed for the RC16.

"I have a good grasp of the peak and the gas," he stated.

"Therefore, I might be performing quite well. However, the braking technique required here differs significantly from that of other manufacturers I've worked with before."

"It requires patience, as it doesn't happen effortlessly."

"When you install new tires, the situation gets more challenging."

"Adjusting to the system requires patience. From experience, I am quite familiar with this process. It's important to stay composed, and eventually, everything will fall into place."

Statements given by Derry Munikartono, the editor of Crash Indonesia

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Joan Mir was asked about the influence of Romano Albesiano at Honda, to which he responded, "I think we are performing better compared to last year."

Following two challenging seasons in MotoGP during 2023 and 2024, Joan Mir feels that Honda has shown improvement with its RC213V model in 2025.

The Spanish rider, now in his third year with HRC, believes that the RC213V has made significant progress compared to last year. This assessment comes after he concluded the second-to-last day of MotoGP preseason testing in Buriram in 11th position. Meanwhile, his Honda HRC Castrol teammate, Luca Marini, achieved a sixth-place finish.

When asked if the results exceeded expectations, the Honda HRC Castrol rider responded by saying, "Not exactly, but there has been improvement. I believe that we are performing better compared to last year."

"We are nearing the desired speed and achieving better lap times."

"Therefore, I can confirm that we are better equipped this year compared to the previous one. Although it might not be fully sufficient, we've made some progress: the bike is easier to handle, and today we enhanced the braking section. It was somewhat challenging due to technical issues we faced earlier in the day, which forced us to alter our plans. As a result, we will likely test more options tomorrow than initially intended."

"However, it's alright, as such incidents can occur. I believe that tomorrow we will make further progress, and I think we have some leeway."

Joan Mir discusses the influence of Romano Albesiano. Mir elaborated on the issues he faced earlier in the day, noting that they were related to the ride height mechanism.

He mentioned that they encountered some issues with the rear ride height device, which was not functioning properly, but they managed to fix it.

"Our program was postponed due to a technical problem, but I believe it turned out fine in the end."

One major update at Honda for the year 2025 is that Romano Albesiano will be joining from Aprilia to assume the position of technical director at Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).

Mir was inquired about any alterations in the working approach that he might have observed since Albesiano joined at the close of last year.

He mentioned that the atmosphere within the garage feels familiar as he collaborates with his team. However, he acknowledged that there have been noticeable enhancements in the bike, which demonstrates that progress is achievable.

"If you do everything right, our performance on the bike will get better, and the truth is, we've already seen improvements in a short period."

"I'm currently riding a bike that is fairly easy to handle and offers a comfortable ride. While it's true that we still lag significantly in terms of acceleration and top speed, and there's a lot of vibration, today we made progress with the braking. We're gradually moving in the right direction."

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Concerns are emerging from KTM's team as their latest talent struggles to understand the peculiarities of the bike. "The biggest issue lies within me, as I am accustomed to the Ducati's style," he explained.

Enea Bastianini expressed concern about how he is adjusting to the KTM following the first day of testing in Buriram.

During the official MotoGP preseason test, Bastianini recorded the 16th fastest time on the leaderboard.

He eventually confessed that transitioning from the factory Ducati to a Tech3 KTM is turning out to be more challenging than he had expected.

On Wednesday, Bastianini expressed that he had been extremely occupied, largely due to a lack of motivation. Despite numerous attempts at finding solutions, ultimately, nothing worked.

Later in the day, we headed the other way.

"We experimented with an approach that deviates from my usual preferences."

Ultimately, it turned out well with this bicycle.

"The primary issue was internal, as I couldn't stop thinking about the Ducati's style."

"This motorcycle isn't exactly similar to a Ducati…"

Enea Bastianini Voices Worry Over KTM

Bastianini confessed that he was surprised by the significant differences between the Ducati and the KTM.

"A little, indeed," he replied. "Since, from an external perspective, the on-track situation appeared quite alike."

"However, internally, it's a whole other story."

"I require additional time beyond what I initially anticipated to feel at ease and increase my speed."

Bastianini identified the main aspect where he is lagging.

"The utilization of the rear brake is quite different," he clarified.

"When you apply the rear brake while going straight, the back end shifts significantly."

"The oscillations originating from the back eventually make their way to the front!"

"Changing this after so many years is challenging. Achieving it would require an extraordinary outcome."

Nevertheless, Bastianini mentioned, "I made progress in the afternoon and I'm pleased with that."

He has one additional day to test his KTM motorcycle ahead of the initial race weekend in Thailand, scheduled from February 28 to March 2.

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Marc Marquez discusses weaknesses in the 2025 Ducati MotoGP engine

Top performer on the first day of testing in Buriram sheds light on Ducati engine issues

Marc Marquez explains that Ducati is considering using the GP24 MotoGP engine for the 2025 season due to significant weaknesses found in the GP25 model.

