MotoGP Sepang Test Day 2: Mir Leads, Yamaha Issues & Marquez Struggles
The second day of MotoGP collective testing at Sepang concluded with a strong showing from Joan Mir and Honda, though rain played a significant role, ending the afternoon session early due to both the downpour and stifling heat. Only 17 riders were on track today.
Yamaha’s Challenges and Honda’s Progress
The day was marked by a precautionary absence from Yamaha. Fabio Quartararo had already returned to Europe following a fracture to the middle finger of his right hand sustained during a fall on the fifth turn yesterday. Further complicating matters, the French rider’s M1 experienced an issue with its new V4 engine, prompting the Iwata technicians to hold all Yamaha bikes from the track until a resolution is found.
Despite the reduced field, Joan Mir delivered a notable performance, suggesting substantial progress for Honda during the off-season. He achieved a lap time of 1’56″874, which, while still half a second off the track record, is faster than the pole position time from last year and six-tenths of a second quicker than his qualifying time in November of the previous year – a race weekend where he finished third.
Ducati and KTM Show Promise
Franco Morbidelli was the only other rider to break the 1’57” barrier, finishing with a time of 1’56″983. The Pertamina Enduro VR46 rider appears to be quickly adapting to his new Ducati, which he has described as a hybrid between the GP25 and GP24 models.
Fabio Di Giannantonio, riding the first of the GP26 Ducatis, secured third place with a time of 1’57″049 after conducting aerodynamic experiments this morning. KTM also demonstrated positive performance, with Pedro Acosta and Maverick Vinales finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Acosta focused on aerodynamics, testing a narrower windscreen previously used by test rider Pol Espargaro, along with a new tail section and seat wings.
Factory Riders and Unexpected Incidents
The factory riders of Ducati had a more subdued day, with Pecco Bagnaia in eighth place (1’57″302) and Marc Marquez further down the order in 15th (1’58″386). Marquez continued testing a hybrid aerodynamic package with new wings on his GP25.
Alex Marquez experienced a challenging day, crashing at high speed on the fifth turn and damaging his GP26, though he fortunately avoided any physical injuries. Enea Bastianini, also on a KTM, worked with a new aerodynamic package featuring all-black fairings, finishing tenth with a time of 1’57″550, while Brad Binder was 13th at 1’57″753.
Aprilia’s Innovation and Honda’s Mixed Results
Aprilia debuted a new aerodynamic package for the tail section of their RS-GP26, featuring a significant number of fins. Marco Bezzecchi achieved the sixth-fastest time (1’57″141), improving upon his performance from the first day. The Trackhouse Racing team also showed improvement, with Raul Fernandez closely following Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura in ninth place.
While Joan Mir excelled for Honda, Luca Marini and Johann Zarco struggled, finishing 11th and 14th respectively. Rookie Diogo Moreira finished at the back of the pack, behind Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori, but used the rain to gain experience with the MotoGP bike in wet conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the early end to the second day of testing?
The afternoon session was cut short due to the arrival of rain shortly before 5:00 PM local time, combined with already challenging track conditions due to intense heat.
Which riders did not participate in the full testing session?
Fabio Quartararo was absent due to a fractured finger, and all Yamaha riders were held from the track due to an engine issue with Quartararo’s M1.
Who achieved the fastest lap time during the second day of testing?
Joan Mir of Honda recorded the fastest lap time of 1’56″874.
As teams continue to refine their machines, will we see a clear frontrunner emerge, or will the competitive landscape remain closely contested as the season approaches?