Sepang Pre-Season Test MotoGP Quote Machine Final
by Clem Sturdly
Thursday, February 5, 2026
MotoGP Press:
Alex Marquez fends off Bezzecchi as sun sets on Sepang Test
The 2025 GP winner is top but ‘Bez’ is hot on the chase as testing concludes in Malaysia
Thursday, 05 February 2026
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) remains squarely top of the pile as action concludes at Sepang, with the #73 – who won the Grand Prix in Malaysia last year – having just enough in hand to edge out Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) after the Aprilia rider made a late push for the top. Completing the top three is Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) after three days of interesting testing, with plenty to talk about beyond one-lap pace.
BK8 GRESINI RACING MOTOGP, DUCATI LENOVO TEAM, PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM
The fastest Sprint simulation of the day went to 2025 silver medallist Alex Marquez who, upon completion of his 10-lap Sprint trial, had an average lap time of a 1’58.027. He ended the day fastest too with a 1’56.402; the #73 is very much in the groove at the track where he was victorious at last year.
Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) ran the 2025 front aero on both bikes during the morning and sampled elements of the 2026 aero package. However, the #93 suffered his first crash of the year at Turn 1 but was perfectly OK. For teammate Francesco Bagnaia, he stated he felt more comfortable than at any point throughout the Grand Prix weekend in October whilst also declaring which aero package he preferred. Interestingly, over a 10-lap Sprint simulation, the #63 had the upper-hand over his teammate, leaving food for thought within the factory Ducati squad. It’s fourth for Marquez and sixth for Bagnaia across the three days, attention turns to Buriram's test.
Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was another Ducati rider who fell, crashing at Turn 14. The Italian’s work focused mainly on adapting to the GP25 which he inherits for the new season and he ended the test in seventh across all days – with Diggia on the GP26 in that top three.
APRILIA RACING & TRACKHOUSE MOTOGP TEAM
Bezzecchi ends the test second and as top Aprilia after a busy few days, topping the final session of Thursday. We’ve seen new aero options for the seat unit – call it what you want but it is certainly innovative – and despite being a full-time rider down with Jorge Martin’s (Aprilia Racing) absence, the Noale factory can leave buoyed by their breakthroughs. The final day saw the #72’s Sprint simulation end in the high 1’58s but at a circuit they’ve historically struggled at, they can say they’re back in BEZness.
In the Trackhouse camp, Raul Fernandez was their shining light as he finished seventh on the final day and P10 overall in what was a complete contrast to his 2025 testing struggles and subsequent day one crash. On the other side, Ai Ogura’s incremental improvements saw him finish P12 overall with a focus shifting to the place where the Japanese rider got his best result of 2025: Buriram.
HONDA HRC CASTROL & HONDA LCR
After Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) topped Day 2’s timesheets, the final day of testing in Sepang was a little trickier for HRC in general, with both the 2020 World Champion and teammate Luca Marini saying the lower grip conditions after Wednesday’s rain caused them to run into a few more issues. Still, the vibes are positive and a stride forward has been made in all areas with the 2026 RC213V. And, importantly, they’ve found gains with the engine that needs to be homologated for the season now HRC are in Rank C of the concessions. At the end of the three days, Mir finished P5 overall after his 1:56.8 and Marini P13.
For Castrol Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco and Pro Honda LCR’s Diogo Moreira there was plenty to talk about too. Speaking at the end of six days of testing in Malaysia, including the three-day Shakedown, it’s safe to say the Brazilian rookie was tired. However, the #11 was very happy with his progress. The braking area is somewhere Moreira is particularly pleased with, and the reigning Moto2 World Champion also mentioned that he and the team are happy with the base set up they’ve found.
On the other side of the box, Zarco – like the factory duo – has been feeding us positivity about the new package for the entire test. He was P16 overall on the standings.
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING & RED BULL KTM TECH3
It’s just 0.010 between Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) on the combined timesheets from the whole test as they slot into P8 and P9. It’s been a busy test and seemingly a positive one, with Viñales still saying that after trying out lots of different directions on Day 3, it’s the first setup he tried that he’d want to stay with – and he’d be happy to roll out with it. He crashed near the end of play but rider ok.
Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) ends the test in P11, less than half a second off Raul Fernandez ahead of him, who split him from Acosta and Viñales. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory) also said it was coming together and was P15 on the combined times, explaining he didn’t put a lap together at full push.
