Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez says he leaves the Sepang test satisfied with Ducati’s progress, but admits there is still work to do after identifying two or three riders who currently have the edge on pace.
The Sepang outing marked Marquez’s first time back on a MotoGP bike since his 2025 campaign was cut short following a collision at last year’s Indonesian Grand Prix. The 32-year-old impressed early by topping the opening day, before finishing fourth overall across the three-day test, behind Fabio Di Giannantonio, Marco Bezzecchi and fastest rider Alex Marquez.
Assessing the test, Marquez believes Ducati’s GP26 is heading in the right direction, with valuable data gathered throughout the week.
He explained that the team approached the test step by step, trying different solutions and leaving Sepang with useful information. While he feels the overall direction is positive, Marquez stressed that personal improvement is still needed.
Physically, Marquez said his best feeling came on the first day in the afternoon, before fatigue gradually built up over the following sessions. He noted that rain on the second day compressed the workload into a demanding final day, but added that the team completed a high number of laps and made good use of the available track time.
Looking ahead, Marquez believes the upcoming Buriram test will be more significant than Sepang, as it comes just days before the opening race of the season. He said the Thai test will play a key role in finalising Ducati’s baseline, while acknowledging that his current pace still needs to improve.
Despite being encouraged by the overall progress, Marquez admitted that several rivals are currently quicker, underlining the need for further development before racing begins.
Marquez also experienced his first crash of the year on the third day at Sepang, sliding off at Turn 1. He explained the incident was caused by testing a different aerodynamic package, which altered the bike’s balance and caught him out.
