Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) made a bold statement on the first day of testing at the Buriram International Circuit, setting the fastest time with a 1:29.184—nearly half a second clear of the competition. This marks the first time Marquez has topped a test day since Jerez 2020, signaling his strong form on the Ducati. His brother, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP), followed closely in second place, while Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completed an all-Ducati top three.
Ducati’s 2025 Engine Decision Looms
Ducati’s ongoing evaluation of their 2025 engine—critical due to the 2026 engine freeze—continued at Buriram. While there weren’t major updates to the bike, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marc Marquez remain key figures in the final decision. Bagnaia finished eighth on Day 1, lapping in the low 1:30s, slightly off his own lap record.
Rookie Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Racing MotoGP) impressed with a 1:30.373, securing 14th place and edging out fellow debutant Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) by just 0.080 seconds.
Aprilia Shows Promise
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) placed fourth, demonstrating strong progress for the Noale factory. Sharing the garage with test rider Lorenzo Savadori, Bezzecchi sounded optimistic about the bike’s development. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), recently cleared to ride after injury, completed several laps and managed to break into the 1:30s.
KTM Strong but Still Adapting
Pedro Acosta led the KTM charge in fifth place, dipping into the 1:29s and showcasing a solid Sprint simulation. His average lap times were four tenths quicker than Brad Binder’s at the 2024 Thai GP. Binder finished ninth, just shy of the 1:29 club. Red Bull KTM Tech3 riders Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales continued their adaptation process, finishing in 16th and 18th, respectively.
Yamaha and Honda Making Strides
Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) was the fastest Yamaha rider in P10, ahead of Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo, who took P12 and P13. Yamaha’s engine evolution remains a work in progress heading into Day 2.
Honda delivered an unexpectedly strong performance, with Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) securing P6 and Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) in P7. Both riders broke into the 1:29s, marking Honda’s best-ever showing at Buriram. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) took P11, while rookie Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR) continued his MotoGP acclimation ahead of his home race.
With one more day of testing left, all eyes are on whether Marquez’s dominant pace will hold or if the competition will strike back. Stay tuned to S8Bikes for more MotoGP updates!
