The key takeaways from the Sepang MotoGP test

Final week’s Sepang take a look at supplied the primary alternative to analyse the efficiency of MotoGP groups and perceive the place they stack up in opposition to the competitors.

In earlier years, the 2 pre-season exams in MotoGP had been separated by a spot of at the very least two weeks. However on this event, the Buriram take a look at is scheduled simply 4 days after the tip of the operating at Sepang.

Producers had their say in placing the 2 exams so shut collectively. However after the tip of the operating in Malaysia, many are already regretting the choice, primarily as a result of lack of time to react after the primary take a look at. Added to that is the truth that Ducati, Aprilia and KTM – the manufacturers with out concessions – must seal their engines on the first cease on the calendar, in Thailand in three weeks, and that this freeze will keep in drive in 2026, growing the importance of this alternative. 

With the above in thoughts, main setbacks similar to Jorge Martin’s harm, or different much less related ones similar to Ducati’s dilemma over homologating the 2025 engine or protecting the ‘24 unit, tackle a lot better significance. Even those that have apparently taken a step ahead or two, similar to Yamaha, may discover themselves disoriented and with out time to manoeuvre if subsequent week’s take a look at at Buriram doesn’t affirm this enchancment.

Aprilia suffers early blow

The primary alternative for the Noale producer to brag about having a world champion lasted barely an hour, because the Spaniard fractured a hand and a foot after flying off his RS-GP in an accident that put Michelin within the highlight. The harm, which leaves Martin out of motion till at the very least the primary apply session at Buriram, led to a public conflict between Aprilia and Michelin, with either side seemingly holding one another accountable. 

With out Martin on monitor, Marco Bezzecchi led the best way for the Noale-based model, with Lorenzo Savadori additionally coming in to assist. Bezzecchi accomplished a complete of 190 laps to assemble as a lot information as doable, however that meant he ended up ninth on the timesheets, eight tenths behind the Ducati of pacesetter Alex Marquez.

“Jorge’s fall affected the preliminary plan, however I am pleased with the work I’ve achieved, as a result of I did not let myself be affected by what the others had been doing – placing on smooth tyres to decrease the time,” he summed up. 

Whereas Bezzecchi reported a superb feeling on the bike, it’s important to attend till Thailand to raised gauge the magnitude of the step ahead taken by Aprilia.

Ducati pursuing the unimaginable 

Marc Marquez, Ducati Staff

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos

Enhancing a motorcycle that received 16 of the 20 races held final yr (excluding Marc Marquez’s three wins on the GP23) has turn into an virtually unimaginable problem even for Gigi Dall’Igna. Two of the three days of testing in Sepang had been led by Franco Morbidelli (Thursday) and Alex Marquez (Friday) on the Desmosedici GP24.

In Malaysia, the important thing for Ducati and the remainder of the non-concession manufacturers was to outline the specification of the engine that shall be integrated into their new bikes. Motorsport.com understands that the chosen base for Ducati would be the 2024 mannequin. 

“We’ve tried many issues,” Ducati team supervisor Davide Tardozzi instructed Motorsport.com on Friday. “Some have labored, many others haven’t, as a result of the [GP24] bike was extremely aggressive – and that’s confirmed by Alex, that’s confirmed by Franco and that’s confirmed by Fermin.”

“We nonetheless must attempt many issues once more in Buriram and reconfirm our alternative,” mentioned Marquez, with out giving additional particulars about which configuration satisfied him essentially the most. Francesco Bagnaia, then again, did level out that this yr’s Ducati misplaced just a little bit in braking in comparison with the earlier model. “I am leaving completely happy, however with many questions that we are going to attempt to resolve subsequent week,” mentioned the Italian.

Quartararo brings pleasure to Yamaha

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing

Photograph by: Yamaha MotoGP

That Yamaha has taken a step ahead is clear, however its full magnitude received’t be calculated till Buriram. The conclusions from Sepang are indicative, however they may also be deceptive. We’re speaking a couple of monitor with a variety of grip, the place it hardly rained through the three days of testing, and the place Yamaha racked up 5 days of operating if we depend the shakedown.

Seeing the Frenchman so excessive up – he completed third, simply two tenths off the chief – is one of the best information for the Iwata-based producer in a really very long time. The addition of a satellite tv for pc crew to its roster after a spot of two years additionally reveals its intention of turning into a frontrunner once more.

Buriram and its lack of grip will act as one of the best barometer for Yamaha and decide whether or not the pace it confirmed at Sepang was real or all the way down to beneficial situations. Although Quartararo managed to go eight tenths faster than his eighth-place qualifying time within the Malaysian GP in November, his long-run tempo was much more exceptional. 

“I’m completely happy, particularly with the tempo, however we’re nonetheless a step behind the purple bikes. In fact, the hole between us and them is way smaller than final yr,” summed up the 2021 world champion, the one Yamaha rider who appears to be able to present the Ducatis a tough time. 

“We’re beginning to reap the rewards of the work we began doing in the midst of final yr,” mentioned Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha’s crew supervisor.

KTM residing in uncertainty

Purple Bull KTM Tech 3 bike

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos

The Austrian firm has gathered debt of almost 3 billion euro, however its MotoGP division retains persuading its workers that all the things goes properly and the venture remains to be intact. That is no totally different to how KTM communicated issues internally earlier than the chaos grew to become identified. Nevertheless, the lap instances and the anomaly within the riders’ solutions recommend that the identical uncertainty that has been hanging over the places of work for months has descended to its MotoGP garages. 

Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini have simply arrived at Tech3, so the course needed to be set by Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder. Out of the 4, solely Acosta was capable of end close to the entrance – he ended up sixth, virtually seven tenths behind Alex Marquez. The South African completed thirteenth and his greatest lap was half a second slower than Acosta’s. 

“We’re higher than the screens present. If we’re not greater up it’s due to some mistake of mine,” mentioned Acosta earlier than leaving for Bangkok. “If I converse for myself I’d say that I’m doing properly, each by way of tempo and on a single lap. The precedence now must be to make the bike calmer, since final yr that aggressiveness brought about a number of falls.”

Honda sees the sunshine within the distance

Joan Mir, Honda HRC

Photograph by: Honda Racing

After many failed makes an attempt and a really erratic trajectory within the final three years, Sepang leaves behind indicators suggesting that Honda is starting to see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel and it might get itself out of its gap. Let nobody suppose that the slight enchancment within the RC213V is as a result of arrival of Romano Albesiano as the brand new technical director, as a result of the bike that went out on monitor in Malaysia was designed and manufactured final yr. 

This doesn’t imply the Japanese producer has began to maneuver in the best course. The seven-tenth distinction between Joan Mir and Alex Marquez most likely is lesser than the actual hole that also exists between Honda and Ducati.

“So far as I keep in mind, that is one of the best take a look at I’ve achieved,” mentioned Mir. “However we nonetheless have too many adverse factors, similar to, for instance, the engine and the dearth of grip. We’ve gained a kilometre per hour in high pace, however they’re nonetheless seven forward of us.” And that, certainly, is quite a bit.