- Yamaha completely suspends testing due to a V4 engine problem
- Honda sets the fastest time of the day with Joan Mir
- Rain prevents meaningful comparative runs in the afternoon
After an eventful start, Wednesday in Sepang turned out to be a day of testing with clear contrasts. On the one hand, Yamaha’s program came to a complete standstill, while on the other, Honda sent a clear sign of life with its new RC213V. KTM, Aprilia, and Ducati used the day primarily for detailed work, while the weather and track conditions made quick analysis difficult.
Yamaha: V4 engine forces the entire team to watch from the sidelines
The Sepang test turned into a bitter setback for Yamaha. After Fabio Quartararo crashed on Tuesday, sustaining abrasions and a broken finger, a technical problem took center stage. Quartararo had to coast to a stop with the new M1 on his first lap after the crash. Subsequent analysis revealed a problem with the new V4 engine.
As the cause could not be clearly identified, Yamaha decided not to ride at all on Wednesday for safety reasons. Alex Rins, Jack Miller, Toprak Razgatlioglu, and test riders Augusto Fernandez and Andrea Dovizioso remained in the pits. Even in the evening, it was still unclear whether a return to the track would be possible on Thursday.
Technical Director Massimo Bartolini explained that they had a suspicion, but needed confirmation from Yamaha headquarters in Japan and the technical department in Italy. Only once the cause of the problem had been identified could a decision be made on whether testing could resume. The setback is particularly painful for Yamaha, as this is a completely new motorcycle with no reliable reference data.
In addition, rider feedback on the V4-M1 has been mixed so far. Its cornering performance is said to be clearly behind the previous inline four-cylinder, and on the straights, Yamaha has been the slowest bike in the field so far. The fastest measured speed was 335.4 km/h, while Ducati and KTM were clocked at around 345.0 km/h.
Honda: Best time as a signal, but with limitations
In contrast to the Yamaha drama, Honda was in the spotlight. Joan Mir set the fastest lap of the day in the morning with a time of 1:56.874 minutes, sending a clear message. It was also the fastest lap ever driven with a Honda in Sepang and the manufacturer’s first fastest time in a test session since 2022.
Mir was satisfied with the current RC213V package and spoke of it being the best motorcycle he had ridden since switching to Honda. At the same time, he dampened expectations. The lap was set on soft tires in ideal conditions, with rain later preventing further improvements. In addition, a familiar problem remains: the lack of rear-wheel grip that has plagued Honda in recent years.
Technical Director Romano Albesiano spoke of moderate satisfaction and emphasized that the actual performance of the bike could only be more clearly assessed on the last day of testing.
KTM: Progress in rideability and aerodynamics
At KTM, Pedro Acosta drew a positive conclusion overall. The Spaniard reported that the RC16 is now somewhat easier to ride. Compared to last year, this is a significant improvement after he crashed several times during the 2025 Sepang test. According to his own statement, he crashed five times during the test and several more times during the race weekend.
On Wednesday, Acosta was in fourth place and focused primarily on aerodynamic tests. The day before, the focus was on chassis variants. New aero parts, a revised frame, and a new swing arm were tested for the first time. Acosta did not want to comment on tire durability yet, as longer runs had hardly been possible so far. A reliable assessment will follow later.
Aprilia: Solid foundation, but caution with track development
Marco Bezzecchi was satisfied with the test so far. The RS-GP made a stable impression, even if no spectacular lap times were achieved. Bezzecchi pointed out that the track had improved significantly during the shakedown and official testing. Therefore, a detailed analysis is needed to determine which part of the performance actually comes from the motorcycle and which from the increased grip level.
Aprilia focused on finding a clean base setup instead of specifically aiming for a fast lap. There are several areas with development potential, but no single dominant weak point. The key is to accumulate more kilometers and evaluate the data.
Ducati: Complex aerodynamic decisions ahead of homologation
Ducati also focused less on chasing lap times. Marc Marquez worked through an extensive aerodynamics program and tested various combinations of front and side fairings. Overall, he spoke of four different aerodynamic aspects that needed to be evaluated.
The background to this is the upcoming homologation of the aerodynamic package, which must be used from the first race of the season. Although an update can be made later, the basic decision has to be made now. Ducati tested specifications from 2024 and 2025 in parallel, as well as a new, striking front fairing. This makes the decision-making process for the manufacturer correspondingly complex.
Rain spoils the afternoon
The afternoon in Sepang was largely dominated by rain. Many teams had hoped to do long runs or time attacks in cooler conditions. Instead, only a few riders went out for short runs on rain tires. Most riders ended the day early, which further limited the significance of the results.
Assessment of the second day of testing
The second day of testing in Sepang provided fewer definitive answers than hoped for. Honda attracted attention with the fastest time, while Yamaha faces a fundamental technical challenge. KTM and Aprilia confirmed cautious optimism, while Ducati continues to work on fine-tuning the details. How reliable these impressions are will only become clear when all manufacturers are able to ride under comparable conditions again.
What does this mean for me as a MotoGP fan?
The Sepang test shows early on that the 2026 season will not be a clear one-way street. Yamaha is struggling with fundamental problems and could continue to lag behind at the start, while Honda appears to have moved closer to the top, even if some weaknesses remain. KTM and Aprilia seem stable and are developing step by step without revealing everything yet. Ducati, on the other hand, continues to look strong but once again has to make complex decisions that will only prove themselves in racing. For MotoGP fans, this means one thing above all: the balance of power is not yet set in stone, and especially at the start of the season, we can expect changing results, surprises, and a closer performance gap.
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