KTM Leads Day Two of 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - KTM extended its early momentum at the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test, with Pol Espargaro setting the fastest time on Friday afternoon at the Sepang International Circuit, ahead of Honda test rider Aleix Espargaro and fellow KTM tester Dani Pedrosa.

Pol Espargaro posted a best lap of 1m57.933s aboard the KTM RC16, the only rider to break into the 1m57s bracket on day two. The result underlined KTM’s consistency across the opening days of the Shakedown and offered a positive early signal regarding the direction of RC16 development ahead of next week’s Official MotoGP Test.

Aleix Espargaro finished second, just 0.133s adrift, continuing to serve as Honda’s primary performance reference with the RC213V. Dani Pedrosa completed the top three at a 0.758s deficit, reinforcing KTM’s strong presence through its experienced test line-up.

Yamaha V4 Begins to Take Shape

One of the key storylines on Friday was Yamaha’s expanding participation. Rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu placed fourth on the Pramac Yamaha YZR-M1, 0.872s off the benchmark, providing a clearer early indication of the potential of Yamaha’s V4 project under Shakedown conditions.

Yamaha’s race riders also joined the action, allowing for more meaningful internal comparisons. Jack Miller finished seventh, followed by Fabio Quartararo in eighth and Alex Rins in ninth. Their presence helped establish a broader baseline for Yamaha as it evaluates the early competitiveness of its 2026 package.

Ducati and Aprilia Maintain a Measured Approach

Ducati continued its Shakedown programme with test rider Michele Pirro, who ended the session fifth on the Ducati GP26. As expected, Ducati’s focus remained on component validation and data collection rather than outright lap times.

Aprilia followed a similar strategy, with Lorenzo Savadori finishing 11th as the RS-GP continued its gradual build-up toward the Official Test.

At Honda’s LCR operation, rookie Diogo Moreira placed tenth, 2.969s behind Pol Espargaro. While the gap remained significant, the result marked another step in Moreira’s adaptation to MotoGP machinery at one of the calendar’s most demanding circuits.

Context of the Shakedown

The Sepang Shakedown is restricted to test riders, rookies, and manufacturers eligible under MotoGP concession rules. Full Grand Prix-style timing systems are not in operation, meaning lap times should be treated as indicative rather than definitive. Even so, relative performance trends provide valuable insight into early-season development directions.

Day two reinforced KTM’s status as the early reference, while Yamaha began to gain clearer structure around its V4 programme. Honda showed stability through Aleix Espargaro, and both Ducati and Aprilia continued to prioritise preparation over headline pace.

2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown – Day 2 (Friday, 12:00)

Mobile-Friendly Classification

With one day remaining in the Shakedown, manufacturers are expected to focus on final validation runs before handing over to their full-time riders for the Official Sepang Test. While outright pace remains secondary, the second day has already clarified KTM’s early advantage and provided a more defined picture of Yamaha’s and Honda’s starting points for 2026.