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP & PRIMA PRAMAC YAMAHA MOTOGP
There was great news from the off on Day 3: yes, the Iwata marque were going to run. They sat out Day 2 until they could diagnose the cause – knowing, according to Technical Director Max Bartolini, what the issue was at least. Having got Japan on the task from Asian time on Day 2, they were joined by their base in Italy as Europe woke up later in the day by the time action began on Thursday.
Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was top Yamaha in P14 over all, with Fabio Quartararo actually 17th on the timesheets from Day 1. Prima Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller and rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu were a little further back in P18 and P19 overall.
Find full results here – as that’s a wrap on the Sepang Test. Swingarms, chassis, new aero front and rear… there’s been a little of everything up and down pitlane and, lest we overlook, an entirely new bike at Yamaha in the YZR-M1. Now we’re off into the city for the Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur and switch racing suits for a little black tie… but we’ll be back on track soon as Buriram awaits in two weeks.
Then, it’s time to get suited and booted for a record-breaking 22-GP calendar.
*******************
Gresini
ALEX MARQUEZ, FASTEST OVER THE THREE DAYS IN SEPANG
ALEX MARQUEZ (1’56.404s – 121 laps)
“It’s always good to finish the tests with the fastest time. The feeling is positive, and we also did some good things in the sprint simulation. We tried a lot and worked well, but it’s still just a test. The important thing was to finish these three days in good physical shape, and we managed to do that. Now we’ll have the Buriram tests to try other solutions and fine-tune everything ahead of the start of the Championship.”
DAY1
FP1 – 1’57.487 – 31 laps
FP2 – 1’58.169 – 18 laps
--
DAY2
FP3 – 1’57.664 – 22 laps
FP4 – 1’58.094 – 5 laps
--
DAY3
FP5 – 1’56.404 – 31 Laps
FP6 – 1’57.295 – 14 Laps
**************
Red Bull KTM
Red Bull KTM Tech3 concludes positive three-day test in Sepang
Thursday, February 5th 2026
Red Bull KTM Tech3 laid strong foundations for the upcoming 2026 MotoGP season during the first official test of the year at the Sepang International Circuit, home of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The team completed an intensive three-day programme with the KTM RC16, as teammates Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini logged an impressive combined total of 280 laps around the 5.54km circuit.
Featuring one of the longest laps on the MotoGP calendar, Sepang’s mix of slow corners, long straights and fast, flowing sections provided the ideal environment to work through a comprehensive testing programme. Across the three days, the Tech3 riders evaluated a range of components and updates, including a new chassis, swingarm and aerodynamic package.
Following a short winter break, the opening day of the Sepang Test saw the RC16 continue its development trajectory, with encouraging progress across all four KTM bikes. A late push saw Viñales take his #12 bike to P3, while teammate Bastianini focused on fine-tuning his positioning on the bike and completed the day in P12.
Hot and humid conditions continued on day two, before rain arrived ahead of the afternoon session and brought running to an early end for much of the field, including Bastianini’s #23 machine. One of the few riders to remain on track was Viñales, who switched to a wet set-up and completed a further eight laps in challenging conditions, ending the day in P5.
The final day of testing shifted focus towards longer runs, with Bastianini completing a Sprint simulation in the morning session. With only a hint of rain in the afternoon, the team continued to work through its remaining test items, bringing the Sepang Test to a close with Bastianini finishing the day in P10 and Viñales in P14.
Across the three days of running, Tech3 completed its planned testing programme in full, gathering valuable data and continuing to refine the KTM RC16 package ahead of the opening race. Maverick Viñales finished the test in ninth position, with teammate Enea Bastianini close behind in P11, marking a productive and positive start to the 2026 MotoGP pre-season.
Tech3 will return to action at the final official pre-season test in Buriram on 21–22 February, ahead of the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season in Thailand from 27 February–1 March.
The completion of the Sepang Test now paves the way for the MotoGP Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur on 6–7 February, where fans will have the opportunity to see the KTM RC16 in action as Viñales and Bastianini ride through the streets of the Malaysian capital.
