15:38 - Well, that soon changed. Pecco has hit the ground running post lunch in terms of pace, with the Italian now P2. Zarco and Brad Binder are also on track.
15:32 - Francesco Bagnaia is the first rider back out after the break. The 2022 and 2023 World Champion is currently P17, 1.7s away from Alex Marquez's benchmark.
14:58 - For the latest on what's unfolding so far at the Sepang Test, head over to MotoGP's Instagram now to join Louis Suddaby and Jack Appleyard live from Malaysia. They'll have Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi with them, and then later on at 17:30 local time (UTC +8), you can enjoy 90 minutes of reaction, analysis and interviews on After the Flag.
14:35 - Lunch eaten (grilled chicken and chips from Sepang's LakeSide cafe, would reccommend) and it seems the MotoGP riders and teams are enjoying a well earned lunch break too. No one currently out on circuit, expect that to change soon though.
13:00 - That's the end of the opening session, which means two things. 1. Lunch, and 2. Practice starts. Both very exciting if you ask us.
12:30 - Turn 5 has bit again unfortunately, and this time it's Moreira who's crashed while the Brazilian and teammate Johann Zarco were lapping together. Rider OK.
12:20 - A change at the top. 2025 Malaysian GP winner Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) slots in a 1:57.487 to go a smidgen over four tenths clear of Bezzecchi.
12:13 - Another Yamaha rider has crashed, this time it's Miller at Turn 9. The #43 managed to remount and ride back to the box, which hopefully means there's not too much of a repair job on for the mechanics before lunch.
11:57 - Aaaand we're into the 1:57s. Bezzecchi goes fastest with a 1:57.894 - impressive pace so early into the Sepang Test from the newly married Aprilia star.
11:30 - Acosta's stint at the top didn't last too long. Prima Pramac's Jack Miller, who took part in the Shakedown Test, is now the quickest rider so far thanks to the Aussie's 1:58.252.
11:21 - Good morning Pedro. It's Acosta and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing who find themselves at the timesheet summit now, with a 1:58.313 from the #37 on his 17th lap of the day putting him over two tenths clear of Rins.
11:00 - Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) is now quickest, around a quarter of second clear of Moreira. On the other side of the Yamaha box, 2021 Champ Fabio Quartararo has crashed out at Turn 5 - so he's heading for a check up.
10:39 - Yeah, that's definitely not what a Yamaha should sound like. Dovizioso's V4-powered YZR-M1 flew past the start/finish line sounding like a bag of nails being dragged along the floor, and Yamaha's Test Rider has stopped down at Turn 1 with a technical issue.
10:18 - The champ gets his 2026 preparations up and running. MM93, who missed the last four rounds and Valencia Test through injury, is back on his factory Ducati in Malaysia.
10:14 - Two riders are already into the 1:58s already - Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi and rookie Diogo Moreira, with the latter then going quickest a few minutes later. So far, 15 riders have gone out for an initial spin, with World Champion Marc Marquez yet to emerge.
10:00 - Bikes on track! The Sepang Test is go and it's Yamaha's Alex Rins who sets the first competitive time of the Test - a 2:02.545, with plenty of riders heading straight out at a scorching (obviously) Sepang International Circuit.
09:45 - Good morning MotoGP fans! Is everyone as pumped as we are to get 2026 officially back underway?