Reports before the first official 2026 pre-season test at Sepang claimed Fabio Quartararo had signed a two-year deal to join Honda from 2027. However, the rider publicly denied a completed agreement, while confirming HRC remained one of the options he was considering. The Sepang test itself was disruptive. Quartararo crashed on day one, broke a finger, and missed the remainder of that session, then encountered an engine problem Yamaha could not fix during the test. Yamaha also missed running after an unexpected engine issue described by team management as something they had “never had” before, as Alex Rins posted Yamaha’s best finish (12th). Team sporting director Massimo Meregalli said the Sepang incident did not change decisions on Quartararo’s future and characterized the interruption as a delay that pushed parts of the negotiation and testing program toward the next test.

Yamaha acknowledged it had reduced engine revs as a protective measure while continuing the development of its new V4, and planned to complete unfinished work during the upcoming Buriram test. The manufacturer emphasized continuity of its V4 program and insisted contract talks over 2027 were proceeding despite the Sepang interruption. Quartararo himself denied reports he had already signed for Honda even as questions about Yamaha’s pace of development and testing reliability intensified. Media reports and team comments linked the technical setbacks at Yamaha with increased speculation over the rider market, rather than presenting any confirmed move.

Honda presented a contrasting picture of forward momentum at Sepang. Team manager Alberto Puig praised Quartararo as “fantastic,” highlighted steady technical progress at HRC, including a lighter bike and improved engine response. The former rider cautioned that immediate wins could not be guaranteed. Joan Mir set the fastest time on day two, in what was reported as the quickest Honda lap around Sepang, and described the current RC213V as the best bike he had ridden, adding weight to Honda’s on-track gains. Puig repeatedly denied that anything for 2027 had been decided, and said Honda would prioritize its current roster while seeking riders who were both fast and intelligent. He noted that Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira were already locked in with LCR through 2027, leaving factory-team seats contested between Mir and Luca Marini. Puig framed the 2026 contract season as chaotic and said on-track results and the evolving rule environment would shape final decisions once the season got underway.

Marc Marquez returned to the track at the Sepang pre‑season test and delivered a mixed but constructive outing. He was fastest on the opening day, but endured a roller‑coaster three days of running, ending fourth on the final day, around 0.4 seconds behind his brother Álex Márquez’s best lap. In sprint‑simulation work, he posted a best simulation lap of 1:57.602 and completed 10‑lap runs with averages in the 1:58.2–1:58.3 range. “The Ant of Cervera” showed competitive race‑pace potential despite not feeling fully 100% fit. Marquez completed the planned program using 2025 front aero on both machines while sampling 2026 aero, and suffered a low‑speed crash at Turn 1 after an aero change altered the Ducati’s balance. The reigning champion was uninjured and able to continue evaluating settings.

Beyond lap times, Marquez stressed caution about interpreting Sepang data. He warned that grip levels in Malaysia were unrealistically high and that tire usage and track conditions can skew sprint runs. Ducati displayed notable depth at the test, but Marquez said “two, three riders are faster than me” and highlighted Francesco Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi, and others as genuine threats. His words underline his view that the 2026 championship will be fiercely competitive. He framed testing as information gathering that must be validated under race conditions, pointing to the upcoming Buriram (Thailand) test on 21–22 February as a more decisive rehearsal because the season-opening race follows shortly afterwards.

Looking ahead, Marquez described the Sepang work as a positive step while emphasizing the need to protect his fitness and to keep evolving. A MotoGP title is earned across 22 race weekends, and riders must “reinvent” themselves year to year. His priority will be to close the gap to the riders ahead and to refine race pace and bike balance at Buriram and in the early races, using the Sepang data as a baseline rather than a final verdict on form.

At the Sepang test, Alex Márquez told reporters he had “several options” for the 2027 MotoGP season and wanted his situation resolved before the first race. Márquez, who finished runner‑up last season and earned a factory‑spec Ducati for 2026, ended the Sepang running fastest primarily using the 2024‑spec front aero. He reported a strong day that included a good sprint simulation and said additional aero and setup work would be evaluated during the upcoming running in Thailand. Márquez described Gresini’s offer as the most emotionally solid because he knows the team, but he is also being linked to factory moves as his market value rises ahead of the 2027 regulation changes and the adoption of Pirelli tires.