Maverick Viñales: "This has been a positive test for me. On the first day, I was really happy with the bike, and you could see from the strong lap-times that day that I was comfortable. We then build on this, by working through the entire test programme the rest of the days, looking at set-up changes and different items. I feel positive heading into the start of the season with this bike. There are still a lot of areas for us to explore, but we will spend the next week looking at the best plan heading into the Thailand test. Another important thing for me is that I’ve assessed my physical fitness at this event, I’m feeling really good on the bike and now looking ahead to the start of the season.”
Enea Bastianini: "We’ve completed a lot over the last three days and I’m happy with the results. We did a lot of work over the winter on the bike, particularly in the wind tunnel, and you can see the positive changes out on track. I think we’ve improved in every area, and I feel comfortable on the bike. I have spent a lot of time with my new Crew Chief, Andreas Madrid, this week and I feel really confident heading into the 2026 season with him. Of course, this is just the first test, so we want to analyse what we’ve worked on here and then try some more things in Thailand so we can continue to improve.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Mananger: "I’m pleased to say that we are leaving the Sepang test with a positive feeling, with most of our test plan completed and we’re happy.
A key thing on Maverick’s side was to check his shoulder condition on a MotoGP bike. We have clearly seen across the three days that he is back to full strength, which is really positive. Alongside this, one of the key objectives for him at this test was to check the 2026 parts. We saw that he was very quick straight away with the standard bike and then step-by-step we implemented each new part for this season. There are some areas that we still need to work on, but overall, we can already see that this package is a bit quicker and he’s ended the test in P9. We know it’s just a test, but to see Maverick back in the top 10 is a real positive for us.
For Enea, one of the main targets was to build some confidence with his new Crew Chief, Andreas, and this has very clearly been done. They’ve worked hard over the last three days, completing over 120 laps and working through the entire programme. We’ve made some adjustments to his position on the bike and he’s now feeling really comfortable and in control – which was another key aim for us this week. We are pleased that we can walk away from this week with another item crossed off our list. He finishes the test in P11, which is already big step forward compared to last year.
I want to thank the whole team for their hard work across these three intensive days and now we must look forward to the next test in two weeks in Thailand, ahead of the start of the season.”
COMBINED SESSIONS RESULTS
1. Alex Marquez (SPA), BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, 1'56.402
2. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA), Aprilia Racing, + 0.124
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA), Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, + 0.383
9. Maverick Vinales (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 0.724
11. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 0.888
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'56.337 - 171.5 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2025 - A. Marquez (SPA) - 1'58.873 - 167.8 km/h
Best Pole: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'56.337 - 171.5 km/h
Top Speed: 2026 - E. Bastianini (ITA) - 345.0 km/h
*********************
Pramac Yamaha
During the Shakedown, to be honest, things went quite well and we completed all the work we had planned. The three days here were not easy — especially for Toprak — with the conditions and the high temperatures in Malaysia, but they both managed the workload well and we brought home important information. Going into the Official Test, we honestly expected to do a little better. In the two days we were out on the track, we were able to run and continue evaluating the material Yamaha provided. Our goal was not to chase lap time, but to build stability in performance. On the final day we found some improvements and, from a chassis point of view, the bike is quite competitive and works very well. It‘s clear that we are still missing some top speed, but Yamaha is already working on this, so we‘re not concerned.
TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider
It‘s still difficult for me and the learning curve is steep, but the feedback we‘re getting is positive and we‘re making progress. I‘m trying to understand where I need to improve and also how much I need to adapt my riding style to this bike. Jack helped me a lot today — I followed him for a few laps to understand how to approach some corners that are still tricky for me. I was hoping to get into the 1‘57s and even though I felt fast, the lap time didn‘t come yet. But I‘m pushing every day to learn and improve, and I‘m already looking forward to continuing this work at the next test in Buriram.
JACK MILLER
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider
It wasn‘t an easy day, but these things are part of the process. If you expect everything to run smoothly, you‘re being naïve — we‘re pushing the most high-performance machines in the world to their limits. Sometimes you need to pause, reassess what‘s needed and then get back to work. Of course I would have liked a bit more from this test, but I really believe the bike still has plenty of potential. The last few days were busy, with a lot of parts going on and off the bike, and the key is not just trying things, but properly analysing what works, what doesn‘t and where you can find a compromise for the future.
