The 2026 MotoGP pre-season officially got underway at the Sepang International Circuit, with Day 1 of the Sepang Test delivering early pace, technical insight and compelling storylines as teams began fine-tuning their packages for the season ahead.
Marc Marquez set the early benchmark, topping the combined timesheets with a 1:57.018 lap aboard the Ducati GP26. While outright lap times remain secondary at this stage of testing, the reigning world champion’s late-session effort highlighted Ducati’s strong baseline performance in hot and demanding Sepang conditions.
Several riders showed encouraging early form, including Fabio Di Giannantonio, Maverick Viñales and Alex Marquez, while Marco Bezzecchi and Honda riders focused on consistency and long-run evaluation as development work continued across the paddock.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s First Steps in MotoGP
One of the standout narratives from Day 1 was Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s first official MotoGP test appearance with Prima Pramac Yamaha. The World Superbike champion completed a measured opening day, finishing 21st overall, with his programme centred on adapting to Michelin tyres, MotoGP electronics and braking characteristics.
Rather than chasing lap time, Razgatlıoğlu focused on building confidence and understanding the Yamaha package — a key phase in his transition to the premier class.
Early Drama and Focus Ahead
The day was not without incident, as Fabio Quartararo suffered a crash that limited his running as a precaution, adding pressure to Yamaha’s remaining test days.
With two more days of testing to follow at Sepang, teams are expected to ramp up performance runs while continuing development work, as anticipation builds toward the start of the 2026 MotoGP season.