Aprilia leads Ducati as 2026 MotoGP pre-season comes to an end
Aprilia led a 1-2 on the final day of the Buriram MotoGP test
Marco Bezzecchi led an Aprilia 1-2 ahead of Ai Ogura on the final day of the Buriram MotoGP test, while Marc Marquez was third despite a hat-trick of crashes this weekend.
After just five days of official running this winter, pre-season testing has now concluded ahead of the 2026 campaign beginning next weekend at the Thai Grand Prix.
Having topped day one of the Buriram test with Alex Marquez on Saturday, Ducati was overhauled by Aprilia in the closing stages of Sunday’s running.
Marco Bezzecchi guided the factory team Aprilia to a 1m28.813s with around 15 minutes remaining, before improving to a lap record of 1m28.765s.
Trackhouse Aprilia stablemate Ai Ogura leapt up to second in the dying stages, missing out on top spot by just 0.097s.
Ducati’s Marc Marquez completed the top three, having set the early pace on Sunday inside the first hour with a 1m28.836s.
That time stood as the benchmark for almost the entire day, as much of the field focused on long-run pace ahead of next week’s grand prix.
Marquez, still recovering from illness, had his long run cut to just seven laps when he crashed at Turn 3 with under two hours to go.
The reigning world champion later explained that this was down to a lack of concentration.
Moments later, younger brother Alex Marquez crashed his Gresini Ducati at Turn 9, with the session briefly red-flagged.
The pair sandwiched Pecco Bagnaia, who was fourth overall on the final day of testing as he looks in a better shape compared to this time last year.
Pedro Acosta was the leading KTM rider in sixth, while Franco Morbidelli was seventh on the VR46 Ducati.
Jorge Martin completed the top eight for Aprilia as he gears up for his first Thai Grand Prix in two years.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was the last of the 2026-spec Ducatis in ninth on the sister VR46 entry, while Joan Mir was the top Honda in 10th.
Yamaha’s struggles continued, with Pramac’s Jack Miller once again its leading light, but was only 16th on the new V4.
Around a second off the pace, both he and Fabio Quartararo at least managed to break into the 1m29s for the first time this test in the closing stages.
Diogo Moreira was the fastest rookie in 19th for LCR Honda, while Pramac’s Toprak Razgatlioglu was 21st.
The 2026 MotoGP season begins on 27 February-1 March in Thailand.
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