MotoGP Buriram test recap
- Isha Reshmi Mohan
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Written by Isha Reshmi Mohan
Two weeks have flown by since we last heard from the MotoGP riders on their bikes in Sepang. Here’s a quick summary of the final preseason test session in Buriram before the big season opener later this week.
Day One
As expected, the heat in Buriram is intense, and the situation seems even more challenging than last year. Temperatures are reported to be nearing 43°C, which will likely take a heavy toll on the riders during this weekend's main sessions when they are racing in close proximity.
In 2025, Thailand hosted the season opener for the first time. During that event, riders frequently complained about how the heat and track conditions affected tire performance, especially compared to the testing sessions held just a week prior. Hopefully, the riders are better prepared with this prior experience.
Setting the heat aside, just 30 minutes into the session, we saw the first crash of the day as Marc Márquez went down in the final turn. Luckily, he walked away without any injuries
Jorge Martín has finally been declared fit for the Buriram test. He made his appearance on track and even managed to top the timesheets briefly during the closing minutes of the afternoon session, before eventually losing the top spot to Francesco Bagnaia by just 0.135 seconds.
It was an impressive performance after a long time away, and it is promising to see Martín already fighting for those front spots this year.
Just before the end of the morning session, Ai Ogura went down in a minor crash. Marc Marquez soon followed with his second fall of the day, and Jack Miller capped off the session with a crash at Turn 8. A chaotic ten minutes indeed.
The afternoon session was relatively quiet, with only a few bikes on track before a brief red flag was waved to inspect the air fence near Turn 1. However, it was a productive session for Àlex Márquez, who set the fastest time of the day.
He was followed by Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio in the afternoon results. In the overall standings, it was Alex, Marc, and Di Giannantonio occupying the top three spots.
On the sidelines, there was plenty of contract talk floating around. It was made clear earlier this month that Bagnaia and Alex will likely announce their 2027 plans before the season opener. These announcements could also give us an update on where Aprilia, Yamaha, and Honda are headed, so be on the lookout for that very soon.
Day Two
The Day 2 session started a bit earlier than usual, with the focus on practice starts and sprint race simulations. Barely an hour in, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Fabio Di Giannantonio were reported to be facing technical issues and were sitting out.
Meanwhile, Bezzecchi led the session in the 1:28 range, followed by Pedro Acosta and potential future teammate Bagnaia, who eventually took P1 just minutes later.
Some riders were reportedly staying on track for longer runs to focus on general testing rather than fighting for fast lap times. By the end of the afternoon session, Marc Marquez was having a much better day than he did during Day 1.
The final session of the pre-season test started slightly late at 3 p.m. local time. As expected for the day, several riders focused on their sprint simulations.
Marc showed no signs of slowing down, fighting to claim the top spots once again. This is a promising sign and explains why the team is eager to retain him, especially as contract extension talks approach.
Honda also had a brief moment of pace when Johann Zarco battled Marc for P3, shortly before Marc moved back up the order.
Unfortunately, Marc’s high was short-lived. He crashed in Turn 3 after a solid session up until that point. Although he was taken to the medical center, he was cleared of any injuries.
According to Simon Patterson on X, Marc mentioned he wasn’t feeling 100% fit; however, it is likely he was referring to the stomach problems mentioned on Day One rather than any new injuries. His brother also crashed later at Turn 9, but he fortunately walked away unharmed.
In the final hour of the session, Bezzecchi cemented his spot at the top. He was followed by Ai Ogura, who set the fastest times during the sprint simulations, and Di Giannantonio right behind him.
Martín had a strong Day Two, matching Bezzecchi’s pace as he pushed his Aprilia to the limit. It is a promising sign for the upcoming season. He clearly intends to make up for last year's lost time and leave the team on a high note when his contract ends later this year.
And that is a wrap on pre-season testing! The combined timings from Day Two concluded with Bezzecchi, Ogura, and Marc Márquez in the top three. There are now only a few more days to go until lights out at Buriram for the season opener.
Be sure to catch the Thailand Grand Prix on March 1st at 8:00 GMT and check our site for the full race report!
Comments