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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"In my opinion, they performed exceptionally well."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Different Setup Results

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bagnaia expressed that they were engaged in separate tasks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Franco Morbidelli is optimistic about joining VR46

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Statements given by Peter McLaren in Sepang

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

Brad Binder discusses his test session in Sepang on Thursday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brad Binder shares insights on KTM trials

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"The front has been comfortable."

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

Brad Binder shares insights from his Thursday trial in Sepang

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brad Binder provides insights on KTM's trials

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"The front has been comfortable."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joan Mir: "That's not entirely accurate"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"The truth is, we are significantly nearer."

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

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

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