Argomenti trattati
The final day of MotoGP pre-season running at Sepang produced a clear early indicator of form for the 2026 championship. Riding the Gresini Ducati GP26, Alex Márquez posted the quickest combined lap of the test with a 1:56.402 and reinforced that pace with the fastest average in the sprint simulation programme. These runs give him more than a single-lap bragging right; they suggest race-distance potential heading into the final test.
Sepang’s three days delivered notable team stories: Ducati machines occupied multiple top slots, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi interrupted a potential Ducati sweep, Honda’s Joan Mir impressed on the RC213V, and Yamaha endured a difficult opening with an engine investigation and rider absences. The paddock will now turn to Buriram for the last pre-season test on February 21–22, ahead of the season opener at the same circuit one week later.
What the times say: pace and consistency
On raw speed, Alex Márquez led the combined timesheets with that 1:56.402, but the picture beneath the headline lap reveals more. Marco Bezzecchi produced a late push on the Aprilia RS-GP to end second Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia completed a strong showing for the Ducati family, highlighting how the GP26 package performed across multiple teams.
Top finishers and their equipment
Key placings from Sepang demonstrated a mix of factory and satellite strength: Alex Márquez (Gresini Ducati) 1st, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) 2nd, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati) 3rd, Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo) 4th and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol RC213V) 5th. The prevalence of the GP26 on the leaderboard—both factory and customer entries—underlines Ducati’s early technical step, though Aprilia’s late-lap insertion spoiled a clean top-four lockout.
Race sims, long runs and the bigger picture
Beyond single-lap speed, teams used Sepang to validate longer runs. Alex Márquez’s test week stood out because he combined outright pace with the fastest average across the Sprint simulation runs, an indicator of sustained performance under race-like loads. That consistency placed him ahead of factory teammates such as Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Márquez when it came to simulated race intensity, which matters more than a single flyer when the season begins.
Midfield developments and notable performances
The midfield produced several talking points: Pedro Acosta carried KTM’s flag into the top ten, while Raul Fernández showed competitive pace with Trackhouse Aprilia. Honda’s improvement was notable with Joan Mir as the best-placed RC213V, suggesting that incremental gains have footing. Meanwhile, Pramac’s new addition, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, finished inside the top twenty as he acclimatised to MotoGP machinery, just ahead of rookie Diogo Moreira.
Yamaha’s technical scare and rider absences
Yamaha’s pre-season narrative in Malaysia was dominated by caution. A technical issue forced the marque to withdraw from Wednesday running while engineers inspected the new V4 engine after Fabio Quartararo stopped on track on Tuesday. Although the engine was cleared and the team returned to the circuit, Yamaha missed time with its leading rider absent through injury. Fabio Quartararo, together with Jorge Martín and Fermín Aldeguer, sat out parts of the test, leaving Alex Rins to lead Yamaha’s on-track effort; Rins finished outside the frontrunners and over a second off the best lap.
These setbacks mean Yamaha will head to Buriram aiming to close the gap in both reliability and outright pace. The team’s statements from Sepang signalled intense technical work overnight and a measured approach to confirm the new V4’s stability before the competitive season starts.
Looking ahead: Buriram and the start of the season
With the Sepang programme concluded, all eyes are on the final pre-season test at Buriram on February 21–22. That event will serve as the last major data-gathering exercise before the opening race, scheduled one week later at the same venue. The Sepang results suggest Alex Márquez departs Malaysia not just as the quickest over a lap but as a plausible early contender thanks to his combined speed and sprint consistency. Teams will use the interval to refine setups, validate race tyres and complete software and engine checks ahead of Thailand.
Ultimately, Sepang offered a useful snapshot: Ducati arrived with a strong package, Aprilia showed punch late in the sessions, Honda carried momentum, and Yamaha must stabilise. As the field moves to Buriram, the balance of power remains open—but Sepang made one thing clear: Alex Márquez’s name belongs near the top of the early-season conversation.