The Battle for Sepang: Marquez vs. Bezzecchi
In a thrilling conclusion to the Sepang Test, Alex Marquez held off a determined Marco Bezzecchi to claim the top spot. With the sun setting on the Malaysian track, the 2025 GP winner showed his class, but 'Bez' was hot on his tail, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
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Marquez, riding for BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, maintained his dominance throughout the three days of testing. His victory in the 2025 Grand Prix in Malaysia gave him an edge, and he just managed to keep Bezzecchi at bay. Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the top three, but it was the overall performance that caught everyone's attention.
BK8 GRESINI RACING MOTOGP
Alex Marquez, the silver medallist from 2025, set the fastest time in the Sprint simulation. His average lap time of 1'58.027 over 10 laps was impressive, and he ended the day with a blazing 1'56.402. The #73 rider seemed right at home on the track where he had tasted success last year.
DUCATI LENOVO TEAM
Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez tested the 2025 front aero and elements of the 2026 package. Despite a minor crash at Turn 1, he and his teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, provided valuable insights. Bagnaia felt more comfortable than ever, and over a 10-lap simulation, he outperformed Marquez, leaving the Ducati squad with some food for thought. Marquez finished fourth, and Bagnaia sixth, across the three days.
PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM
Franco Morbidelli, another Ducati rider, had a fall at Turn 14. His focus was on adapting to the GP25, and he ended the test in seventh place overall. His teammate, Di Giannantonio, riding the GP26, secured a spot in the top three.
APRILIA RACING
Bezzecchi concluded the test as the top Aprilia rider, a busy few days for him. He topped the final session on Thursday, and the team unveiled some innovative new aero options for the seat unit. Despite being down a full-time rider with Jorge Martin's absence, Aprilia can leave Sepang feeling buoyant about their progress. Bezzecchi's Sprint simulation ended with a solid 1'58, and they can say they're back in the game.
TRACKHOUSE MOTOGP TEAM
Raul Fernandez shone for Trackhouse, finishing seventh on the final day and tenth overall. A stark contrast to his struggles in 2025 testing, Fernandez's performance was a breath of fresh air. Ai Ogura, on the other hand, showed incremental improvements, finishing twelfth overall. The focus now shifts to Buriram, where Ogura had his best result in 2025.
HONDA TEAMS
After Joan Mir topped Day 2, the final day of testing in Sepang posed some challenges for Honda. Both Mir and his teammate, Luca Marini, encountered issues due to lower grip conditions after Wednesday's rain. However, the team remains positive, having made strides with the 2026 RC213V. They've also found gains with the engine, a crucial development now that HRC is in Rank C of the concessions.
CASTROL HONDA LCR & PRO HONDA LCR
Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira had plenty to discuss after six days of testing in Malaysia. Moreira, the Brazilian rookie, was tired but happy with his progress. He particularly praised the braking area and mentioned that the team had found a solid base setup. Zarco, on the other hand, maintained a positive outlook throughout the test, finishing sixteenth overall.
RED BULL KTM TEAMS
Pedro Acosta and Maverick Viñales were separated by just 0.010 seconds on the combined timesheets. They finished eighth and ninth, respectively, after a busy and seemingly positive test. Viñales, despite trying various setups on Day 3, preferred the first setup he tried and would be happy to race with it in Buriram. He had a minor crash near the end but walked away unharmed.
Enea Bastianini, riding for Red Bull KTM Tech3, ended the test in eleventh place, less than half a second behind Raul Fernandez. Brad Binder, riding for the factory team, was fifteenth on the combined times and expressed satisfaction with the bike's progress.
YAMAHA TEAMS
The Iwata marque made a strong comeback on Day 3 after sitting out Day 2 to diagnose an issue. With the help of their base in Japan and Italy, they identified the problem and were ready to roll. Alex Rins was the top Yamaha rider, finishing fourteenth overall. Fabio Quartararo, who was seventeenth on Day 1, and the Prima Pramac Racing duo of Jack Miller and rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu, finished eighteenth and nineteenth, respectively.
For full results, visit motogp.com. The Sepang Test is now in the books, and we've seen a bit of everything from swingarms to chassis and new aero components. Yamaha even unveiled their new bike, the YZR-M1. Now, it's time for the Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur, but we'll be back on the track soon for Buriram in two weeks.
Then, it's time to gear up for a record-breaking 22-GP calendar.