KTM’s interest in the younger Márquez intensified amid expectations that Pedro Acosta could move to Ducati for 2027, with reports naming the former as a favorite to join KTM and potentially partner with Maverick Viñales. Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali confirmed the factory would formally consider its 2027 rider line‑up after the Sepang test and acknowledged Acosta among several riders under review. While reports suggested Ducati was close to signing Acosta on a two‑year deal, Domenicali said no final decision had been made and emphasized a measured approach. The Italian team was believed to be waiting to finalize a new two‑year contract for Marc Márquez before completing any agreement with Acosta, making the 2025 champion’s contract a gating factor in those negotiations.

Yamaha remained a possible destination, but its ability to pursue Márquez was reported to depend in part on the unresolved future of Fabio Quartararo. With teams waiting on contract clarifications and internal deliberations, multiple outcomes for 2027 lineups remain possible, and official announcements are expected after those processes. Márquez reiterated he planned to decide his 2027 ride well before the 2026 season opener, closing a window that many teams were watching closely as they shaped their lineups ahead of the regulatory shift. The combination of Sepang form, contractual movements around Acosta and Marc Márquez, and the upcoming rule changes ensures that the 2027 market will remain active in the weeks ahead.

Joan Mir topped the second day of the 2026 Sepang MotoGP official test for Honda, setting the fastest lap of the meeting with a 1:56.874 and pushing lap times into the 1:56s for the first time this pre-season. Franco Morbidelli was just 0.109 seconds behind in second for VR46, with Fabio Di Giannantonio completing the top three after an early benchmark run on his factory Ducati. Pedro Acosta and Maverick Viñales put KTM two-deep inside the top five, while Enea Bastianini added a third KTM inside the top 10; Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi, Raul Fernandez, and Ai Ogura also finished within the top 10, and Francesco Bagnaia was the best of the factory Ducatis in eighth. Marc Márquez slipped to 15th after topping day one, and on-track incidents, including Alex Márquez’s crash at turn five, reduced meaningful running for some teams. The afternoon rain left only 17 riders classified on the official timesheets.

Yamaha sat out the bulk of Wednesday’s running after engineers found an unresolved engine issue following Fabio Quartararo’s stoppage on Tuesday, a problem compounded by Quartararo’s broken finger from a separate crash. The factory yard remained largely inactive as they investigated whether repairs could be made on-site and assessed the new V4 engine concept. The manufacturer said it would decide on Thursday whether to resume testing. That lost track time was notable given Yamaha’s switch to the V4 architecture for 2026 and the limited running available at Sepang.

A heavy rain shower around 4 pm local time curtailed late dry running and prevented many teams from improving on morning times, locking in Mir’s benchmark. Honda’s technical director, Romano Albesiano, described the squad as “moderately satisfied,” attributing Mir’s pace to a series of marginal gains across the engine, electronics, and chassis. He continued to say that the RC213V’s “real performance” should become clearer on the final day of testing. Taken together, the day produced a clear early-performance snapshot with competitive shows from Honda, VR46, KTM, Aprilia, and Ducati, while Yamaha’s interrupted program and the weather will shape preparations heading into the test’s last session.

At Sepang’s first preseason test, Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia reported an immediate improvement on the new GP26, citing notably better braking and corner-entry confidence after a difficult 2025 season. He ran a radical aerodynamic fairing that showed both advantages and drawbacks but produced lap times broadly similar to the older bodywork, giving the team useful comparative data for ongoing development. Bagnaia and Alex Márquez spent much of the day on long runs with used tires to assess race pace, and the squad planned a sprint simulation the next day, followed by a full race simulation on day three. The opening work built on an encouraging Valencia post-season test and left Bagnaia cautiously optimistic while warning against reading too much into a single day.

