New items, fresh faces and a return to action – three days of Malaysian testing await
We’re in the first racing month of 2026 and just a few weeks away from the opening Grand Prix, so it’s time to go testing. Preparation is the name of the game and following the first shots of bikes on track in the Shakedown Test, it’s now time for our first Official Test of the year at Petronas Sepang International Circuit where the full grid – minus two key names who are sidelined – will be out in force.
Every factory and team will have their full-time rider line-up… very nearly. Unfotunately, through injury, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) isn’t present as he recovers from a broken leg, whilst 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) is also recovering from his two surgeries from December. He’ll be present at the test but supporting from the box, replaced on track by test rider Lorenzo Savadori. As well as the official race riders, there’ll be two additional but very familiar names on-track too, with MotoGP Legend Andrea Dovizioso and Augusto Fernandez continuing to test for Yamaha and the Iwata marque’s all-new V4.
There was plenty of news from the Shakedown Test. Aleix Espargaro grabbed headlines with the fastest laptime for Honda – quicker than their best bike in Q2 at the 2025 Malaysian GP, and their fastest ever MotoGP lap at the venue. With their progress only continuing to impress, there’s plenty of expectation for their season ahead. And their 2027 project and riders...
Meanwhile, Yamaha have seemingly also taken a good step forward with their V4 development. At the end of the test, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was only half a second away from his Q2 time in 2025 – not bad for Yamaha’s first-ever MotoGP V4. Elsewhere, three-time WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) was able to make considerable progress across the days. That said, it was Honda rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) who took best rookie honours overall, the Brazilian pipping the Turkish rider day on Day 3.
Having not been on a MotoGP bike since October, reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) will offer us our first look at him post-Indonesian GP injury. After a lengthy layoff, the opening day is likely to be more of a shakedown for him – but will we see him push as the test goes on? Teammate Pecco Bagnaia will also be one to watch as he looks to reset for 2026 after a tough season – can he come out swinging at a track where he holds the lap record?
Just like Ducati, Honda, Aprilia and KTM will also get reunited with their race riders. Whereas Yamaha, in concessions Rank D, were able to field all theirs at the Shakedown, other factories had to wait for the official test – so now we can likely look forward to some more representative laptimes as they push more. Although Honda’s top effort from Aleix Espargaro and the second quickest laptime, set by Pol Espargaro with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, weren’t exactly hanging around.
MotoGP TimingPass keeps you updated with the three days of testing, along with updates from the track across social media. We’ll have a midday round-up live from the paddock at Sepang with Louis Suddaby and Jack Appleyard every day, before After the Flag returns, with both being joined on the ground by Elliott York on-site, as well as studio analysis from MotoGP HQ with Kiko Giles. Add in reports, stories and interviews across all three days, you’ll be up to speed with everything MotoGP. Ready? 2026 is GO.
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