********************
KTM Factory
Red Bull KTM up to speed after first critical MotoGP™ test days in Malaysia
2026 MotoGP news
Three intense days of activity brought 2026 MotoGP to life at the Sepang International Circuit, host of the Malaysian Grand Prix in October, where potential modifications for the KTM RC16 prototype were tried and tested by the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 teams. It was Pedro Acosta who ranked highest on the timing screens by the end of the third day with the 8th fastest lap-time.
Hot and humid conditions greeted the MotoGP paddock once more at Sepang. The long and varied layout, which is due to be resurfaced before the 20th GP of the 2026 series this autumn, provided a decent testing ground of the ideas and parts of the KTM race department. The worklist was comprehensive with a view towards the 22-round contest starting at the end of the month in Thailand.
Rainfall forced a delay on day two but otherwise the track was grippy and beneficial to evaluate new aerodynamic, chassis, and set-up options for the 2026 race package. Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales made back-to-back comparisons as well as race and Sprint simulations and then used their stock of soft tire options today (Thursday) to get their duties ticked off. Key decisions must be made for homologation of certain components, especially the first phase of aerodynamic profiling.
Acosta was just 0.8 from the quickest chrono effort despite not putting his energies into a time attack. Bastianini increased his comfort on the RC16 to rest in P10 with Binder and Viñales close in P13 and P14 once the session reached a checkered flag.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 will remain in Malaysia for the MotoGP championship launch in Kuala Lumpur on February 6-7 and then the factory will gather at the Buriram International Circuit for the final two days of testing on February 6-7 prior to GP1.
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 8th: “I was making chassis tests on day one, then using the 2025 bike yesterday and then we worked with both today and we didn’t really have the target for a fast lap-time. Even though we were trying a lot of things and not really knowing the bike the lap-time was quite good I’d say. I wanted a clear image in my head of what pieces we need now for Thailand and then completing the package, and I’m quite happy for this. I want to create pure speed now in Thailand because here I wanted to spend more time on track.”
Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech3, 10th: “It’s been interesting. We worked a lot these three days and we improved in every area; that was important for me and it was also good to work with my new Crew Chief. I’m comfortable on the bike now and that’s thanks to work in the winter with the wind tunnel and more things here. We have some good solutions but we can still improve! It’s just the first test and we want to try more at the next one.”
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 13th: “We have slowly put together all the parts we’ve tried these days and I feel a lot better. I was not able to put in a super-fast lap-time by any means but I felt more comfortable on the bike and the times were coming easier. I’m happy with the work we have done and I think the comfort will turn into more speed at the next test. I think we can use a little more turning, and this will then take us a long way. I have a much better idea of what I have underneath me.”
Maverick Viñales, Red Bull KTM Tech3, 14th: “Day three was positive again. We arrived to the point where you can confirm what you like and what you don’t. We tried different set-ups, especially for the time attack and, for me, we decided the best was what we tried on day one. This is the feeling I like. Today the lap-times didn’t look so positive but, for knowing what I like, it was positive. I was working on technique and my riding style and to understand the bike more. I was more focused on set-up today and I think we have good pace. The bike gives me good feedback and making that strong lap-time on day one was a good sign because normally there is not good grip at that time, and if you have a bike that works when the grip is low then you’ll be competitive. We’ll try to improve more in Thailand.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We’ve had some long productive days here at Sepang both with the racing teams and the test riders. The rules for the championship now mean that it is very tough for anybody to make big steps with the technical platform but I am very happy with the steps we did make here. We have changes coming all the time and we could easily see that coming through the second half of 2025, the last few races and then the last couple of months. Our preparation has been busy and there has been a lot of information from the laps here in Malaysia, especially for our aero package. It’s something we need to finalize soon. Chassis-wise we also had many different things. Onto Thailand now and we will measure everything in the races finally!”
Sebastian Risse, KTM Technical Director MotoGP: “We finished a long and intense testing phase here that started with the private Shakedown and moved into the IRTA test. Putting it all together, I think we did a very good job with the teams and the riders to understand everything that we need to understand at this moment of the season. We were able to make all our decisions for the first race and we will have to see on the track where this will place us. I think it is already clear that we made a step forward but in MotoGP the competition is so dynamic and everybody is moving. We’re looking forward to putting our cards on the table in Thailand.”