Marc Márquez set the early benchmark with a 1:57.018 while managing limits as he recovers from a right-shoulder issue, and Bagnaia ultimately placed eighth, roughly seven-tenths off that time. Ducati’s focus in Sepang was clearly on usable setup and tire feedback rather than outright sheet positions, with Bagnaia emphasizing that the team needs to better understand how new parts behave before converting test pace into race advantage. The broader test painted a mixed picture across the paddock. Yamaha’s V4 was reported to be short on power, turning, traction, and electronics, and Fabio Quartararo was later ruled out of part of the program with a finger injury. On the contrary, Alex Rins and Jack Miller struck a more positive tone about Yamaha development. Early signs from Aprilia, KTM, and Honda were encouraging through riders such as Lorenzo Savadori, Pedro Acosta, Luca Marini, and Joan Mir, even as rookies and regulars worked through setups and recoveries.

Off-track, the opening test intensified contract-year and transfer speculation. Bagnaia is in a 2027 contract year and acknowledged that impending regulation changes have helped create a lively market. Reports linked Ducati with interest in Pedro Acosta for a factory seat and indicated the factory is close to finalizing a new deal with Marc Márquez, developments that feed uncertainty around other riders’ futures. Several pieces of coverage noted that a strong return to consistent podium form by Bagnaia would complicate any premature assumptions about incoming stars, and Ducati will use the remainder of preseason testing to firm up the GP26’s setup and aerodynamic package. Overall, the Sepang opener left Ducati with encouraging technical signs and a clearer roadmap for evaluation, even as the paddock begins to reshuffle around the new rules.

Toprak Razgatlioglu, the 29-year-old three-time WorldSBK champion, began his MotoGP transition under a two-year Yamaha factory deal with Pramac and is scheduled to make his race debut on March 1 in Thailand. Yamaha has mobilized support to speed his learning, enlisting test rider Andrea Dovizioso and other resources at Sepang to smooth the switch from WorldSBK machinery and Pirelli rubber to MotoGP-spec bikes and Michelin tires. Team messages and Razgatlioglu’s own comments framed 2026 as a development year focused on setup work, track familiarization, and adapting his riding technique to the prototype environment.

During the Sepang shakedown, Razgatlioglu posted a 1:58.465 on Day 3 to finish 10th, ahead of teammate Jack Miller. The result came after he posted the slowest time on day one of testing, registering a gap of roughly 1.6–1.9 seconds to Marc Márquez and about 0.8–1.0 seconds to the fastest Yamaha ridden by Fabio Quartararo. He was within roughly half a second of Jack Miller and Alex Rins, establishing them as nearer-term benchmarks while the team focuses on data-gathering rather than outright lap times. Jack Miller publicly reacted to seeing Razgatlioglu on the Yamaha, noting visible differences in seating and aerodynamics tied to the Turkish rider’s height.

Technically, Razgatlioglu has been experimenting with a markedly different ergonomics package, including a lower seat, higher handlebars, and a rear tail that improved braking stability and rear control. The experiments gave Yamaha time to prepare an M1 set-up for his larger stature. His height (over six feet) limits the use of Yamaha’s seat aero without breaching MotoGP bike-height rules, a practical constraint that factors into fit and aero choices. On tires, he said Michelin rubber feels different to Pirelli. Braking is good, but acceleration requires a smoother approach, so his aggressive WorldSBK late-braking habits need modification to suit MotoGP-style corner entry and chassis behavior. The combined package of ergonomics, tire adaptation, and revised braking technique remains the immediate focus as he continues incremental adjustments ahead of the opening round.

KTM arrived at the Sepang test with a revised 2026 RC16 package, featuring a new chassis concept, updated aero parts, and a new swingarm. The team opted to split its factory program between development and consolidation. The strategy paid early dividends after the team completed the opening day as the second-fastest on the timesheets behind Ducati, with Tech3’s Maverick Viñales posting a late 1:57.295 that underlined early pace. KTM used the day to validate the new parts. The team ran a dual approach with Pedro Acosta concentrated on chassis and aerodynamic development, while Brad Binder followed a more conservative program aimed at regaining outright speed.

