MotoGP Test – Buriram Day 2

Bezzecchi smashes the benchmark as Aprilia end pre-season on top

Pre-season testing wrapped up in Thailand with a statement lap that will echo into Grand Prix week.

Marco Bezzecchi put Aprilia Racing firmly in the spotlight by firing in a 1’28.668 at the Chang International Circuit – a time quicker than the existing lap record at Buriram, whether from race or qualifying trim. It was not an official race weekend session, but the message was clear: Aprilia arrive at the season opener with genuine pace.

Second on the final day was Ai Ogura for Trackhouse MotoGP Team, just 0.097 seconds shy of Bezzecchi’s benchmark, in what is likely one of the fastest laps ever recorded at the Thai venue. Marc Marquez completed the top three for Ducati Lenovo Team despite suffering his third crash in two days. The reigning champion walked away unhurt but did not enjoy the smoothest conclusion to winter testing.

With that, pre-season 2026 is officially complete – and the grid heads into race week with Aprilia carrying serious momentum.

Aprilia’s strongest winter yet?

If testing is about trends rather than trophies, Aprilia leave Thailand with perhaps their most convincing pre-season in the modern MotoGP era.

Bezzecchi spent much of Sunday working through long runs in oppressive heat, simulating race distance while maintaining consistency. Over a 20-lap stint, he averaged 1’30.454 – a figure that suggests not only headline speed but genuine race-day strength. Late in the afternoon, with grip improving and track temperatures easing slightly, he bolted on fresh rubber and produced the 1’28.668 that will dominate the headlines.

Both Bezzecchi and teammate Jorge Martin evaluated different rear aerodynamic configurations, indicating that Aprilia may rotate solutions depending on circuit characteristics during the season. Martin, returning to full fitness and rhythm, ended the day eighth. The lap time gap was modest, and his feedback about comfort and front-end feel was notably positive after limited time at full intensity earlier in the winter.

At Trackhouse, Ogura and Raul Fernandez also trialled variations of the latest rear aero package. Ogura’s late-session time attack vaulted him into second, underlining his rapid adaptation to the RS-GP. Fernandez finished 11th overall but consistently hovered near the top ten. The takeaway? All four Aprilias appear competitive – a rare luxury heading into Round 1.

Ducati’s aero dilemma continues

For Ducati, the story of pre-season has been as much technical as it has been sporting: the 2024 aerodynamic package versus the updated 2025 evolution.

On Sunday morning, Marc Marquez topped the session running the older configuration, as did teammate Francesco Bagnaia. The factory squad appears to be leaning towards proven stability rather than outright novelty, though final decisions are yet to be confirmed.

Marquez’s afternoon was disrupted by illness and a crash at Turn 3. It was a straightforward front-end fall, and he was quickly back on his feet. Once back on track, he pieced together enough performance to secure third overall, narrowly edging Bagnaia, who finished fourth after improving his pace by eight tenths compared to Day 1.

Alex Marquez, riding for BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, once again impressed. After topping Day 1, he concluded testing fifth, also opting for the 2024 aero direction. A late fall at Turn 9 interrupted his final run but caused no injury. Stand-in Michele Pirro continued development duties and ended 22nd.

At Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio followed their now-familiar pattern: steady, structured work. Morbidelli secured seventh but questions remain about his long-run consistency compared to his one-lap speed. Di Giannantonio endured technical gremlins in the morning yet recovered to ninth after a late-session time attack. Interestingly, their strengths appear inverted – Morbidelli sharper over one lap, Di Giannantonio stronger on race rhythm.

KTM edging forward

KTM leave Thailand with cautious optimism.

Pedro Acosta led the Austrian charge in sixth, a significant improvement on his Day 1 position. He completed a full Grand Prix simulation in the punishing heat, gathering valuable data for tyre management and rear grip over distance. Brad Binder struggled for rhythm but delivered a late flying lap to climb to 12th.

For Red Bull KTM Tech3, Maverick Viñales ended 15th and appears comfortable with the 2025 aero specification, while the factory RC16s continue running the latest evolution. Enea Bastianini improved marginally but did not threaten the front group. As ever with KTM, their true competitiveness may only reveal itself under race conditions.

Honda: steady progress

Honda’s upward trajectory continues, albeit without headline lap times.

Joan Mir placed his Honda HRC Castrol machine tenth by the close of play, while Luca Marini, who had led the Honda times for much of the afternoon, finished 13th. Both were within eight tenths of Bezzecchi’s record lap – a smaller deficit than seen at various points last season.

Johann Zarco ended 14th for CASTROL Honda LCR, focusing on improving lap-to-lap consistency, while rookie Diogo Moreira completed another valuable day of learning in 19th. For Honda, reliability and stability appear to have improved – a foundation they lacked in recent years.

Yamaha still searching

Yamaha’s V4-powered project remains a work in progress.

Jack Miller, now with Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, conducted a long run before dipping into the 1’29s with a 1’29.701 in the final minutes. That lap secured Yamaha’s best showing of the test.

At Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, Fabio Quartararo was just 0.029 seconds shy of Miller’s time, also entering the 1’29 bracket. Alex Rins improved as well, finishing roughly half a second behind the lead Yamaha. Meanwhile, Toprak Razgatlioglu endured a disrupted morning due to technical issues and narrowly missed the 1’30 barrier.

The new YZR-M1 represents a major shift in philosophy, and while progress is evident, Yamaha are still chasing outright competitiveness ahead of the opening round.

Combined times from both days of the Buriram test:

Eyes on the Thai Grand Prix

Testing rarely tells the full story, but the final day at Buriram offered clear signals. Aprilia look fast and stable. Ducati remain formidable but face key technical decisions. KTM and Honda show signs of progress. Yamaha continue rebuilding.

Next weekend, the stopwatch resets. The first pole, Sprint win and Grand Prix victory of 2026 will be decided at the same circuit where Bezzecchi rewrote the benchmark.

Pre-season is over. Now the real fight begins.

Images Official MotoGP