2024 Official Sepang MotoGP Test results - Day 1

After a three-day Shakedown - featuring test riders, Honda and Yamaha race riders, plus KTM rookie Pedro Acosta - Official MotoGP testing for the full 2024 MotoGP field began at Sepang on Tuesday morning.

However, Pramac’s Franco Morbidelli was absent following his recent Superbike training accident at Portimao and replaced by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro.

The remaining 21 racers are joined by factory test riders at the Malaysian Grand Prix circuit, where reigning Moto2 champion Acosta’s 1m 58.189s Shakedown best starts as the time to beat.

Raul Fernandez was fastest for most of the opening hour, despite the Trackhouse rider and reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia bringing out red flags after just 15mins when they fell, possibly due to water on a kerb.

Fernandez suffered a highside and landed heavily on his back. Visibly sore, the Spaniard underwent checks in the Medical Centre before returning to the pit box. Bagnaia was reportedly unhurt after his incident, on his out lap.

Factory Aprilia rider Maverick Vinales replaced Fernandez at the top of the timesheets just before 11am. 

Pramac Ducati's title runner-up Jorge Martin then took over and remained at the head of the timesheets for the rest of the day courtesy of the only 1m 57s lap.

New Gresini Ducati rider Marc Marquez suffered an early technical problem at turn 4. He returned to complete his first lap at around 11:30am but suffered a second technical issue (at turn 1) at 13:45.

Marquez later improved while chasing Fabio Quartararo (9th), but his eventful opening day continued when he was listed as falling at Turn 15, the final hairpin, soon after. That would be his first Ducati fall. UPDATE: Marc Marquez later revealed the timing screens were wrong - he ran off track but didn't crash. Brother Alex fell at the slow Turn 2 just before 16:00.

After a stop-start day, the #93 pushed for a lap time in the final half hour and jumped up to ninth.

Bagnaia and finally Fernandez restarted their testing activities after the earlier accidents but were only 16th and 22nd quickest.

In terms of top speed, Marini (Honda), Acosta (KTM), Martin (Ducati) and Marc Marquez (Ducati) were tied at the top on 336.4km/h. Marini later admitted he had been in a slipstream but 'unfortunately I don't think the others were'. 

Quartararo's new Yamaha was just a fraction slower at 335.4km/h, matched by the KTMs of Brad Binder and Jack Miller.

• "I think we have enough power" - Yamaha Racing managing director Lin Jarvis.
• 'Alex from Kalex' hired as HRC technical advisor | Revised Repsol Honda MotoGP livery?

Track action takes place from 10am to 6pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with practice starts at the end of each day.

Fastest 2024 Sepang Shakedown lap

Day 3: Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3)  1m 58.189s

Official Sepang MotoGP records

Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) 1m 57.491s (2023)

Fastest race lap: Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) 1m 58.979s (2022)