Acosta, 21, described the new shortened chassis as “promising” and said the configuration was “working,” but he also reported unusual vibrations from the very first lap and limited his opening-day running. He spent his morning exploring chassis setups, used more of his tire allocation than planned, completed an early medium-tire run before switching to softs, and finished 15th on the combined times. He left the day, planning further aero work to improve turning and front-end stability. Acosta’s program prioritized feel and component evaluation over time-attack laps, and KTM noted these early mechanical and stability signals while managing run plans.

Binder, 30, posted consistent lap times around 2:00.2–2:00.3 and initially rode the same chassis he used in Valencia, reporting little chattering as he worked on pace. He also compared the new swingarm against the older design to assess differences, while Acosta focused on aero and chassis feel. Both riders and the factory expected Wednesday to be the main day for further aerodynamic and component evaluations, and KTM said a more definitive assessment of tire behavior and the updated package should become clearer towards the end of the test. The opening session, therefore, underscored KTM’s two-track strategy and highlighted the specific areas, including front-end stability, vibrations, and tire behavior, that the team needs to address before the season.

Jorge Martín attended the Sepang test but did not ride as he continues to recover from surgery following the Valencia round. He said the pain after Valencia had been so severe he “couldn’t even hold a glass in my hand,” and that a second operation using bone grafts was needed to stabilise his collarbone. That procedure required four weeks of immobilisation rather than the two days after an earlier operation. Martín said he had six surgeries in 2025, including interventions on his hand and collarbone, and that he rejected doctors’ recommendations to postpone some procedures into the following year. He added that the experience taught him not to rush returns to the bike after a difficult campaign.

Martín reported he is “much better” than he was in Valencia, with improved strength in his collarbone and hand, though mobility still needs work. He said he can “see the light” toward full fitness and aims to get back on the bike for the season-opening Buriram tests if he passes a medical check scheduled for Monday. Aprilia confirmed he would not ride at Sepang because of late-year procedures.

He said part of his team is working on his future while he concentrates on rehabilitation, and he praised teammate Marco Bezzecchi’s contract renewal as a positive for the team environment.

Responding to reports linking him to Yamaha for 2027, Martín denied he had already signed and reiterated he wants to focus on Aprilia and this season, the final year of his deal. He acknowledged the rider market is moving quickly, and there is no fixed deadline on negotiations. Overall, his message at Sepang combined a medical update, a firm focus on the upcoming season with Aprilia, and a measured denial of transfer rumours, while allowing the behind‑the‑scenes planning for his next contract to continue.

Fabio Quartararo crashed at Turn 5 on the opening day of the Sepang MotoGP test, falling on his third lap and being taken to the circuit medical centre. Initial checks ruled out fractures but found abrasions to his left arm. But a later assessment revealed a broken finger on his right hand and a sore arm. He returned in the afternoon, added laps, and posted the ninth-fastest time on Yamaha’s much-changed V4 M1, but Yamaha and Quartararo ended his Sepang program after a total of 24 laps (eight in the morning, 16 in the afternoon) so the finger could heal.

The early exit cost Yamaha valuable test time at a session dedicated to assessing the new V4 package. Other V4-related problems emerged during the test, including Andrea Dovizioso stopping with a problem, and team principal Massimo Meregalli even suggested the team might consider benching a rider if necessary. Quartararo himself said the new V4 remained “very, very far” from where it needed to be for one-lap pace and race performance. Yamaha therefore lost on-track data and setup time that had been earmarked for refining handling, electronics, and race pace ahead of the season.

Yamaha and Quartararo prioritised recovery with the Thailand GP opener and a Buriram test (Feb 21–22) in mind. The rider confirmed he planned to skip the rest of Sepang to be fit for those next outings. The withdrawal underlined the preseason trade-off between protecting rider health and securing development mileage on radically updated machinery.

Separately, reports linking Quartararo to a Honda deal for 2027–28 were noted during the test, raising the prospect that 2026 might be his final season with Yamaha.