On Wednesday during the Buriram test, Davide Tardozzi, the head of the Ducati team, stated that the brand is expected to approve the 2024 engine for the upcoming season. This decision comes as the GP25 model posed several potential issues.

Starting from the first race of the 2025 season in Thailand, manufacturers that do not have concessions will have their engine development halted for the following two years.

Marquez believes that Ducati, having secured 16 victories out of 20 races last season with the GP24, should not "take the risk" of approving a GP25 model that the riders lack confidence in due to its clear shortcomings.

After leading the first day of the Buriram test, Marquez remarked, "On one hand, we have the engine, and on the other, there's a collection of new small components we need to consider."

"Today, we focused primarily on the 2024 engine throughout the day, as it seems that unless things drastically shift by tomorrow, this will likely be the direction for the season."

Ducati is being quite practical and clever in their approach. They understand that they cannot afford to approve an engine unless they are absolutely certain—without any doubt—that it outperforms the 2024 model. This is crucial because once they approve an engine, it remains in use for a two-year period.

From the beginning until now, we've realized that the 2025 model has its highs and lows: it's very impressive in certain areas but lacking in others.

"They are familiar with utilizing the 2024 model on various racetracks."

"They secured victories in 16 races last year, indicating that the bike had a strong foundation."

"It seems that we are heading to that base now, but we will confirm this again tomorrow."

"I feel really positive about the 2024 model. By 2024, I'm referring to the bike's core design for that year. It includes the 2024 engine, and they have put significant effort into refining small components that we are currently adding to this engine."

Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia's Opinion on the 2025 Engine

Francesco Bagnaia, a team-mate, has expressed that while the 2025 engine might not be lacking in competitiveness, Ducati has encountered challenges in achieving a "balance on braking," which has impacted their confidence in racing with it effectively.

Bagnaia, who finished eighth on Wednesday in Thailand, stated, "Frankly, it's a tough decision. Right now, both the team and I are inclined to choose the 2024 engine."

"Although the 2025 model is competitive, we're facing challenges in achieving a balance with the braking system. Starting the season with an engine that doesn't have a resolution for this issue would leave us in a difficult position."

In addition to that, we are fortunate that Marc [Marquez] didn't encounter any problems today, as everything on my side of the garage went wrong right from the beginning of the day.

"We faced numerous issues, but fortunately, my team did an excellent job, which provided me with a small chance to ride. However, from the beginning of the day, nothing seemed to go right."

In 2022, the Ducati factory team decided to use a previous engine model for their latest bike due to difficulties they faced during pre-season testing with the complete GP22 engine.

Statements given by Crash Indonesian Editor, Derry Munikartono

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Pecco Bagnaia has decided not to use the 2025 chassis and acknowledges the need to study Marc Marquez's performance data. "Luckily, within the team…"

Francesco Bagnaia acknowledged that he needs to analyze Marc Marquez's data following a challenging test session in Buriram.

Issues with the engine, chassis, and fairing caused Bagnaia to have a more challenging day compared to his factory Ducati teammate, Marquez.

Bagnaia admitted on Wednesday that it had been a challenging day.

"We needed to put in considerable effort to address a number of issues across different areas."

Luckily, there has been some advancement on the opposite side of the garage, which we will examine. This gives me a sense of assurance.

"As always, my team performed excellently. We're pausing for now, but we'll continue our efforts tomorrow."

Bagnaia is experiencing issues with the Ducati chassis. He announced that his current focus is on the 2024 MotoGP chassis from Ducati, instead of the newer 2025 model.

The Italian company revealed a fresh chassis design for the 2025 model during the Barcelona test held last year. Bagnaia had a favorable first reaction to it in Spain. However, challenges arose during last week's testing in Malaysia, leading the Italian to set aside the new chassis, at least temporarily, during the Buriram MotoGP test this week.

He mentioned that their primary attention would shift more towards the 2025 chassis moving forward.

“Currently, our attention is directed toward different aspects of the bike, which is typical, given the limited time and the need to prioritize more crucial decisions.”

Following the Barcelona test last year, Bagnaia expressed satisfaction with the new chassis. However, he noted that his perspective shifted somewhat during the tests in Malaysia.

Upon reaching Malaysia, the new frame was functioning effectively at first. However, we encountered some problems with it, so we opted to remove it and plan to test it again at a later date.

Further Details: Marc Marquez Highlights Significant Weaknesses in 2025 Ducati MotoGP Engine

Pecco Bagnaia discusses the 2025 fairing. Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia share their opinions on the 2025 Ducati engine during the Buriram test. #MotoGP

Bagnaia, alongside his Ducati Lenovo teammate Marc Marquez, appears to be moving towards using the 2024 Desmosedici engine and is likely to continue with the 2024 chassis. However, he is sticking with the 2025 fairing, despite having some reservations about it.

