Sepang Shakedown Day Two 2026: KTM Still on Top

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - On Friday, on-track action for the 2026 MotoGP season continued with day two of the three-day Sepang Shakedown at the Sepang International Circuit, where KTM maintained its early momentum while Yamaha and Honda gathered increasingly relevant reference data.

Honda test rider Aleix Espargaro had set the benchmark on day one, finishing ahead of KTM’s Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa. Yamaha rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu rounded out the leading group, delivering an encouraging first impression of Yamaha’s new V4 project in competitive testing conditions.

Yamaha Reinforcements Join the Action

Day two was expected to be pivotal for Yamaha, with its race riders scheduled to join the Shakedown programme. The arrival of Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, and Jack Miller was set to provide a clearer benchmark for Razgatlioglu’s pace and a broader understanding of the initial performance window of Yamaha’s V4 engine.

Should Quartararo take to the track, it would also mark his first on-bike appearance since reports emerged linking him with a move to Honda for the 2027 season. While no official confirmation has been made, any running from the 2021 world champion was bound to draw attention within the paddock.

KTM and Honda Focus on Early Validation

KTM continued to make productive use of the Shakedown, with Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa leading development work. Their consistent presence at the top of the timing order underlined KTM’s intent to validate major components before the full factory line-up arrives for next week’s Official Test.

At Honda, Aleix Espargaro remained the reference point for RC213V performance. Meanwhile, LCR rookie Diogo Moreira faced a clear target on day two, aiming to reduce a 2.8-second gap to Espargaro as he continued his adaptation to MotoGP machinery at Sepang.

Ducati and Aprilia Work Behind the Scenes

Ducati and Aprilia maintained a lower-profile approach during the Shakedown, entrusting track duties to their respective test riders. Ducati relied on Michele Pirro, while Aprilia continued preparations through Lorenzo Savadori.

Both manufacturers used the Shakedown primarily as a data-gathering exercise ahead of next week’s Official MotoGP Test, prioritising baseline evaluation and component validation over headline lap times.

Midday Timing Update (13:00 Local)

Although full Grand Prix-style timing systems are not deployed during the Shakedown, limited live timing information was available. By 13:00 local time, Pol Espargaro had moved to the top of the timesheets, posting the only lap in the 1m57s range and holding an advantage over Aleix Espargaro, Dani Pedrosa, and Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Further down the order, Savadori’s Aprilia began to split the Yamahas, while Diogo Moreira broke into the 1m59s bracket, marking steady progress as the day unfolded.

MotoGP Sepang Shakedown 2026 – Day Two (Provisional)

Note: Times are indicative only, based on limited Shakedown timing data.

The Sepang Shakedown runs daily from 10:00 to 18:00 local time. While outright lap times are not the primary objective, the second day has already provided valuable insight into KTM’s consistency, Yamaha’s expanding V4 programme, and Honda’s ongoing evaluation ahead of the full-field Official Test next week.