Aprilia 1-2 leads Valencia Test as V4 Yamaha, new Honda begin 2026 work

The 2026 MotoGP™ season burst into life at the Valencia Test, with Aprilia immediately setting the pace. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP™ Team), fresh from a Grand Prix podium, set the fastest time of 1:29.373, closely followed by Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), completing a confident 1-2 for the Noale factory. The top three were separated by less than a tenth, with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP™) securing the third fastest time.

Aprilia's focus was clear: new aerodynamics. Bezzecchi ventured out on a prototype RS-GP featuring radically different front, side, and rear upgrades. In the factory garage, 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin returned from injury, testing Bezzecchi’s race-spec 2025 chassis and the new aero package, finding an immediate positive feel despite his injury-hit year. Fernandez, topping the timesheets, focused on electronic set-ups not possible during race weekends, while teammate Ai Ogura completed the most laps of anyone (64), finishing 11th.

Ducati commenced its 2026 work with the first version of the GP26. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), despite a small crash, felt positive about the improved front-end feel on corner entry. Alex Marquez was the fastest Ducati in third, with teammate Fermin Aldeguer fourth in his first extended run on the GP25. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was seventh, and with Franco Morbidelli injured, Celestino Vietti got a dream call-up, stating his 21 laps on the MotoGP™ bike were “the best day of my life.”

KTM concentrated on new aerodynamic solutions. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the fastest KTM in fifth, testing a new side fairing along with teammate Brad Binder, who finished ninth. Tech3’s Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales trialled new seat configurations to refine ergonomics. Viñales, returning to full fitness, finished sixth and was happy with his aerodynamic work.

Honda’s three contracted riders - Joan Mir, Johann Zarco, and Luca Marini - had their first taste of the updated 2026 RC213V, which features a new engine, revised aero, and a reshaped rear seat unit. Mir finished 12th, with Zarco 13th and Marini 14th. Moto2 World Champion Diogo Moreira also made his MotoGP™ debut on the previous-spec Honda, finishing 22nd.

Yamaha created headlines with the public debut of three-time WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, who finished just three-quarters of a second behind the factory benchmark, Fabio Quartararo. The team also continued work on the V4 engine project, with Quartararo confirming they are still searching for a base set-up and noting the new prototype is currently missing top-end speed. The Iwata factory, which saw Alex Rins and Jack Miller finish behind the Turk, will remain in Valencia for a private test on Wednesday to further evaluate chassis and aero components before the winter break.