The main issues of the Buriram Test

Last week, all the drivers of MotoGP have returned to the track in Sepang (Malaysia), as part of the pre-season tests taking place there. This week, the action will focus on the Buriram circuit (Thailand). Two additional days of Tests will be organized on the site which will host the kick-off of the season, the weekend of March 02.

It will therefore be imperative for each team to tick as many boxes as possible on their training program, since the next outings on the track will already count towards the 2025 world championship. The opportunity to go over the main issues of this week.

Is Quartararo really in the fight?

The 2021 world champion impressed with his results at Sepang, systematically joining the fight for the front positions with the Ducatis. The Frenchman did, however, have a slight advantage: he had two days more experience than the others, having taken part in the Shakedown a few days earlier. This does not call into question Yamaha's progress, which was in fact almost a second faster than at the last Malaysian GP in November.

The Buriram Test will however serve to confirm these latter, on a circuit where no factory has previous experience. The results of these two days of action will allow us to imagine the hierarchy that will be put in place during the opening round of the season, in just over two weeks.

The Pramac team will take advantage of this to develop its knowledge of the M1, after a promising first experience, which saw Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira flirt with the top-10.

While Honda seems to be more behind at the moment, the other Japanese factory on the grid also aims to return to the top of the MotoGP hierarchy. While it had the same advantage as Yamaha at Sepang, the confirmation sought in Thailand also applies to its case.

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© Michelin

The Aprilia Challenge

After a nightmare start at Sepang, Aprilia lost two of its four riders to injury. The Noale brand nevertheless landed on its feet, and was able to benefit from the excellent work provided by Marco Bezzecchi and Lorenzo Savadori during the rest of the tests.

In Thailand, Raul Fernandez will try to return to competition earlier than expected, to help the brand by completing as many laps as possible on the RS-GP25. Jorge Martin, for his part, has given up on these two days of riding. Aprilia will therefore have to prepare for the return of the reigning world champion, who will ultimately only have the Barcelona Test (November 19, 2024) as experience with his new machine.

Lorenzo Savadori has already stated that he will pursue this goal in Buriram. He will try in this way “find the best possible package” before the Spaniard's return. His work should also allow him to have a base in terms of settings, although these differ from one driver to another.

As a reminder, Fabio Di Giannantonio has also already withdrawn from this test, following his injury. He is also aiming to return for the first round of the MotoGP season.

One last opportunity for the Rookies

The Buriram Test will provide the three rookies of the 2025 season with another opportunity to perfect their learning on the MotoGP bike. Fermin Aldeguer left Sepang disappointed not to have followed the progression of his peers on the third day of the Test, when everyone took the morning to focus on time attack, and therefore pure speed over a lap.

On the other hand, Ai Ogura said he wanted to improve on the braking phases, as did Somkiat Chantra. In general, all hope to take advantage of the Buriram Test to make progress with the electronics of their machine.

There are of course many other issues at stake for this Test in Thailand. We could also mention the adaptation of Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini to the KTM RC16, or the integration of Marc Marquez within the Ducati factory team.

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