Sepang official test final times
1. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati 1:56.402
2. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia +0.124
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) Ducati +0.383
8. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.851
10. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.888
13. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +1.188
14. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.197
*************************
Alex Marquez fends off Bezzecchi as sun sets on Sepang Test
The 2025 GP winner is top but ‘Bez’ is hot on the chase as testing concludes in Malaysia
Thursday, 05 February 2026
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) remains squarely top of the pile as action concludes at Sepang, with the #73 – who won the Grand Prix in Malaysia last year – having just enough in hand to edge out Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) after the Aprilia rider made a late push for the top. Completing the top three is Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) after three days of interesting testing, with plenty to talk about beyond one-lap pace.
BK8 GRESINI RACING MOTOGP, DUCATI LENOVO TEAM, PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM
The fastest Sprint simulation of the day went to 2025 silver medallist Alex Marquez who, upon completion of his 10-lap Sprint trial, had an average lap time of a 1’58.027. He ended the day fastest too with a 1’56.402; the #73 is very much in the groove at the track where he was victorious at last year.
Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) ran the 2025 front aero on both bikes during the morning and sampled elements of the 2026 aero package. However, the #93 suffered his first crash of the year at Turn 1 but was perfectly OK. For teammate Francesco Bagnaia, he stated he felt more comfortable than at any point throughout the Grand Prix weekend in October whilst also declaring which aero package he preferred. Interestingly, over a 10-lap Sprint simulation, the #63 had the upper-hand over his teammate, leaving food for thought within the factory Ducati squad. It’s fourth for Marquez and sixth for Bagnaia across the three days, attention turns to Buriram's test.
Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was another Ducati rider who fell, crashing at Turn 14. The Italian’s work focused mainly on adapting to the GP25 which he inherits for the new season and he ended the test in seventh across all days – with Diggia on the GP26 in that top three.
APRILIA RACING & TRACKHOUSE MOTOGP TEAM
Bezzecchi ends the test second and as top Aprilia after a busy few days, topping the final session of Thursday. We’ve seen new aero options for the seat unit – call it what you want but it is certainly innovative – and despite being a full-time rider down with Jorge Martin’s (Aprilia Racing) absence, the Noale factory can leave buoyed by their breakthroughs. The final day saw the #72’s Sprint simulation end in the high 1’58s but at a circuit they’ve historically struggled at, they can say they’re back in BEZness.
In the Trackhouse camp, Raul Fernandez was their shining light as he finished seventh on the final day and P10 overall in what was a complete contrast to his 2025 testing struggles and subsequent day one crash. On the other side, Ai Ogura’s incremental improvements saw him finish P12 overall with a focus shifting to the place where the Japanese rider got his best result of 2025: Buriram.
HONDA HRC CASTROL & HONDA LCR
After Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) topped Day 2’s timesheets, the final day of testing in Sepang was a little trickier for HRC in general, with both the 2020 World Champion and teammate Luca Marini saying the lower grip conditions after Wednesday’s rain caused them to run into a few more issues. Still, the vibes are positive and a stride forward has been made in all areas with the 2026 RC213V. And, importantly, they’ve found gains with the engine that needs to be homologated for the season now HRC are in Rank C of the concessions. At the end of the three days, Mir finished P5 overall after his 1:56.8 and Marini P13.
For Castrol Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco and Pro Honda LCR’s Diogo Moreira there was plenty to talk about too. Speaking at the end of six days of testing in Malaysia, including the three-day Shakedown, it’s safe to say the Brazilian rookie was tired. However, the #11 was very happy with his progress. The braking area is somewhere Moreira is particularly pleased with, and the reigning Moto2 World Champion also mentioned that he and the team are happy with the base set up they’ve found.
On the other side of the box, Zarco – like the factory duo – has been feeding us positivity about the new package for the entire test. He was P16 overall on the standings.
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING & RED BULL KTM TECH3
It’s just 0.010 between Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) on the combined timesheets from the whole test as they slot into P8 and P9. It’s been a busy test and seemingly a positive one, with Viñales still saying that after trying out lots of different directions on Day 3, it’s the first setup he tried that he’d want to stay with – and he’d be happy to roll out with it. He crashed near the end of play but rider ok.
Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) ends the test in P11, less than half a second off Raul Fernandez ahead of him, who split him from Acosta and Viñales. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory) also said it was coming together and was P15 on the combined times, explaining he didn’t put a lap together at full push.
