Francesco Bagnaia Faces Early Pressure at Sepang MotoGP Test 2026

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Lenovo Team opened the 2026 Official Sepang MotoGP Test under measured technical pressure, remaining competitive but not fully dominant on the first day of running at Sepang International Circuit on Tuesday.

The Italian rider ended Day 1 second on the combined times with a 1:57.720 lap, 0.233s behind Alex Marquez from BK8 Gresini Racing. While the result confirmed the solid baseline of the Ducati Desmosedici GP26, it also highlighted that outright one-lap superiority has yet to be fully established against both satellite Ducati machinery and key manufacturer rivals.

Ducati’s approach on the opening day focused primarily on validating aerodynamic updates and revised traction-control strategies rather than pursuing aggressive time attacks. This conservative programme left Bagnaia outside the top positions during the early session before a clear step forward in the afternoon. A recorded top speed of 340.6 km/h underlined the continued strength of the GP26 engine package, though exit stability remained an area under evaluation.

Additional pressure emerged from within the same garage as Marc Marquez returned to full MotoGP testing duties with Ducati following shoulder injuries sustained late last season. Marquez concluded Day 1 in 12th overall, yet the relatively narrow gap suggested internal competition could intensify as development priorities shift from reliability assessment to outright performance.

“We were not chasing lap time in the morning. The focus was on understanding the bike’s response with the new package, especially in sectors two and three,” Bagnaia said in Ducati’s official post-session statement.

From a championship perspective, the test classification carries no direct points implications, but it remains strategically critical ahead of final specification decisions before the Buriram test. With Honda, KTM and Yamaha all showing measurable progress, Ducati faces the task of consolidating its technical advantage before the 2026 season begins in Thailand.

The remaining days at Sepang will therefore be decisive for Bagnaia in translating technical consistency into clear competitive authority, particularly as the homologation deadline approaches and attention turns toward the opening phase of the championship.

Official 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test – Day 1 Combined Results