13:00 - Right then, here's the lay of the land at lunch time. It's a tasty array of spicy chicken, fish, rice, veg and more for lunch for the on-site media, and it's Pecco leading Martin into the afternoon session on track. Time for practice starts and something to eat.
12:31 - Another crash. This time it's Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) who has gone down at Turn 8 just before lunch.
12:23 - Then almost immediately, Marc Marquez has crashed again. This time it's Turn 5 for the #93, rider ok again. MARQUEZ IN CRISIS headlines are being prepped across the tabloids of the land but we'll keep it a little calmer given he is already riding round again and it's one morning of one test.
12:22 - A crash now, for 2025 Thai GP standout Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team). He's taken a tumble at Turn 1, rider ok...
12:13 - And now it's Pecco! The #63 has been a key player near the top all morning so far and he's just pulled 0.135 ahead of Martin.
12:03 - MARTINATOR MODE: ON! Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) has just edged himself to the top of the timesheets for the first time in a long, long while. Great to see the 2024 World Champion out on track and fighting fit. He's now ahead of a stunner from Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) in second too, with the two split by 0.027. A 1:28.813 is the fastest lap now.
A steady start to the #BuriramTest, just checking a few things from Sepang to start the day.
— Honda HRC Castrol - MotoGP (@HRC_MotoGP) February 21, 2026
🅿️3️⃣ for @Luca_Marini_97 right now
🅿️1️⃣5️⃣ for @JoanMirOfficial
Plenty of laps still to come 🏁 pic.twitter.com/xZRTdbmpXz
11:43 - Acosta is joined by Pecco in the 1:29 club, and it's the Italian who now sits quickest in the early stages of Day 1 here in Thailand. 0.024s is the gap between the Ducati and KTM riders.
11:33 - A change at the top. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is the first to have a gander into the 1:29s. The #37 is now 0.199s clear at the summit thanks to a 1:29.952.
11:00 - First hour in the books! Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) sits P3, 0.258s away from MM93, with Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) and Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) rounding out the top five. And a little further down in P8, it's a welcome return to action for 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) - good to see the #89 back.
10:50 - Gravel trap to P1 for the champ. Marquez lands a 1:30.151 to go top just before 11 am local time, with teammate Francesco Bagnaia 0.121s in P2 so far.
10:20 - Not an ideal start for the World Champion. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) lost the front early at the final corner to endure a crash within the first half an hour of the test, and while the bike looked pretty second hand, thankfully the #93 is all good.
10:05 - Here we go then, the Buriram Test is alive and kicking, with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) winning the race to be first out of pit lane.
09:45 - Good morning MotoGP fans! Hope you're well and ready for bikes to be on track again. It's great to be back in Buriram as we get set for two crucial days of scorching (literally) test action at the Chang International Circuit, with the track going green very shortly.