A late rain shower on the third and final day of the 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown test helps keep Honda’s Aleix Espargaro on top of the timesheets.

Fabio Quartararo managed to trim a tenth off his best lap with the new Yamaha V4 but remained in third, behind Aleix and brother Pol Espargaro (KTM).

Quartararo’s Monster Yamaha team-mate Alex Rins also broke into the 1m 57s during the final hour, on his way to fourth place.

KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa likewise made late progress, for seventh, splitting rookies Diogo Moreira and Toprak Razgatlioglu on the final timesheets.

The rain arrived with ten minutes to go, scuppering the last time attacks as well as the end-of-test practice start period.

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The two rookies, plus factory test riders from all manufacturers, have been present since day one of the Shakedown, when Aleix Espargaro set the pace for Honda. 

Yamaha race riders Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins and Jack Miller then joined the action on day two, when Miller put the new V4 on top of the timesheets.

The Official test – featuring all teams and riders, except the injured Jorge Martin (Aprilia) and Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati) – starts at Sepang on February 3rd.

For comparison, Quartararo set the best lap at last year’s Sepang Shakedown with a 1m 57.794s, then went on to improve by one second during the Official test…

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2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test: Day 3 (Saturday – FINAL) RiderNatTeamTime1Aleix EspargaroSPAHonda Test Rider (RC213V)1:57.173s2Pol EspargaroSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)+0.126s3Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.517s4Alex RinsSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.719s5Jack MillerAUSPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.921s6Diogo MoreiraBRAPro Honda LCR (RC213V)*+1.165s7Dani PedrosaSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)+1.291s8Toprak RazgatliogluTURPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)*+1.292s9Michele PirroITADucati Test Rider (GP26)+1.726s10Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Test Rider (RS-GP)+1.775s11Mika KallioFINKTM Test Rider (RC16)+2.634s12Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+2.989s13Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+3.981s

* Rookie.

Fastest Day 2 Time:
Jack Miller, Pramac Yamaha, 1m 57.908s.

Fastest Day 1 Time:
Aleix Espargaro, Honda Test Rider, 1m 58.091s.

Official Sepang MotoGP Records:
Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo, 1m 56.337s (2024).
Fastest race lap: Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 1m 58.873s (2023).

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Alex Rins, new Yamaha wing, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test (pic: Gold&Goose).

Alex Rins, new Yamaha wing, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test (pic: Gold&Goose).

Alex Rins’ late improvement means he joined Jack Miller in beating his Inline qualifying time at last year’s Malaysian MotoGP, on the new 2026 V4.

Rins and Miller are now half-a-second from their best-ever Inline Sepang laps, set at last year’s official test. 

Quartararo didn’t beat his qualifying time from last October and needs to find almost one second to set a personal best next week – an achievable goal, depending on the rain…

Yamaha MotoGP lap times – Sepang CircuitRider2026 Shakedown (V4)2025 Sepang Test (Inline)2025 Malaysian GP Qualifying (Inline)Fabio Quartararo1m 57.690s1m 56.724s1m 57.195sAlex Rins1m 57.892s1m 57.351s1m 57.945sJack Miller1m 57.908s1m 57.452s1m 57.949sToprak Razgatlioglu1m 58.465sN/AN/A

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Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

5pm lap times, with one hour of the Shakedown to go, when cooler conditions should offer the chance for fast laps.

2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test: Day 3 (Saturday – 5pm) RiderNatTeamTime1Aleix EspargaroSPAHonda Test Rider (RC213V)1:57.173s2Pol EspargaroSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)+0.126s3Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.546s4Jack MillerAUSPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.921s5Alex RinsSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.007s6Diogo MoreiraBRAPro Honda LCR (RC213V)*+1.165s7Toprak RazgatliogluTURPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)*+1.292s8Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Test Rider (RS-GP)+1.775s9Michele PirroITADucati Test Rider (GP26)+1.844s10Dani PedrosaSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)+2.092s11Mika KallioFINKTM Test Rider (RC16)+2.634s12Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+2.989s13Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+3.981s

* Rookie.

Fastest Day 2 Time:
Jack Miller, Pramac Yamaha, 1m 57.908s.

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Fastest Day 1 Time:
Aleix Espargaro, Honda Test Rider, 1m 58.091s.

Official Sepang MotoGP Records:
Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo, 1m 56.337s (2024).
Fastest race lap: Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 1m 58.873s (2023).

Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

The mid-afternoon heat means no lap time changes, but Yamaha’s new V4 front wing has now made its public debut in the hands of multiple riders…

Andrea Dovizioso, new front wing, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test (pic Gold&Goose)

Andrea Dovizioso, new front wing, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test (pic Gold&Goose)

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Here’s an updated look at the Yamaha lap times table after Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins and Toprak Razgatlioglu all improved on their Friday best. 

Jack Miller’s fastest V4 lap of the week remains yesterday’s 1m 57.908s, which beat his ‘Inline’ qualifying time from last October’s Grand Prix.

Yamaha MotoGP lap times – Sepang CircuitRider2026 Shakedown (V4)2025 Sepang Test (Inline)2025 Malaysian GP Qualifying (Inline)Fabio Quartararo1m 57.719s1m 56.724s1m 57.195sJack Miller1m 57.908s1m 57.452s1m 57.949sAlex Rins1m 58.180s1m 57.351s1m 57.945sToprak Razgatlioglu1m 58.465sN/AN/A Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

These are the 2pm lap times, as most teams and riders stop for lunch in the heat. Will we see a 1m 56s later, when the temperature drops?

