07:07
3pm and there's still no track action in Session 2, barring a few early laps by Johann Zarco and Andrea Dovizioso.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Marc Marquez, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
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2026 Official Sepang MotoGP Test: Day 1 - LIVE UPDATES
Live updates from the opening day of the Official 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test.
After a four-month recovery, reigning world champion Marc Marquez makes his return to MotoGP action as official 2026 testing gets underway at Sepang in Malaysia.
Marc Marquez suffered shoulder injuries when he was taken down by contact from Marco Bezzecchi at Mandalika, just a week after securing his ninth world title at Motegi.
The factory Ducati star not only missed the remaining four rounds, but Valencia post-race test.
But while Marquez makes his return, 2024 champion Jorge Martin will be watching from the sidelines as he continues to recover from follow-up surgery for last year’s wrist and collarbone injuries.
Also out of action is 2025 rookie race winner Fermin Aldeguer, who fractured his femur in a training accident last month.
But the rest of the 2026 grid, including star rookies Toprak Razgatlioglu and Diogo Moreira, are on track for three days of crucial testing with their 2026 machinery.
Last week’s Shakedown test - featuring the rookies, factory test riders and Yamaha race riders - saw Honda’s Aleix Espargaro on top with a 1m 57.173s, after Jack Miller turned heads by putting Yamaha’s new V4 on top the previous day.
Testing takes place from Tuesday to Thursday, between 10am and 6pm, plus practice start periods at lunchtime and the end of each day…
03 Feb 2026
07:03
World champion Marc Marquez, returning to action for the first time since shoulder injuries at Mandalika on October 5th, finished Session 1 in 11th place. Marc was +1.287s from brother Alex Marquez after completing 29 laps.
Marc Marquez, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Marc Marquez, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
06:59
Diogo Moreira's crash
MotoGP rookie Diogo Moreira walled away from this fall on his way to ninth on the timesheets in Session 1. 'Rider OK', bike not so much...
Diogo Moreira crash, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Diogo Moreira crash, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Diogo Moreira, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
06:50
Top Speeds
Here are the official top speeds from Session 1. The V4 Yamahas are still playing catch-up...
Top speeds for Session 1 on day 1 of the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test.
06:35
During the lunch break, Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori told David Emmett of Motomatters.com that some riders are saving their allocation of the preferred soft tyres for when track conditions improve on days 2 and 3.
06:22
Still silent on track, which also suggests teams are confident there will be no rain later, and they can test right up until 6pm.
06:11
Triple MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo puts on a different sort of helmet in his new role as coach for Maverick Vinales. Vinales was 16th in Session 1.
Jorge Lorenzo, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Jorge Lorenzo, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
06:05
Francesco Bagnaia began a crucial year with 17th in Session 1, but how did he feel on the revised GP26 at a track where he won the Sprint last season? We'll find out at the end of the day...
Francesco Bagnaia, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Francesco Bagnaia, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
06:02
Johann Zarco with the latest Honda aero. The LCR rider was eighth in Session 1.
Johann Zarco, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Johann Zarco, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
05:58
And back to the present: Here's one reigning world champion being followed by another...
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Marc Marquez, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Toprak Razgatlioglu, Marc Marquez, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
05:56
No action on track at the moment, so here's a throwback image from Sepang testing many years ago. Who remembers this bike?
05:52
Yamaha V4 aero in unpainted carbon fibre glory.
Yamaha aero, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Yamaha aero, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
05:50
Jorge Martin watches on
Meanwhile, former champion Jorge Martin can only watch from the sidelines. It was on day one of the 2025 Sepang Test that a season full of injuries began for the Aprilia rider, who is hoping to return for the final test at Buriram.
05:45
Fabio Quartararo's crashed Yamaha V4
Fabio Quartararo's Yamaha V4 is returned to the Monster Yamaha garage...
Crashed Yamaha V4, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Crashed Yamaha V4, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
05:41
A closer look at the rear aero on the RS-GP...
The rear seat aero on Marco Bezzecchi's RS-GP, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Aprilia aero, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
05:36
Riders are now on their lunch break, although the track is technically still open.
05:27
Session 2 begins...
After a short pause, Session 2 begins. It'll run until today's action ends at 6pm, after which there will be another practice start period.
05:25
Razgatlioglu arrives for a practice start
05:18
1pm Lap Times - End of Session 1
2026 Official Sepang MotoGP Test: Results - 1pm
05:05
Alex Marquez leads Session 1
Session 1 ends with Alex Marquez fastest for Gresini Ducati with a 1m 57.487s followed by Luca Marini, Marco Bezzecchi, Jack Miller, Pedro Acosta and Alex Rins.
Reigning world champion Marc Marquez is currently 11th (+1.287s) on his return to a MotoGP bike.
Full times to follow...
Alex Marquez, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
Alex Marquez, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test (Gold&Goose).
04:58
Session 1 ends shortly
A reminder that 'Session 1' ends shortly, at 1pm, then there will be a practice start period before Session 2 starts at 1:20pm and runs until 6pm.
04:41
Luca Marini continues his charge and rises to second place, 0.358s behind Alex Marquez. Unfortunately, unlike at a grand prix weekend, there's no way info on if a rider is using new or used tyres.
04:39
Luca Marini shakes up that order with 7th, directly behind HRC team-mate Joan Mir, who is the top Honda (+0.880s).
04:38
The top ten just after 12:30pm: Alex Marquez, Marco Bezzecchi, Jack Miller, Pedro Acosta, Alex Rins, Joan Mir, Johann Zarco, Diogo Moreira, Fabio di Giannantonio, Marc Marquez.
04:28
Diogo Moreira crashes
Rookie Diogo Moreira has fallen at Turn 5. 'Rider OK'. Is that his first MotoGP crash?
The reigning Moto2 champion is currently 7th (+1.195s).