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP & PRIMA PRAMAC YAMAHA MOTOGP
There was great news from the off on Day 3: yes, the Iwata marque were going to run. They sat out Day 2 until they could diagnose the cause – knowing, according to Technical Director Max Bartolini, what the issue was at least. Having got Japan on the task from Asian time on Day 2, they were joined by their base in Italy as Europe woke up later in the day by the time action began on Thursday.
Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was top Yamaha in P14 over all, with Fabio Quartararo actually 17th on the timesheets from Day 1. Prima Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller and rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu were a little further back in P18 and P19 overall.
Find full results here – as that’s a wrap on the Sepang Test. Swingarms, chassis, new aero front and rear… there’s been a little of everything up and down pitlane and, lest we overlook, an entirely new bike at Yamaha in the YZR-M1. Now we’re off into the city for the Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur and switch racing suits for a little black tie… but we’ll be back on track soon as Buriram awaits in two weeks.
Then, it’s time to get suited and booted for a record-breaking 22-GP calendar.
*******************
Gresini
ALEX MARQUEZ, FASTEST OVER THE THREE DAYS IN SEPANG
ALEX MARQUEZ (1’56.404s – 121 laps)
“It’s always good to finish the tests with the fastest time. The feeling is positive, and we also did some good things in the sprint simulation. We tried a lot and worked well, but it’s still just a test. The important thing was to finish these three days in good physical shape, and we managed to do that. Now we’ll have the Buriram tests to try other solutions and fine-tune everything ahead of the start of the Championship.”
DAY1
FP1 – 1’57.487 – 31 laps
FP2 – 1’58.169 – 18 laps
--
DAY2
FP3 – 1’57.664 – 22 laps
FP4 – 1’58.094 – 5 laps
--
DAY3
FP5 – 1’56.404 – 31 Laps
FP6 – 1’57.295 – 14 Laps
**************
Red Bull KTM
Red Bull KTM Tech3 concludes positive three-day test in Sepang
Thursday, February 5th 2026
Red Bull KTM Tech3 laid strong foundations for the upcoming 2026 MotoGP season during the first official test of the year at the Sepang International Circuit, home of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The team completed an intensive three-day programme with the KTM RC16, as teammates Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini logged an impressive combined total of 280 laps around the 5.54km circuit.
Featuring one of the longest laps on the MotoGP calendar, Sepang’s mix of slow corners, long straights and fast, flowing sections provided the ideal environment to work through a comprehensive testing programme. Across the three days, the Tech3 riders evaluated a range of components and updates, including a new chassis, swingarm and aerodynamic package.
Following a short winter break, the opening day of the Sepang Test saw the RC16 continue its development trajectory, with encouraging progress across all four KTM bikes. A late push saw Viñales take his #12 bike to P3, while teammate Bastianini focused on fine-tuning his positioning on the bike and completed the day in P12.
Hot and humid conditions continued on day two, before rain arrived ahead of the afternoon session and brought running to an early end for much of the field, including Bastianini’s #23 machine. One of the few riders to remain on track was Viñales, who switched to a wet set-up and completed a further eight laps in challenging conditions, ending the day in P5.
The final day of testing shifted focus towards longer runs, with Bastianini completing a Sprint simulation in the morning session. With only a hint of rain in the afternoon, the team continued to work through its remaining test items, bringing the Sepang Test to a close with Bastianini finishing the day in P10 and Viñales in P14.
Across the three days of running, Tech3 completed its planned testing programme in full, gathering valuable data and continuing to refine the KTM RC16 package ahead of the opening race. Maverick Viñales finished the test in ninth position, with teammate Enea Bastianini close behind in P11, marking a productive and positive start to the 2026 MotoGP pre-season.
Tech3 will return to action at the final official pre-season test in Buriram on 21–22 February, ahead of the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season in Thailand from 27 February–1 March.
The completion of the Sepang Test now paves the way for the MotoGP Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur on 6–7 February, where fans will have the opportunity to see the KTM RC16 in action as Viñales and Bastianini ride through the streets of the Malaysian capital.
Maverick Viñales: "This has been a positive test for me. On the first day, I was really happy with the bike, and you could see from the strong lap-times that day that I was comfortable. We then build on this, by working through the entire test programme the rest of the days, looking at set-up changes and different items. I feel positive heading into the start of the season with this bike. There are still a lot of areas for us to explore, but we will spend the next week looking at the best plan heading into the Thailand test. Another important thing for me is that I’ve assessed my physical fitness at this event, I’m feeling really good on the bike and now looking ahead to the start of the season.”
