Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) fired the first warning shot of the 2026 MotoGP season, topping the Valencia Test with a blistering 1:29.373, as Aprilia dominated the day with a commanding 1–2 finish.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) secured second, while Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) completed the top three — all within a tenth of a second — in a test that offered intriguing glimpses of MotoGP’s next technical evolution.
But as fast as the times were, the real story lay beneath: radical new aerodynamics, Yamaha’s new V4 era, and two rookies stepping into MotoGP for the first time.
Aprilia arrived in Valencia with one of the most visually striking packages of the test. Marco Bezzecchi rolled out a black-and-white RS-GP fitted with Completely redesigned front wing architecture, Reworked side and rear aerodynamics, Multiple structural upgrades aimed at 2026 development
On the opposite side of the garage, 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin tested the chassis Bezzecchi campaigned at the end of the season — and instantly found the confidence he lacked after an injury-stricken year. Martin finished P16, but importantly, Aprilia’s 2026 direction earned glowing feedback from both riders.
Trackhouse also enjoyed a dream start. Fernandez topped the session, while rookie Ai Ogura quietly impressed in P11 after completing a test-high 64 laps, focusing on electronics and riding-style adaptation.
Ducati didn’t steal headlines with outright speed, but their work was quietly efficient.
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) ran 32 laps, finishing P10 with a vastly improved front-end feeling on the GP26 despite a late crash.
- Nicolo Bulega — standing in for the final rounds — shone with P8, delivering valuable feedback for Ducati’s 2026 test program.
- The fastest Ducati rider, Alex Marquez, finished P3 as he and teammate Fermin Aldeguer (P4) combined for an astonishing 93 laps, pushing the GP25 platform to its limits.
VR46’s Fabio Di Giannantonio slotted into P7 after a minor technical hiccup, while replacement rider Celestino Vietti logged 21 emotional laps — calling the experience “the best day of my life.”
KTM focused heavily on aerodynamics New side fairing package tested on both factory bikes, Pedro Acosta once again led the orange charge, finishing P5 after 53 laps, Brad Binder followed closely in P9, completing 52 laps.
Tech3 riders Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini experimented with revised seat ergonomics, with Viñales ending the day P6 and much happier with the bike’s balance.
Honda’s 2026 prototype — extensively reshaped from engine to tail — finally reached the hands of factory riders, delivering cautiously optimistic signs.
The new RC213V features A rebuilt engine configuration, Overhauled rear seat unit, Revised aero package, Updated side fairing concept.
Joan Mir finished P12, just ahead of Johann Zarco (P13) and Luca Marini (P14) in a tightly stacked Honda trio.
All eyes were also on Moto2 champion Diogo Moreira, who debuted with P22 — a respectable start just 1.8 seconds off the top.
Yamaha drew perhaps the most attention — for two reasons:
- Toprak Razgatlioglu’s official MotoGP debut
- The long-awaited launch of Yamaha’s new V4-powered M1
Toprak, riding a MotoGP bike for the first time at Valencia, stunned observers by finishing ahead of both Alex Rins and teammate Jack Miller. Despite running the new engine at less than full power, he wrapped up the day only 0.7s off Fabio Quartararo.
Quartararo’s 1:29.927 placed him 15th as he and Yamaha continued searching for a base setup. Yamaha remains in Valencia for an extra closed test day to evaluate more chassis and aero upgrades.
Credit Photo : MotoGP
