The 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test began with Marc Marquez leading the pack on Tuesday, marking his first time on a MotoGP bike in 121 days. Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo suffered a broken finger after crashing early in the session, forcing him to withdraw from the remainder of the test week. The intense conditions at the Malaysian track set the stage for an eventful start to preseason preparations.
With the circuit freshly rubbered in following last week’s Shakedown test, lap times dropped quickly. Marquez approached the all-time lap record in the late afternoon, falling short by just 0.7 seconds. Despite this, he dampened expectations by explaining that he was not entirely comfortable on the bike and only posted his fastest lap by pushing hard at the end while others conserved their soft tires for the upcoming days.
Quartararo, on the other hand, crashed at Turn 5 traveling over 100 mph after losing front grip. The accident left him bruised with severe grazing on his left arm and a broken middle finger on his right hand. Even though he briefly returned to set the ninth fastest time, the French rider made the decision to stop testing for the rest of the week, describing the day as a “tough start.”
Ducati and Other Manufacturer Performances at Sepang
Ducati showed strong form on day one, with Fabio Di Giannantonio securing second place, Alex Marquez finishing fourth, and Pecco Bagnaia placing eighth. The Ducati team praised updates made to their GP26 machine, emphasizing improvements in electronics and aerodynamics. Bagnaia expressed relief, stating,
“From the start of the day I enjoyed riding.”
Maverick Viñales made a notable return from injury, finishing third and providing positivity for his team. Aprilia’s progress was also evident with Marco Bezzecchi placing fifth, while Honda continued building on last season’s work, with Luca Marini and Joan Mir rounding out sixth and seventh places respectively.
Track conditions and tire choices made early times somewhat difficult to interpret, as most riders used Michelin’s medium rear tires to preserve their softer options for the next sessions. Observers anticipate more clarity on manufacturer standings as testing continues on Wednesday.
Insights from the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test
The recent three-day Shakedown event, held at Sepang from January 29 to 31, showcased initial developments ahead of the official test. Aleix Espargaro topped the charts aboard the Honda RC213V, finishing six-tenths faster than last year’s best time with a lap of 1:57.173. He described Honda’s early 2026 bike as
“the best bike I’ve ever ridden,”
highlighting the hard work of HRC engineers during the offseason.
Aleix’s brother, Pol Espargaro, followed closely in second place riding for KTM, whose factory showed cautious optimism regarding their performance after a 1:57.299 lap. Riders and test teams from all five major factories, along with rookies Toprak Razgatlioglu and Diogo Moreira, participated fully in this prelude to the main test week.
The MotoGP paddock’s attention also turned to Yamaha’s progress, as their riders tested the new V4 YZR-M1 model. Quartararo managed third fastest despite facing technical challenges on the final day. He admitted,
“We need a lot of time to be able to understand the bike, especially for the engineers.”
Jack Miller, who finished fifth, expressed cautious optimism, saying,
“The big changes we needed from Valencia have been done. So now the steps just get smaller and smaller—more refined,”
and added,
“It’s not a rocket ship by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s not as bad as it was.”
Among the rookies, Diogo Moreira showed promise despite earlier engine troubles, posting a best time of 1:58.338, only 1.1 seconds off Aleix Espargaro’s best lap.
Implications and Expectations for the Remainder of Testing
The opening day of the Sepang MotoGP test reflected a mix of promise and challenges across the field. Marc Marquez’s strong pace contrasts with the setback for Fabio Quartararo, leaving questions about Yamaha’s progress with the new V4 configuration. Ducati’s improvements and positive feedback from riders like Bagnaia suggest a competitive pack this season, while Honda and Aprilia continue steady development. The cautious tire strategies and evolving conditions imply that the forthcoming days will be critical to understanding each manufacturer’s true pace and potential heading into the 2026 season.
