Mir Breaks into the 1:56s as Rain Cuts Short Day 2 at Sepang
Day 2 of the Sepang Test unfolded in contrasting fashion, with a strong morning session giving way to rain that ultimately brought proceedings to an early close. Before the weather intervened, Honda and VR46 made the most of the dry conditions, locking out the top three on the timesheets, while Yamaha endured a frustrating day that saw all of its machinery remain in the garage.
Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) emerged as the headline act, setting the fastest lap of the day and writing a small piece of history in the process. His benchmark time not only topped Day 2 but also made him the quickest Honda rider ever around the Sepang International Circuit, comfortably eclipsing the lap set by test rider Aleix Espargaro during last week’s Shakedown. Franco Morbidelli followed closely in second, with VR46 teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio completing the top three in a strong showing for Ducati’s satellite squad.
Although rain curtailed the afternoon running, the morning session provided plenty of insight into the direction teams are heading as preparations continue for the 2026 MotoGP season.
Yamaha Grounded as Investigation Takes Priority
One of the most significant developments of the day happened away from the track. Yamaha opted to keep its entire fleet of YZR-M1 machines in the pits throughout Wednesday, following concerns raised on Day 1.
After Fabio Quartararo’s crash on Tuesday—which later led to his withdrawal from the remainder of the test—the Japanese manufacturer identified an issue on the new M1. While Yamaha has indicated that the problem is understood in principle, the exact cause has yet to be confirmed. As a precaution, both Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP and Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP teams chose not to run at all on Day 2, prioritising analysis and reliability over mileage.
With the YZR-M1 representing a major step in Yamaha’s technical evolution, the decision underlined the importance of caution at this early stage of development.
Honda HRC Castrol and LCR Build Momentum
On track, Honda enjoyed one of its most encouraging days in recent memory. Mir’s entry into the 1:56 bracket marked a significant milestone for the RC213V project, reinforcing the progress shown during the latter part of the 2025 season.
Despite the eye-catching lap time, both Mir and teammate Luca Marini were keen to downplay the significance of the result, stressing that their focus remains on feel, consistency, and long-run behaviour rather than outright pace. Marini finished sixth, with his running limited by the weather, but echoed Mir’s optimism about the direction of the 2026 machine. Honda HRC Castrol now heads into the final day of the Sepang Test aiming to consolidate gains before shifting focus to Thailand.
At LCR Honda, Johann Zarco also reported a productive Day 2. The Frenchman is targeting a longer run on Thursday to better assess where Honda stands relative to the rest of the grid. Meanwhile, Diogo Moreira returned to action after his Day 1 crash and completed a solid morning programme. The Brazilian also experienced wet conditions on the MotoGP bike for the first time, describing it as a valuable learning opportunity as he continues to grow in confidence at this level.
Ducati and VR46 Continue Steady Progress
Ducati’s approach remained calm and methodical, with Franco Morbidelli leading the charge in second place. His 1’56.983 made him the only rider other than Mir to break into the 1:56s, finishing just 0.109 seconds shy of the Honda rider.
Fabio Di Giannantonio maintained his impressive form from earlier in the test, ending the day third and only 0.066 seconds behind Morbidelli. The Italian highlighted improvements in front-end feel as a key step forward, reinforcing VR46’s positive trajectory.
In the Ducati Lenovo Team garage, Francesco Bagnaia continued his measured programme. Although a planned Sprint simulation didn’t materialise, the Italian completed several short runs and ended the day eighth. Bagnaia remained upbeat, emphasising comfort and understanding rather than lap times.
Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez adopted a lower-key approach after topping Day 1, completing 30 laps and finishing 15th. The Spaniard focused on refining settings rather than chasing outright speed. Over at BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, Alex Marquez suffered a fall at Turn 5 while evaluating the 2024 aero package. He escaped uninjured and returned to the track during a brief dry window but was unable to improve on his earlier time, concluding the day 12th.
KTM Make Gains Despite Missing the 1:56s
Pedro Acosta led the KTM effort with an impressive fourth place, repeatedly dipping into the low 1’57s. While he fell just short of joining the 1:56 club, his pace represented KTM’s fastest-ever laps at Sepang. Acosta spent the day testing an updated front fairing in both wet and dry conditions, gathering valuable feedback.
Brad Binder endured a more challenging session, finishing 13th after struggling with practice starts. Off track, however, progress continues as he further develops his working relationship with new crew chief Phil Marron.
At Red Bull KTM Tech3, Maverick Viñales used the rain to his advantage, logging wet-weather laps and adding experience to KTM’s data pool. Enea Bastianini rounded out the top ten. Compared to the same test last year—when Tech3 struggled for direction—the improvement is clear, with both riders firmly inside the top ten heading into the final day.
Aprilia Experiment as Bezzecchi Leads the Charge
Marco Bezzecchi once again emerged as Aprilia’s top performer, finishing sixth and continuing a strong start to his time aboard the RS-GP. Raul Fernandez followed closely for Trackhouse MotoGP Team, maintaining the team’s positive momentum.
Aprilia’s new tail unit drew plenty of attention in the pit lane, featuring vertical aero fins that were tested back-to-back throughout the day. A revised swingarm was also on the evaluation list as Noale pushes forward with development.
Ai Ogura finished ninth, with only Bagnaia splitting the Aprilia-powered riders inside the top ten. Test rider Lorenzo Savadori continued logging mileage, supporting Aprilia’s broader development programme.
With rain bringing Day 2 to an early conclusion, attention now turns to Thursday’s final push at Sepang. With Honda surging, Ducati steady, KTM advancing, and Yamaha regrouping, the closing day promises further insight into how the 2026 MotoGP landscape is beginning to take shape.
Images Official MotoGP
