Argomenti trattati
Just two days after the conclusion of the 2025 MotoGP season, teams gathered at the Ricardo Tormo circuit for the official Valencia test. This event provided the first opportunity to assess the progress of riders and machines as they prepare for the 2026 season. The day began under damp conditions, delaying the start of the sessions until the afternoon. However, once the track dried, competition intensified as riders pushed their limits, demonstrating their skills and offering fans much to consider.
Aprilia’s dominance and Ducati’s challenge
The Aprilia team continued its strong performance from the latter part of the season. Marco Bezzecchi concluded the championship positively by securing back-to-back victories, while his teammate, Raul Fernandez, stood out during testing with a remarkable lap time of 1:29.373. This impressive performance not only topped the timing sheets but also showcased the potential of the 2025 machine.
Bezzecchi, finishing closely behind at just 0.027 seconds off the pace, focused on testing new aerodynamic components, including various rear-wing prototypes. This dual approach—Fernandez demonstrating top speed and Bezzecchi concentrating on development—positions Aprilia favorably as they seek to build on their momentum heading into the next season.
Gresini Ducati’s impressive showing
Interestingly, the fastest Ducati during the test did not come from the factory team. Instead, it was Alex Marquez aboard the Gresini bike, who finished in third place, only 0.084 seconds behind Fernandez. His strong performance, alongside teammate Fermin Aldeguer in fourth place, reinforced Gresini Ducati’s reputation as a competitive force for the upcoming season.
Pedro Acosta, having an exceptional second season, maintained his consistency by finishing fifth. Close behind him was Maverick Viñales in sixth, highlighting KTM’s increasing strength with three riders finishing in the top nine. These results indicate a promising trajectory for the Austrian manufacturer as they continue to refine their machines.
Challenges for established stars
As the test progressed, Nicolo Bulega, substituting for the injured Marc Marquez, demonstrated his potential by securing the eighth-fastest time on the factory Ducati. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given Bulega’s transition from the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) to MotoGP.
In contrast, Francesco Bagnaia, who faced a challenging end to the season with five consecutive retirements, finished the day in tenth. His difficulties were exacerbated by a late fall during testing that interrupted his session, placing him at a disadvantage as he prepares for 2026.
Room for improvement for Japanese manufacturers
Despite recent development concessions, both Honda and Yamaha struggled to gain traction in the lower half of the timing sheets. Joan Mir led the Honda contingent in twelfth, while Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo could only manage fifteenth place. The Yamaha team experimented with their new V4 project, but the results indicated that substantial work is necessary to compete effectively.
The winter months will be crucial for both manufacturers as they seek to address their performance gaps. Yamaha’s ongoing adjustments will be essential as they aim to translate their potential into competitive results.
New talent making their mark
One exciting development was the participation of Toprak Razgatlioglu, a three-time WSBK champion, who made his MotoGP testing debut with Pramac Yamaha. Finishing in eighteenth place, Razgatlioglu emerged as the second-fastest Yamaha rider, laying a solid foundation as he familiarizes himself with the demands of MotoGP.
The Aprilia team continued its strong performance from the latter part of the season. Marco Bezzecchi concluded the championship positively by securing back-to-back victories, while his teammate, Raul Fernandez, stood out during testing with a remarkable lap time of 1:29.373. This impressive performance not only topped the timing sheets but also showcased the potential of the 2025 machine.0
The Aprilia team continued its strong performance from the latter part of the season. Marco Bezzecchi concluded the championship positively by securing back-to-back victories, while his teammate, Raul Fernandez, stood out during testing with a remarkable lap time of 1:29.373. This impressive performance not only topped the timing sheets but also showcased the potential of the 2025 machine.1