Alex Marquez of Gresini Ducati led the opening day of the 2026 Buriram MotoGP pre-season test amid multiple crashes and red-flag interruptions on Saturday. The intense session at Buriram set the tone for the final preparations ahead of next weekend’s Thai Grand Prix, highlighting challenges teams faced with track conditions and rider incidents.
Friday’s Testing Session Marked by Crashes and Delays
As most riders gathered at Buriram for the final days of pre-season testing, Fermin Aldeguer remained absent due to ongoing recovery from a femur injury. Despite this, the remaining riders pushed hard, with Alex Marquez securing the fastest lap late in the afternoon, clocking a time of 1m29.262s. His effort stood unbeaten by others in the closing stages, cementing his position atop the timing sheets.
The day was far from smooth, however, as two red flags halted proceedings amidst a series of crashes. The most notable were suffered by reigning world champion Marc Marquez, who fell twice—first early in the session, then again later at Turn 12. Although these incidents disrupted his rhythm, Marc Marquez returned to the track to complete the day, ultimately finishing second, just 0.129 seconds behind his younger brother.
Track Conditions Lead to Further Interruptions
Testing was paused for around an hour and a half when unsafe track conditions were reported, though officials have not confirmed the specific cause. The stoppage coincided with Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez halting on the circuit’s Turn 3 exit. Additional red flags followed during the final hour, again citing “track conditions” as the reason.
Despite the interruptions, some riders managed to make strong impressions. Franco Morbidelli from VR46 Ducati posted a late fast lap of 1m29.451s on his 2025-spec bike to finish third overall. Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi, who had a minor crash caused by touching a dirty track patch during a slow lap at Turn 3, recorded fourth place.
Notable Performances Across the Field Amid Challenges
Honda’s Johann Zarco was the highest-placed rider from that marque, standing in fifth position just ahead of fellow Trackhouse Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez. Factory team rider Joan Mir improved late in the session to claim seventh place on the RC213V. Maverick Vinales was the best KTM rider in eighth, followed by VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio and factory Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia.
Jorge Martin returned to the factory Aprilia seat and finished in 13th position, while Jack Miller was the top Yamaha rider, positioned 17th for Pramac. Notably, Toprak Razgatlioglu continued to run KTM’s seat unit without rear wings and was 21st, just behind rookie Diogo Moreira of LCR Honda.
Other incidents included crashes involving Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura and Jack Miller, along with an early mechanical issue for Tech3’s Maverick Vinales, contributing to a tense atmosphere throughout the day’s testing.
Upcoming Sessions Will Offer Critical Insights Ahead of the Thai GP
The Buriram test resumes on Sunday from 3am GMT, providing teams with another opportunity to refine setups and address the issues that emerged on day one. As the 2026 MotoGP season draws closer, performances and challenges at Buriram will shape expectations and strategies heading into the first races.
