This weekend, many drivers of MotoGP returned to the track as part of the MotoGP Shakedown held in Sepang. It was an opportunity for rookies, test riders and regulars from the D-tier factories, Honda and Yamaha, to get a feel for their machines ahead of the 2025 season.
After Pol Espargaro and Alex Rins, it is fabio quartararo who finished the third round in the lead, with the best time of the three days, in 1:57.794. Despite the late arrival of the Iwata factory representatives, who only took part in the second and third days of Shakedown, the Frenchman finished ahead of another Yamaha, that of Jack Miller. Aleix Espargaró completed the top-3 on his Honda.
In terms of what's new, after Honda's few improvements, Yamaha would have had a new chassis and swingarm, fixed on the machines of Quartararo and Alex Rins. The aerodynamics of the M1 have also been updated.
At KTM, Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa are said to have worked extensively on the rear of the machine. On the Aprilia side, test rider Lorenzo Savadori has been working on a different specification of the 2025 RS-GP, while rookie Ai Ogura has been trying out new parts as well.
Finally, Michele Pirro continued testing for Ducati before the brand's main players entered the scene.
Ogura Best Rookie
The reigning Moto2 world champion and Trackhouse Racing rider also made a strong impression at Sepang. Fourth overall on day three, after finishing the first day in the top three, he finished the test 3 seconds behind Quartararo.
Behind, Fermin Aldeguer, the new recruit of Gresini Racing, ends the third day of Shakedown – like all the others – just behind Ogura. In sixth position, he finished 627 thousandths of a second behind the Frenchman. It is worth noting the Spaniard's non-serious exit from the track at turn 9.
Finally, the Thai driver, and new teammate of Johann Zarco, Somkiat Chantra, was the last rookie in the standings. A logical result when you consider that he was absent on the first day.
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When will the next MotoGP tests take place?
It won't be long before the MotoGP riders return to the track for official testing sessions. As a reminder, next week, the entire grid will return to the track at Sepang. Three days of testing will be held there as part of the pre-season tests, from February 5 to 7.
This deadline will mark the start of the season for all the regular Aprilia, KTM and Ducati riders, who have not yet distinguished themselves in Malaysia.
Later this month, two more days of testing will be held in Buriram, Thailand. The venue will host the first Grand Prix of the 2025 season in just under a month.
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