Three manufacturers in the top three, last-minute time attacks, and a wealth of new tech—MotorLand Aragon’s post-race test delivered on all fronts.
After promising a wealth of new components and storylines, the Official MotoGP Test at MotorLand Aragon—held just after Round 8 of the season—more than lived up to the hype. Teams rolled out a slew of fresh parts, from innovative aerodynamic solutions to chassis tweaks, alongside a few surprise performances that kept the timing sheets lively until the very last laps.
Topping the timesheets was Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who snatched P1 with a blistering 1:47.694 on his final flying lap, just edging out Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) by an almost imperceptible 0.006 seconds. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) slotted into third, with a mere 0.049s separating the top three—an incredibly tight finish to an intensely productive day.
KTM: Full-Scale Development in Both Camps
KTM came into the test with a packed development schedule, continuing the momentum they established during their earlier test at Jerez. Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini were both seen with a revised front fairing design that closely resembles Ducati’s, hinting at cross-manufacturer inspiration. Both riders also tested the so-called “salad boxes”—mass dampers located at the rear of the bike—designed to reduce chatter. However, as Viñales explained later, these components can be a double-edged sword: when not perfectly tuned, they can exacerbate instability rather than eliminate it.
Viñales spent most of the session inside the top three before his final push secured him P1. Bastianini, while not among the quickest, did show personal improvement over his race weekend, ending the session in 16th.
On the factory KTM side, Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder tested eye-catching new rear wings—nicknamed “stegosaurus” due to their aggressive design—which made their debut appearance for the Austrian marque. Acosta had an early crash at Turn 7, but quickly returned to the circuit—this time without any rear aero fitted—clearly exploring a wide range of configurations. The youngster eventually clocked the fifth-fastest time of the day.
Binder, meanwhile, posted a flurry of personal best laps in the closing 30 minutes, climbing to 13th. Both riders also experimented with new side fairings, likely aimed at improving engine cooling.
Pol Espargaró also joined the effort, completing the session in 19th while collecting important data across different temperatures. All KTM riders ran late into the session as track temperatures cooled, capitalizing on improved grip conditions.
Aprilia: Subtle Aerodynamic Changes and a Standout Debut
Aprilia rolled out updates too—most notably a subtly redesigned front fairing. The new version replaces sharper angular lines with a sleeker, more vertical outer edge, and the wings now feature slightly more pronounced side contours. While visually minor, these changes reportedly offer improved airflow and reduced turbulence.
Beyond the aerodynamic tweaks, Aprilia’s day was focused on refining engine mapping, chassis feedback, and electronic stability under acceleration—areas that proved problematic during the hotter races of the 2024 season.
Marco Bezzecchi seemed in top form, jumping up the order late in the session with a 1:47.700. Though briefly fastest, he was pipped by Viñales by just 0.006s, ultimately ending P2. Test rider Lorenzo Savadori had a busier day, though his session included a crash at Turn 8 that caused a short red flag period. He ended the test in 20th.
One of the day’s most heartwarming stories came from Manuel Gonzalez (Trackhouse Aprilia), who was drafted in to replace the injured Ai Ogura. Making his MotoGP debut, Gonzalez showed impressive pace despite a small crash at Turn 2. Team Principal Davide Brivio expressed his pride, calling Gonzalez “a deserving talent.” The rookie finished 21st, while teammate Raul Fernandez improved late to take 12th.
Hot conditions remained a talking point, as they’ve been a persistent issue for Aprilia all year. This test was an opportunity to gain valuable data for the warmer rounds still to come.
Ducati: Consistency Reigns, With a Glimpse of Future Fairings
The focus in the Ducati Lenovo garage was clear: evaluating a new fairing first seen during pre-season. Francesco Bagnaia reported mixed feelings—comfortable, but not completely convinced. Marc Marquez, however, adapted quickly, dipping into the 1:45s early in the day and demonstrating just how sharp his form remains.
Though Marquez ended third and Bagnaia ninth, team boss Davide Tardozzi hinted that the new fairing is likely to appear at Mugello, and added that “Pecco is back”—a promising sign heading into Ducati’s home race.
Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) also made headlines with his pace, consistently among the fastest for most of the day and finishing a strong fourth. He focused heavily on improving front-end feel, a known weakness from the weekend prior. Teammate Alex Marquez ended up eighth, after a day spent refining electronics and suspension setup.
Over at VR46, Franco Morbidelli had a solid outing despite a crash late in the session at Turn 10. He still managed to finish sixth. Fabio Di Giannantonio was close behind in 11th, gaining valuable experience with Ducati’s latest front fairing—one also tested by Pecco and Marc.
Yamaha: Focused Development and a Glimpse at the Future
It was a day of methodical work at Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, where both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rinsfocused on swingarm comparisons. Quartararo stuck with the same swingarm used during the race weekend, while Rins alternated between the older and newer versions.
On the aero side, both riders continued using Yamaha’s most recent aerodynamic package, though Rins added extra testing around minor aero modifications. Rins did suffer two crashes—one at Turn 12 and another off-track moment at Turn 8—after which both Yamaha riders opted to end their sessions early, citing changes in grip due to the well-rubbered surface after three days of activity.
Quartararo ended a respectable seventh, with Rins back in 18th.
At Prima Pramac Yamaha, the day also centered on swingarm experimentation. Improving rear grip remains a priority for Yamaha, particularly at high-degradation circuits like Aragon and Catalunya. To that end, Yamaha test riders Jack Miller, Miguel Oliveira, and Augusto Fernandez are scheduled to join the effort later this week in Barcelona. There, the team will evaluate a brand-new V4 engine configuration.
Miller and Oliveira ended the day in 14th and 15th, respectively, showing solid progress without taking too many risks.
Honda: Small Steps Forward in a Long-Term Project
In contrast to some rivals, Honda’s approach was more evolutionary than revolutionary. The main point of interest was Joan Mir’s use of the carbon fibre swingarm—first introduced by Aleix Espargaró at the Spanish GP. With teammate Luca Marini absent, Mir carried the lion’s share of testing responsibilities for HRC and managed to finish tenth, ensuring all five manufacturers placed riders inside the top ten.
Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) also tried the carbon swingarm and responded positively, ending the session in 17th. Meanwhile, rookie Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) continued to accumulate mileage and experience, finishing 22nd. While Honda didn’t bring any headline-grabbing upgrades, they continued laying the groundwork for future improvements in engine performance and aerodynamics.
What’s Next: Mugello on the Horizon
With the Aragon test now wrapped up, riders and teams enjoy a brief breather before the action resumes at Mugello for the Italian Grand Prix. For many, the data gathered here at Aragon will feed directly into setup choices for what’s often considered one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.
The championship is heating up—and with every team throwing everything they’ve got into development, Mugello promises to be another thriller.
Stay tuned.
Official MotoGP Press Release
