With the spectacular Bangkok Season Launch fresh in the memory, MotoGP heads northeast to our next stop in Thailand: Buriram. The second test of 2025 welcomes the field back to the track for another glance at who’s hot, who’s not and who’s in and around the sweet spot before we go lights-out in a couple of weeks. Don’t forget, the field will be slightly depleted as reigning World Champion and Aprilia’s new recruit Jorge Martin recovers from injuries sustained at Sepang, whilst Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) remains out, likewise recuperating. Of the three riders injured and out at Sepang, Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) readies for a return.
QUARTARARO AND YAMAHA BACK IN FORM
‘The Martinator’ stole the headlines when he crashed but another key story was the return to form of Yamaha and mainly, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Having been coy on whether we’d see him in the 1’56s at Sepang, there was no need for the 2021 World Champion to have any doubts as he finished third overall and set his fastest-ever lap of the Malaysian venue. It’s a circuit he likes and one of the circuits Yamaha were stronger at in 2024 but the test seemed different: new parts – namely a modified chassis, swingarm and aero variations – saw the Iwata manufacturer competitive.
However, his teammate Alex Rins and Prima Pramac’s Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller all featured in the top ten at points, often at the same time. So, Buriram poses the question we all want to know: can Yamaha’s progress continue at a different circuit? It’s a track where Quartararo and Yamaha in the past have come close to victory but it’s been a struggle of late. 2025’s optimism hinges on this test.
PECCO VS MARC, TEST II
Whilst Quartararo elevated Yamaha into the top three, Bologna bullets remained out front – although not the factory ones, at least on top of the outright timesheets. However, in terms of Sprint simulation, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and teammate Marc Marquez were closely matched. In the end, it was Marquez who seemingly had the lion’s share in the lion’s den, with an average lap time of approximately three tenths quicker than Pecco although the Italian finished P2 versus the #93’s P5. Both love Buriram, both have won there but the stats are a mere back story. The main conversation will be about what engine they elect, with it seemingly being a close call between 2024’s and 2025’s. Whatever they decide, it’s going to be a close-run year and we’re not even done with testing…
DARK HORSES, UNDERDOGS AND ROOKIES
Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) ended the Sepang Test on top but it’s a circuit we know he loves, so Buriram – like for Quartararo and Yamaha – will offer a better indication of where he’s at. The GP24 is obviously the bike to be on right now with 12 months’ worth of data bagged and it was something that Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) exploited too, topping Day 2 and in the top four at the final chequered flag of the test; has Franky of old returned to his best? Keeping with a GP24 theme, watch out for Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Racing MotoGP), something of a revelation in Malaysia, finishing as top rookie; he gets set for his second test of the year.
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed the top six during testing but expect him and teammate Brad Binder to finalise their 2025 package and move further up the timesheets in Thailand. Buriram will be the scene for Somkiat Chantra’s (LCR Honda Idemitsu) debut in MotoGP™ but the forever-smiling Thai rider will enjoy valuable testing there too. The #35 made significant progress from the Shakedown Test to the last day of the Sepang Test so he’s moving in the right direction, whereas fellow rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Racing MotoGP) seemingly hit a roof on Day 3. Aprilia’s Sepang outing was hampered by an incomplete line-up and a lack of experience on the bike of who remained but Ogura, along with factory star Marco Bezzecchi, should have a clearer base to begin with in Buriram. Test rider Lorenzo Savadori will also be fielded in place of Martin to add some more data.
HONDA’S PROGRESS
Two Hondas inside the top ten means progress is evident as the Japanese giants begin their pathway back to the top in MotoGP. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) was P7 ahead of 2020 World Champion Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), whilst Mir’s teammate Luca Marini was 15th but all had positive things to say come the end of play. Honda have already had a private test with Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami in the test team at Buriram, so they don’t start from zero in Thailand. However, Mir was particularly strong at the Sepang test in 2024 so let’s wait and see what they conjure up this week.
NEEDING A STEP OR TWO
Of all the changes on the grid who seem to be taking slightly longer to adapt and find the limits of their new machines, the Red Bull KTM Tech 3 duo of Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini were two notable names. Both will need time to adapt to the RC16’s intricacies and preferences and both are more methodical riders who like to have feeling rather than biting the screen for a lap time, but neither looked entirely comfortable in Malaysia. With this second test, expect to see some progress up from the 16th and 18th places at Sepang respectively.
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