Enea Bastianini: "We’ve completed a lot over the last three days and I’m happy with the results. We did a lot of work over the winter on the bike, particularly in the wind tunnel, and you can see the positive changes out on track. I think we’ve improved in every area, and I feel comfortable on the bike. I have spent a lot of time with my new Crew Chief, Andreas Madrid, this week and I feel really confident heading into the 2026 season with him. Of course, this is just the first test, so we want to analyse what we’ve worked on here and then try some more things in Thailand so we can continue to improve.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Mananger: "I’m pleased to say that we are leaving the Sepang test with a positive feeling, with most of our test plan completed and we’re happy.
A key thing on Maverick’s side was to check his shoulder condition on a MotoGP bike. We have clearly seen across the three days that he is back to full strength, which is really positive. Alongside this, one of the key objectives for him at this test was to check the 2026 parts. We saw that he was very quick straight away with the standard bike and then step-by-step we implemented each new part for this season. There are some areas that we still need to work on, but overall, we can already see that this package is a bit quicker and he’s ended the test in P9. We know it’s just a test, but to see Maverick back in the top 10 is a real positive for us.
For Enea, one of the main targets was to build some confidence with his new Crew Chief, Andreas, and this has very clearly been done. They’ve worked hard over the last three days, completing over 120 laps and working through the entire programme. We’ve made some adjustments to his position on the bike and he’s now feeling really comfortable and in control – which was another key aim for us this week. We are pleased that we can walk away from this week with another item crossed off our list. He finishes the test in P11, which is already big step forward compared to last year.
I want to thank the whole team for their hard work across these three intensive days and now we must look forward to the next test in two weeks in Thailand, ahead of the start of the season.”
COMBINED SESSIONS RESULTS
1. Alex Marquez (SPA), BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, 1'56.402
2. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA), Aprilia Racing, + 0.124
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA), Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, + 0.383
9. Maverick Vinales (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 0.724
11. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 0.888
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'56.337 - 171.5 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2025 - A. Marquez (SPA) - 1'58.873 - 167.8 km/h
Best Pole: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'56.337 - 171.5 km/h
Top Speed: 2026 - E. Bastianini (ITA) - 345.0 km/h
*********************
Pramac Yamaha
During the Shakedown, to be honest, things went quite well and we completed all the work we had planned. The three days here were not easy — especially for Toprak — with the conditions and the high temperatures in Malaysia, but they both managed the workload well and we brought home important information. Going into the Official Test, we honestly expected to do a little better. In the two days we were out on the track, we were able to run and continue evaluating the material Yamaha provided. Our goal was not to chase lap time, but to build stability in performance. On the final day we found some improvements and, from a chassis point of view, the bike is quite competitive and works very well. It‘s clear that we are still missing some top speed, but Yamaha is already working on this, so we‘re not concerned.
TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider
It‘s still difficult for me and the learning curve is steep, but the feedback we‘re getting is positive and we‘re making progress. I‘m trying to understand where I need to improve and also how much I need to adapt my riding style to this bike. Jack helped me a lot today — I followed him for a few laps to understand how to approach some corners that are still tricky for me. I was hoping to get into the 1‘57s and even though I felt fast, the lap time didn‘t come yet. But I‘m pushing every day to learn and improve, and I‘m already looking forward to continuing this work at the next test in Buriram.
JACK MILLER
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider
It wasn‘t an easy day, but these things are part of the process. If you expect everything to run smoothly, you‘re being naïve — we‘re pushing the most high-performance machines in the world to their limits. Sometimes you need to pause, reassess what‘s needed and then get back to work. Of course I would have liked a bit more from this test, but I really believe the bike still has plenty of potential. The last few days were busy, with a lot of parts going on and off the bike, and the key is not just trying things, but properly analysing what works, what doesn‘t and where you can find a compromise for the future.
********************
KTM Factory
Red Bull KTM up to speed after first critical MotoGP™ test days in Malaysia
2026 MotoGP news
Three intense days of activity brought 2026 MotoGP to life at the Sepang International Circuit, host of the Malaysian Grand Prix in October, where potential modifications for the KTM RC16 prototype were tried and tested by the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 teams. It was Pedro Acosta who ranked highest on the timing screens by the end of the third day with the 8th fastest lap-time.