Bagnaia noted that the track in Buriram is ideal for testing due to its minimal grip, and that persistence carried on at this location.

Bagnaia mentioned that he believes the grip level at the Buriram International Circuit is quite low.

"We also have a tire casing that is not the standard type, but it doesn't provide much additional grip."

On the initial day of testing in Buriram, Bagnaia was the sole rider to use the 2025 fairing. However, the Italian encountered unspecified issues that hindered his capacity to provide meaningful feedback to the Ducati engineers, particularly regarding the new fairing. As a result, further assessments are scheduled to proceed on Thursday.

Bagnaia mentioned that right now, the fairing is very important since it can only be altered once throughout the season. He added that the 2024 version was performing effectively.

"However, today I completed a few circuits on the 2025 model. Although it wasn't entirely clear due to some other problems I was facing at the time, we still succeeded in identifying some positive aspects."

"I wasn't really that slow; in fact, without attempting a time trial using this fairing, I was only 0.8 seconds off my time compared to when I did a time trial. So, it's not a huge gap, but we need to pay more attention to it tomorrow."

"We need to basically begin anew tomorrow to gather additional insights."

He mentioned, "Conducting an extended session on Thursday will be crucial, but first, we need to provide more input to the team. Today, however, it was challenging to offer much feedback due to it being a tough day."

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

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A MotoGP competitor confesses, "I can't feel at ease on the bike since the crash." Last week, a Trackhouse racer underwent surgery for a hand injury.

Raul Fernandez expressed feeling "devastated" after his initial experience on the Trackhouse Aprilia during the Buriram MotoGP test. This comes shortly after undergoing surgery for a hand fracture last week.

Last week, during the first day of testing in Sepang, the rider who finished second in the 2021 Moto2 championship experienced a high-speed accident, resulting in a fracture to his left hand.

He was sidelined for the remainder of the test and traveled home to undergo surgery. The procedure went well, allowing him to get back to competing in Thailand this week.

On Wednesday, he finished 33 laps during the Buriram test and ended up in 19th place on the timesheet.

Raul Fernandez makes a comeback after being sidelined by an injury. He described the experience as a "generally good day," although he acknowledged that he "can't feel at ease while riding" because of his physical condition.

He mentioned that his health isn't in the best shape.

"Following the accident, I find it difficult to feel at ease while riding my bike."

"In this situation, I'm fortunate since we don't encounter many left turns, and it's particularly challenging for me to accelerate on left turns due to issues with my finger and foot."

"I find it nearly impossible to maintain my usual posture while riding the bike."

"From my perspective, the initial day was quite encouraging, as the level of pain was manageable, which was the most important aspect."

"We are currently concentrating on maintaining a steady pace and managing the performance of worn tires, rather than aiming for fast lap times."

"I understand that nearly everyone is on the brink of demonstrating their potential in terms of lap time."

"I'm not like that. My attention is more on my own progress, and I'm genuinely pleased with the efforts we put in today. All in all, it was a productive day."

"In left-hand turns, I struggle to stay relaxed, which is problematic because I can't position my feet the way I need to, forcing me to remain tense while navigating the curve."

"I feel completely devastated, but overall, it was a good day for everyone else."

Even though he is in pain, Fernandez anticipates being fully recovered in time for the Thai GP scheduled at the month's end.

During the race, the goal is to be at full capacity since I underwent surgery to participate, but also to be in top shape for the race week, he mentioned.

"If the surgery doesn't go as planned, I might not be able to participate in the race. However, I am hopeful and confident that I will be 95% to 100% prepared for the event."

"I will remain focused and continue to give my best effort, regardless of the circumstances."

"Overall, I feel content. Today, my aim is to concentrate on the present moment, and I remain hopeful about tomorrow as we have an alternative approach to explore. I'm eager to find out what unfolds."

During the Wednesday testing session in Buriram, Fernandez spent additional time with the 2025 RS-GP. He observed that there are significant improvements compared to last year's model. However, he acknowledged that he requires some time to adapt, as it is a challenging motorcycle to handle.

"There are many positive aspects I notice while cycling," he mentioned.

"I notice that we have made significant progress in two or three areas that were quite challenging for us since we joined Aprilia."

"The bicycle is notably straightforward to ride, and I can sense a change when I'm on it."

"I also believe that this bike has greater potential when it comes to speed and achieving better lap times."

"I believe this bike has the potential to go faster. However, we need additional time to make improvements. It's a challenging bike to work with."

"I require additional time to comprehend and my mechanics need more time to determine the right set-up for speed. The issue is how much time I'll need on the bike to regain my speed."

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