With MotoGP’s 2026 pre-season wrapping up after the shakedown and two major test sessions, and the Thai Grand Prix set for next weekend, let’s evaluate who has the most reasons to be pleased—or concerned.
Winner: Aprilia
The Aprilia RS-GP showed strong performance at Buriram last year, though it faced tougher competition this time around with more capable riders up front.
Jorge Martin had a solid test, noting he’s still “two-three tenths off on pace” but feels more at home with the bike, adapting well to it.
The standout performer was Marco Bezzecchi, who recorded both the fastest single lap and the quickest race run, with improvements noted across the board on his machine.
Bezzecchi is seen as the primary challenger to Marc Marquez’s title defense, ahead of both his teammate Pecco Bagnaia and 2025 runner-up Alex Marquez.
Losers: KTM Riders Excluding Pedro Acosta
Was Pedro Acosta’s test flawless? Not exactly, as he still lags behind the frontrunners. However, he is optimistic that the KTM RC16 has made progress.
In contrast, Acosta’s competitors at KTM seem less convinced, with only Maverick Vinales nearing Acosta’s performance in race pace.
Vinales expressed feeling unprepared for the Thai GP, admitting he had focused too much on confirming his setup rather than maximizing his practice time.
After a promising test in Malaysia, Enea Bastianini faced difficulties, struggling with the stability of his bike. His performance, like Brad Binder’s, was below expectations.
Winner: Pecco Bagnaia
Pecco Bagnaia found this test to be “much more important” than his previous outing in Sepang, and he was visibly relieved with his results.
Though still a work in progress, he was competitive in his qualifying and sprint simulations, but he needs to improve his consistency in corner entry and performance on used tires.
Recalling his strong finish to last season, this performance suggests a noticeable upgrade for Bagnaia, for now.
Loser: Honda
While not catastrophic, the Honda team feels they haven’t made the expected strides at Buriram.
The new rear tire carcass used for heat resistance appears to be a limiting factor, as noted by Joan Mir and teammate Luca Marini, who reported ongoing grip issues during corner exits.
With the season ongoing, Honda has limited time to turn its recent improvements into tangible results before the focus shifts to 2027.
Winner: Ai Ogura
Ai Ogura had a relatively quiet start to testing but excelled at the right moment, achieving the second-fastest time on the final day.
While he downplayed his impressive results, believing that several riders have better pace, he acknowledges that he could easily enter the podium contention.
Given his excellent past performance at Buriram, Ogura’s confidence should build by the second race of the season.
Loser: Yamaha
The new V4 M1 struggles to compete at this stage.
This is not a crisis for Yamaha; it was unrealistic to expect the new bike to be immediately competitive, and that hasn’t happened.
Jack Miller finished the test as the fastest Yamaha rider but was still a second off the pace, with sprint simulations showing moderate capability over short distances, although the bike falters over longer races.
With a significant gap emerging, the primary goal now is to manage expectations until the new engine arrives later in the season.
Winner: Marc Marquez, Despite Challenges
Marc Marquez appears more vulnerable compared to last year, with ongoing recovery from his shoulder injury and recent stomach issues affecting his performance.
Despite crashing during his race simulation and being off pace, he remains a winner because competitors have not significantly improved enough to challenge him.
Marquez was still the fastest in early qualifying simulations, positioning himself favorably for both the Thai Grand Prix and the overall 2026 championship.
Loser: Fabio Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo has struggled to keep pace with other Yamaha riders during the Buriram tests, likely hindered by the rear tire issues.
After making waves by expressing frustration during the first day, Quartararo has adopted a more resigned attitude, expecting a season without trophies.
With his impending move to Honda, he is seemingly preparing to step away from the challenges the current bike will face this season.