Hot and humid conditions greeted the MotoGP paddock once more at Sepang. The long and varied layout, which is due to be resurfaced before the 20th GP of the 2026 series this autumn, provided a decent testing ground of the ideas and parts of the KTM race department. The worklist was comprehensive with a view towards the 22-round contest starting at the end of the month in Thailand.
Rainfall forced a delay on day two but otherwise the track was grippy and beneficial to evaluate new aerodynamic, chassis, and set-up options for the 2026 race package. Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales made back-to-back comparisons as well as race and Sprint simulations and then used their stock of soft tire options today (Thursday) to get their duties ticked off. Key decisions must be made for homologation of certain components, especially the first phase of aerodynamic profiling.
Acosta was just 0.8 from the quickest chrono effort despite not putting his energies into a time attack. Bastianini increased his comfort on the RC16 to rest in P10 with Binder and Viñales close in P13 and P14 once the session reached a checkered flag.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 will remain in Malaysia for the MotoGP championship launch in Kuala Lumpur on February 6-7 and then the factory will gather at the Buriram International Circuit for the final two days of testing on February 6-7 prior to GP1.
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 8th: “I was making chassis tests on day one, then using the 2025 bike yesterday and then we worked with both today and we didn’t really have the target for a fast lap-time. Even though we were trying a lot of things and not really knowing the bike the lap-time was quite good I’d say. I wanted a clear image in my head of what pieces we need now for Thailand and then completing the package, and I’m quite happy for this. I want to create pure speed now in Thailand because here I wanted to spend more time on track.”
Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech3, 10th: “It’s been interesting. We worked a lot these three days and we improved in every area; that was important for me and it was also good to work with my new Crew Chief. I’m comfortable on the bike now and that’s thanks to work in the winter with the wind tunnel and more things here. We have some good solutions but we can still improve! It’s just the first test and we want to try more at the next one.”
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 13th: “We have slowly put together all the parts we’ve tried these days and I feel a lot better. I was not able to put in a super-fast lap-time by any means but I felt more comfortable on the bike and the times were coming easier. I’m happy with the work we have done and I think the comfort will turn into more speed at the next test. I think we can use a little more turning, and this will then take us a long way. I have a much better idea of what I have underneath me.”
Maverick Viñales, Red Bull KTM Tech3, 14th: “Day three was positive again. We arrived to the point where you can confirm what you like and what you don’t. We tried different set-ups, especially for the time attack and, for me, we decided the best was what we tried on day one. This is the feeling I like. Today the lap-times didn’t look so positive but, for knowing what I like, it was positive. I was working on technique and my riding style and to understand the bike more. I was more focused on set-up today and I think we have good pace. The bike gives me good feedback and making that strong lap-time on day one was a good sign because normally there is not good grip at that time, and if you have a bike that works when the grip is low then you’ll be competitive. We’ll try to improve more in Thailand.”
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We’ve had some long productive days here at Sepang both with the racing teams and the test riders. The rules for the championship now mean that it is very tough for anybody to make big steps with the technical platform but I am very happy with the steps we did make here. We have changes coming all the time and we could easily see that coming through the second half of 2025, the last few races and then the last couple of months. Our preparation has been busy and there has been a lot of information from the laps here in Malaysia, especially for our aero package. It’s something we need to finalize soon. Chassis-wise we also had many different things. Onto Thailand now and we will measure everything in the races finally!”
Sebastian Risse, KTM Technical Director MotoGP: “We finished a long and intense testing phase here that started with the private Shakedown and moved into the IRTA test. Putting it all together, I think we did a very good job with the teams and the riders to understand everything that we need to understand at this moment of the season. We were able to make all our decisions for the first race and we will have to see on the track where this will place us. I think it is already clear that we made a step forward but in MotoGP the competition is so dynamic and everybody is moving. We’re looking forward to putting our cards on the table in Thailand.”
Sepang official test final times
1. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati 1:56.402
2. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Aprilia +0.124
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) Ducati +0.383
8. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +0.851
10. Enea Bastianini (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +0.888
13. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +1.188
14. Maverick Viñales (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +1.197
*************************
— ends —
