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The opening salvo of 2026 winter testing made it clear that momentum from the previous season has carried forward for some teams while others face fresh challenges. At the MotoGP official preseason in Malaysia and the WorldSBK organizer test at Phillip Island, manufacturers trialled new aerodynamics, chassis tweaks and revised engines. The results, published across the February tests, exposed a mix of continuity and disruption: Ducati reinforced its status at Sepang on Feb 13, 2026, while Yamaha’s week was disrupted by mechanical failures and an injury to Fabio Quartararo. In Australia on Feb 16, 2026, Nicolo Bulega topped the WorldSBK timesheets with a strong showing for the updated Ducati V4-R.
These sessions emphasized two themes: incremental engineering gains can translate into major on-track advantages, and reliability still determines which development stories become headlines. Below we unpack the key takeaways from both events, looking at lap performance, sprint simulations, and the technical directions teams pursued.
MotoGP Sepang: Ducati’s continued edge and the sprint simulation picture
Sepang’s three-day official preseason confirmed that the Italian marque most successful in 2026 has kept evolving its package. Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) set the fastest 402, a time that sat just shy of the outright circuit record and underlined Ducati’s pace advantage. The combined top times were heavily populated by Ducati riders: Marco Bezzecchi on the Aprilia interrupted that run by finishing second
Thursday’s controlled sprint race simulation gave a clearer read on race rhythm rather than single-lap speed. Alex Marquez produced the best average over ten laps (around 1:58.027), with Bagnaia and Marc Marquez close behind—showing that Ducati’s short-race consistency remains a major asset. Non-Ducati riders like Pedro Acosta were notably slower in the simulated sprint, indicating a remaining gap when it comes to sustained lap consistency.
Technical updates and aerodynamic focus
Ducati engineers worked across multiple fronts: a new, more pronounced ride-height device at the front, subtle engine improvements, and experimentation with sizeable front winglets. While many aero concepts were trialled, factory feedback suggested a preference for last year’s aerodynamic baseline by the end of the three days. Riders also reported better top speeds and improved front-end feeling relative to late 2026 for several Ducati riders.
Other MotoGP movers: Aprilia, KTM and Honda progress, Yamaha setbacks
Aprilia, KTM and Honda each left Sepang with measured optimism after personal bests at the 3.8-mile circuit. Marco Bezzecchi impressed on the updated RS-GP with aero revisions and electronic tweaks, slotting as the only non-Ducati inside the top four on combined times. KTM’s Pedro Acosta praised the RC16 evolution: fewer front-end surprises and a more usable chassis delivered promising pace, even if sprint-pace gaps remained to be closed.
Honda’s development also showed tangible gains. Joan Mir put the revised RC213V near the sharp end on all three days, aided by a lighter engine and revised aero inspired by Ducati’s wing concept. While Mir suggested the package placed him within striking distance of the leading group, rear-grip issues remain a development priority for HRC.
By contrast, Yamaha endured a difficult series of events. Fabio Quartararo withdrew after breaking the right middle finger in a day-one crash, and the factory pulled all riders from track on day two after multiple engine failures raised safety concerns. When their riders returned on day three the lap numbers were underwhelming; tech staff reported identifying the cause but the interruption limited the mileage Yamaha needed.
Rider recovery and team morale
Marc Marquez’s comeback from a serious shoulder-blade injury showed progressive improvement, with the Spaniard noting his position and comfort on the bike should continue to improve ahead of the season. Team principals from Aprila and Ducati expressed confidence in their development paths: Aprilia’s management highlighted steady year-on-year improvement, while Ducati’s leadership signalled a readiness to push the envelope further in 2026.
WorldSBK at Phillip Island: Bulega leads and bimota surprises
The Phillip Island test on Feb 16, 2026, offered a largely dry readout for WorldSBK teams after a winter of wet European outings. Nicolo Bulega commanded the session aboard the revamped official Ducati V4-R, topping both morning and afternoon runs and posting a lap almost three-tenths clear of the nearest rival. The second-quickest rider was Axel Bassani on the bimota KB998 Rimini—an eye-catching result given bimota’s limited dry running over winter.
Notable performances filled out the top ten: Sam Lowes, Yari Montella, and Garrett Gerloff each demonstrated competitive pace while newcomers and team switches—like Lorenzo Baldassarri settling into GoEleven and Miguel Oliveira adapting to WorldSBK machinery—added intrigue. The variety of makes and independent outfits near the front suggested that the early season could be more open and tactical than some expected.
Across both tests, engineers and riders prioritized resilience as much as outright speed: aero, chassis and engine updates delivered lap-time improvements when reliability held. Where it didn’t—Yamaha at Sepang or teams still wrestling with balance at Phillip Island—progress was slower and questions remained for race trim. As circuits light up for the calendar ahead, these winter sessions provided a roadmap: Ducati builds from strength, some rivals close in incrementally, and a handful of teams must still answer basic reliability and grip questions before the first race weekend.