The final day of the MotoGP Sepang Test saw Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) clinch the top spot with a blistering lap of 1:56.493, narrowly edging out Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) by a mere 0.007 seconds. The Ducati duo led the charge in the exclusive 1:56 club, but they were not alone as Yamaha made history by joining the ranks for the first time, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) going third fastest overall.
Marquez was happy with the test, saying, “The bike is really good, and we are very satisfied with these three days of testing, especially this last day. It’s just a test, but we’ve fine-tuned everything, and we head to Thailand with great feelings. Today, we also tried a sprint race and were very fast, so it’s not just about the best lap time. That said, Sepang is a track that suits my riding style well, so now we simply move on to the next test to keep working. It’s a different circuit, but I like it.”
The day was characterized by fast laps in the morning, followed by longer runs in the afternoon. Despite the looming threat of rain, riders and teams made the most of the available track time, with several notable performances and storylines emerging.
Ducati’s engine testing dilemma appears set to continue into the upcoming Buriram test, but their long runs were nothing short of impressive. Bagnaia, his teammate Marc Marquez, and Alex Marquez all demonstrated a formidable pace that could be a cause for concern for their rivals. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) once again showcased his speed over a single lap but seemed to have room for improvement in his longer runs. Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Racing MotoGP) continued to turn heads as the fastest rookie, finishing the day in an impressive 11th position.
The Ducati Lenovo Team concluded the test with more than positive feelings, as Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Márquez finished second and fifth, respectively, in the combined standings. Bagnaia completed around 150 laps and broke the 1:57 barrier with a best time of 1:56.500, just seven-thousandths off the top spot. The team tested new parts, gathered valuable data, and heads to the upcoming Buriram test with a positive outlook.
Bagnaia reflected on the test, saying, “Three positive days, we had the opportunity and time to try everything we scheduled and to fix some aspects. I think Marc (Márquez) and I did a great job, we tried different things and we always gave very similar feedbacks. I’m happy that we will continue to do the job at Buriram in a few days because here in Malaysia there are particular tarmac conditions, with a lot of grip, while in Thailand it will be different. Our 2024 package was already very good, so the choices need to be careful. I would have liked to work more on the time attack, but the priority in these days was decide which direction to take for the future”.
Marc Márquez, making his debut in the official Borgo Panigale colors, set a best lap time of 1:57.042 and completed approximately 170 laps over the three days to gain confidence with the Desmosedici GP. Márquez shared his thoughts, saying, “I would say that the balance is positive, we did all the job scheduled. During the three days we tested and re-tested the 2025 package. We saw interesting things, we have to analyse all the data from the two bikes and understand what could be the best direction to follow for the test at Buriram. Pecco and I basically are agreed on the 90% of the technical stuff, we had the same feeling on the engine and aerodynamics. We start from a very good base, the GP24 has won many races last season, it is not easy to make another step forward, we need to take care of every detail”.
Yamaha’s entry into the 1:56 club was a standout achievement that earned praise from across the paddock. Quartararo’s consistently fast laps and impressive long runs underscored the significant progress made by the Iwata-based manufacturer. While Quartararo’s teammate Alex Rins secured 10th place, and Prima Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira finished 12th and 17th respectively, the day’s significance went beyond mere lap times. Ducati Lenovo Team manager Davide Tardozzi even acknowledged Yamaha as a potentially formidable challenger for the upcoming season.
KTM also made strides on the final day, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) claiming sixth place, setting a time 1.5 tenths quicker than the Austrian factory’s previous best at the Sepang circuit. Teammate Brad Binder encountered a minor technical issue during his Sprint simulation but still managed to finish 13th. Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and his teammate Enea Bastianini concluded the test in 16th and 18th positions, respectively, as they continue to adapt to their new machinery.
Honda’s performance was equally noteworthy, with Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) both surpassing the manufacturer’s previous best times at Sepang. Zarco secured seventh place on Friday, while Mir finished eighth, marking another double top-ten result for the Japanese marque. Honda’s new technical chief, Romano Albesiano, also revealed plans to return to Sepang for further testing instead of the initially scheduled Portugal test. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) ended the day in 15th, while rookie Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR) continued to make progress further down the order.
Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi made significant gains, going half a second faster than his previous best at Sepang – the most substantial improvement among riders who switched factories. He concluded the day in ninth place. Rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) finished 14th in his first official test, aiming to unlock more potential in the upcoming Buriram test.
As the MotoGP Sepang Test draws to a close, the paddock now shifts its focus to the season launch in Bangkok, Thailand, which will take place on Sunday. All teams and riders will be present at the launch before the action resumes on track at the Buriram circuit on February 12th and 13th, where the preparation for the highly anticipated 2025 MotoGP season will continue.
