Sepang MotoGP Test 2026: Ducati and Honda Set the Pace on Final Day

MotoGP, Sportrik Media – The final day of the official 2026 MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang saw teams complete their last major evaluation before heading to Thailand, with Ducati and Honda again emerging as the most consistent performers across the three-day programme.

Ducati’s strength was underlined by Fabio Di Giannantonio, who set the fastest time of Thursday afternoon aboard the GP26. While conditions were not ideal for an all-out time attack, the Italian’s pace confirmed Ducati’s ability to deliver performance across both factory and satellite teams heading into the final phase of pre-season preparation.

Honda continued to reinforce its upward trend with solid showings from Joan Mir and Luca Marini on the RC213V. Mir, who recorded the first 1m56s lap of the year on day two, remained firmly inside the leading group, suggesting Honda’s 2026 package offers a significantly improved baseline compared to recent seasons.

KTM’s progress was highlighted once again by Enea Bastianini, who finished third on the final day aboard the Tech3 RC16. Although outright lap times fluctuated throughout the test, KTM’s consistency during long runs continues to point toward a competitive starting point for the new campaign.

Yamaha returned to the track on Thursday after resolving the technical issue that sidelined all of its riders on day two. However, factory leader Fabio Quartararo remained absent after breaking a finger in a high-speed crash on the opening day. The focus for Yamaha instead shifted toward data collection on its new V4 prototype ahead of the decisive Buriram test later this month.

Further down the order, rookies and second-year riders such as Ai Ogura and Diogo Moreira continued to prioritise mileage and adaptation over headline lap times, as teams completed aerodynamic, electronics, and race-simulation evaluations.

With the Sepang test now concluded, the MotoGP paddock turns its attention to the final pre-season test at Buriram on 21–22 February, one week before the 2026 season begins with the Thai Grand Prix.