Alex Marquez emerged as the leading rider on the concluding day of the Sepang MotoGP pre-season tests, showcasing his formidable skill. His Gresini Ducati recorded an impressive lap time, narrowly missing the circuit's overall record. Meanwhile, Yamaha made a comeback to the track following a successful resolution of their recent engine problems, marking a crucial step in their preparations for the upcoming season. This testing phase was vital for teams to fine-tune their machines and assess rider performance under various conditions, setting the stage for an exciting championship.
The Sepang circuit witnessed an intense third day of pre-season testing, with riders pushing their limits under favorable weather conditions. Alex Marquez, riding for Gresini Racing, clocked the fastest time of 1 minute, 56.402 seconds on his Ducati GP26. This performance was not only the best of the day but also surpassed Joan Mir’s previous best from Wednesday. Marquez's time was remarkably close to Francesco Bagnaia's all-time Sepang record of 1 minute, 56.337 seconds, set during the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix pole position. The early morning session saw riders capitalize on cooler temperatures for soft-tire time attacks, with Fabio Di Giannantonio initially breaking into the 1m56s barrier before Marquez further improved upon it.
As the day progressed and temperatures in Sepang climbed, the focus shifted towards sprint race simulations. Despite the change in conditions, Marquez's initial fast lap remained unchallenged. His ability to maintain the fastest average speed during long runs highlighted his consistency and the competitive edge of his Ducati machine. The Ducati team initially seemed poised to dominate the top four positions, but Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi disrupted this narrative in the final 15 minutes, securing second place with a time of 1 minute, 56.526 seconds. This pushed VR46's Di Giannantonio to third, with Marc Marquez and Bagnaia following closely in fourth and fifth, respectively. Reigning world champion Marc Marquez recovered from an early crash to post a strong time, while Bagnaia continued his improved performance from earlier sessions.
Yamaha's return to the test after a two-day hiatus was a significant development. The team had temporarily withdrawn to investigate and fix an engine issue that had affected Fabio Quartararo on Tuesday, ensuring the safety and reliability of their new V4 engine. With Quartararo sidelined due to a crash-related injury, his teammate Alex Rins spearheaded Yamaha's efforts, finishing 12th, approximately a second behind the leader. Pramac rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu and LCR’s Diogo Moreira, another newcomer, finished 18th and 19th respectively, indicating the steep learning curve for new entrants. The overall test results underscore the competitive landscape of MotoGP, with Ducati and Aprilia showing strong form, and Yamaha diligently working to catch up.
The concluding day of the Sepang MotoGP pre-season test provided valuable insights into the teams' and riders' readiness for the upcoming season. Alex Marquez's exceptional speed and consistency, coupled with Yamaha's successful return, were key takeaways. The close competition among the top contenders, including strong performances from Aprilia and other Ducati riders, suggests a thrilling season ahead. Teams will now analyze the vast amount of data collected to further optimize their setups and strategies before the first race.