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2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test: Day 3 (Saturday – 2pm) RiderNatTeamTime1Aleix EspargaroSPAHonda Test Rider (RC213V)1:57.173s2Pol EspargaroSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)+0.126s3Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.546s4Jack MillerAUSPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.921s5Alex RinsSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.007s6Diogo MoreiraBRAPro Honda LCR (RC213V)*+1.165s7Toprak RazgatliogluTURPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)*+1.292s8Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Test Rider (RS-GP)+1.775s9Michele PirroITADucati Test Rider (GP26)+1.844s10Dani PedrosaSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)+2.203s11Mika KallioFINKTM Test Rider (RC16)+2.634s12Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+2.989s13Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+3.981s

* Rookie.

Fastest Day 2 Time:
Jack Miller, Pramac Yamaha, 1m 57.908s.

Fastest Day 1 Time:
Aleix Espargaro, Honda Test Rider, 1m 58.091s.

Official Sepang MotoGP Records:
Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo, 1m 56.337s (2024).
Fastest race lap: Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 1m 58.873s (2023).

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Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

Aleix Espargaro, Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

Here are the 1pm lap times. It’s still an Espargaro one-two on top, followed by the new Yamaha V4s of Quartararo, Miller and Rins.

Diogo Moreira is currently edging out Toprak Razgatlioglu in the best rookie battle.

Further back, third KTM test rider Mika Kallio has made a big step compared to the previous days, suggesting he is now riding in 1000cc rather than ‘850cc’ spec.

Kallio only managed a 2m 4.376s on the opening two days, when the lack of a ride-height device suggested he was using a machine aimed at the 2027 rules, but has suddenly jumped to a 1m 59.807s today…

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2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test: Day 3 (Saturday – 1pm) RiderNatTeamTime1Aleix EspargaroSPAHonda Test Rider (RC213V)1:57.173s2Pol EspargaroSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)+0.126s3Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.546s4Jack MillerAUSPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)+0.921s5Alex RinsSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)+1.007s6Diogo MoreiraBRAPro Honda LCR (RC213V)*+1.165s7Toprak RazgatliogluTURPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)*+1.292s8Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Test Rider (RS-GP)+1.775s9Michele PirroITADucati Test Rider (GP26)+1.844s10Dani PedrosaSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)+2.203s11Mika KallioFINKTM Test Rider (RC16)+2.634s12Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+2.989s13Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)+4.173s

* Rookie.

Fastest Day 2 Time:
Jack Miller, Pramac Yamaha, 1m 57.908s.

Fastest Day 1 Time:
Aleix Espargaro, Honda Test Rider, 1m 58.091s.

Official Sepang MotoGP Records:
Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo, 1m 56.337s (2024).
Fastest race lap: Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 1m 58.873s (2023).

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Midday and Aleix Espargaro takes over from brother Pol with a 1m 57.2s, while Fabio Quartararo goes deeper into the 1m 57s in third for Monster Yamaha.

Pol Espargaro, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

Pol Espargaro, 2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test.

The cooler conditions in the opening hour of Saturday’s final day have seen KTM test rider Pol Espargaro lower the best time of the week so far to a 1m 57.3s, which is 0.6s under Jack Miller’s marker on day two.

Honda’s Aleix Espargaro is second to Pol, with Fabio Quartararo effectively matching Miller’s Friday time for an early third (+0.6s) on Yamaha’s new V4. 

Factory team-mate Alex Rins also began the day by eclipsing his Friday time (+0.9s), but the biggest leap so far has been by LCR Honda rookie Diogo Moreira, with a 1m 58.3s. That’s 1.6s better than his previous best!

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For reference, yesterday’s best lap times for each rider are below:

2026 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test: Day 2 (Friday – FINAL) RiderNatTeamTime1Jack MillerAUSPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)1:57.908s2Pol EspargaroSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)1:57.933s3Aleix EspargaroSPAHonda Test Rider (RC213V)1:58.066s4Fabio QuartararoFRAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)1:58.135s5Alex RinsSPAMonster Yamaha (YZR-M1)1:58.657s6Dani PedrosaSPAKTM Test Rider (RC16)1:58.669s7Toprak RazgatliogluTURPramac Yamaha (YZR-M1)*1:58.805s8Michele PirroITADucati Test Rider (GP26)1:59.155s9Fernandez/DoviziosoN/AYamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)1:59.351s10Lorenzo SavadoriITAAprilia Test Rider (RS-GP)1:59.651s11Diogo MoreiraBRAPro Honda LCR (RC213V)*1:59.930s12Mika Kallio**FINKTM Test Rider (RC16)2:04.3676

* Rookie.

** ‘850cc’ KTM package

Fastest Day 2 Time:
Jack Miller, Pramac Yamaha, 1m 57.908s.

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Fastest Day 1 Time:
Aleix Espargaro, Honda Test Rider, 1m 58.091s.

Official Sepang MotoGP Records:
Best lap: Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo, 1m 56.337s (2024).
Fastest race lap: Alex Marquez, Gresini Ducati, 1m 58.873s (2023).

Fastest 2025 Malaysian MotoGP race laps – by manufacturer:
Ducati: Alex Marquez, 1m 58.873s.
Honda: Joan Mir, 1m 59.293s.
KTM: Pedro Acosta, 1m 59.311s.
Yamaha: Fabio Quartararo, 1m 59.494s.
Aprilia: Raul Fernandez, 2m 0.217s.
*Yamaha V4: Augusto Fernandez, 2m 1.352s.

Fastest 2025 Malaysian MotoGP qualifying laps – by manufacturer:
Ducati: Francesco Bagnaia, 1m 57.001s.
Yamaha: Fabio Quartararo, 1m 57.195s.
KTM: Pedro Acosta, 1m 57.363s.
Honda: Joan Mir, 1m 57.440s.
Aprilia: Marco Bezzecchi, 1m 57.549s.
*Yamaha V4: Augusto Fernandez 1m 59.382s.

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