The Sepang test is coming to an end, and Ducati’s dominance seems stronger than ever. However, the highlight of the day is undoubtedly Yamaha’s return to the track, which had been sidelined due to a technical issue. Amid scares and performances, the riders compete under a blazing sun.
Yamaha Back on Track
This Thursday, Yamaha was finally able to roar its engines at the Sepang circuit. After a day of absence due to a problem with Fabio Quartararo’s V4, the riders received the green light from the engineers to resume their testing. “After the analyses carried out overnight between Japan and Italy to identify the cause of the technical issue on our bike during the afternoon of the first day, and based on the findings, Yamaha decided to resume its track activities,” the manufacturer stated. However, the mystery remains regarding the exact nature of the problem.
It is worth noting that Quartararo’s crash on Tuesday morning, which resulted in a fractured finger, was not related to this malfunction. The French rider left Sepang to seek treatment, leaving the field open for his teammates. Yamaha can, however, count on its other three regulars and its test rider, Augusto Fernández, who took over.
Ducati Dominates the Table
During the first hour, the riders took turns at the top, with times suggesting a close competition. Joan Mir, Marco Bezzecchi, Pecco Bagnaia, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and Álex Márquez showed impressive performances. The best time from the Gresini rider, at 1’56″402, was already the fastest of the week, just a breath away from the official record set by Bagnaia in 2024 at 1’56″337.
The heat began to weigh during the second hour, with temperatures exceeding 30°C and the asphalt approaching 50°C. Improvements became scarce, but Marc Márquez decided to make his presence felt at the top of the standings. By 1 PM local time, all four Desmosedici GP26 occupied the top four positions!
Álex Márquez leads the group at noon in Sepang.
A Heterogeneous Group
The hierarchy is beginning to take shape, but Marco Bezzecchi, in fifth place, remains the main competitor to the Ducatis. He is ahead of Franco Morbidelli, who also crashed at turn 14. Raúl Fernández, Pedro Acosta, Joan Mir, and Enea Bastianini complete a top 10 dominated by the Italian brand, while the first Yamaha is only in 12th place with Álex Rins.
The observation is clear: Yamaha must double its efforts to catch up. Yesterday’s performances highlighted the weaknesses of the M1, which struggles to compete with the Desmosedici on this demanding circuit. Fans hope that this day of testing marks a turning point for the trident brand.
Challenges for Honda
On the Honda side, the situation is not ideal either. Luca Marini had to stop at turn 9 early in the day, finishing only in 19th place. Johann Zarco continues to struggle to adapt to the latest version of the Japanese bike and is only in 14th place. This is not really the ideal start for the Japanese manufacturer, which hopes to turn the situation around.
Until the Last Minute
The riders will have until 6 PM local time (11 AM in France) to continue their testing, a golden opportunity to carry out sprint or race simulations. Teams still have much to learn before the start of the season, and every second counts on this circuit.
Sepang Test, Day 3 – Classification at 1 PM
As the day progresses, it is fascinating to observe how the race dynamics are established. The competition is more present than ever, and the riders must show determination to climb the standings.
