Five things we learned at the MotoGP Thai GP

The first race of a season usually throws up more answers to questions than any other. Indeed, we learned a lot from an entertaining weekend at Buriram – albeit with plenty of caveats. Which is perfect heading into another marathon MotoGP tour around the world.

There are more question marks than there were answers after Marc Marquez scorched to victory this time one year ago – and that’s an immeasurably good thing.

Aprilia’s strength in numbers could be key in 2026

Watch: MotoGP 2026: Thai GP – Winner

To understand Aprilia’s potential in 2026, it’s worth going back a year. Twelve months ago, the factory team was a one-bike operation, with star recruit Jorge Martin missing due to injury. The other rider was also a new signing, Marco Bezzecchi, who simply needed time to gel with the RS-GP. As for the independent Trackhouse team, Raul Fernandez had been injured in testing, following which a form crisis unfolded that had many calling for his head. Only Ai Ogura, with his fifth place on debut, was really able to represent the marque to anybody’s satisfaction.

While Bezzecchi was winning races by Silverstone in May, and Fernandez chipped away at the challenge to the point that he became a winner at Phillip Island in October, Martin was rarely around as his injury woes compounded. When he did ride, he was still in learning mode. Ogura, meanwhile, went downhill after Thailand and then got injured in May. Neither of the latter two could contribute much data or development.

Judging by Thailand 2026 – admittedly dangerous given the special tyre casing used at Buriram – that situation has changed dramatically. All four Aprilias, led by winner Bezzecchi, made the top five. Martin was back to something close to full form and fitness, while Fernandez continued to look like he belongs at the front. Ogura repeated last year’s fifth place – and his chances of sustaining such form are better, if only because he has a season’s experience behind him.

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At this early stage of the year, all the Aprilias are delivering representative data and pulling each other along. The factory and Trackhouse are fusing better than ever. Big boss Massimo Rivola proudly declared on Sunday that the Noale manufacturer “has four factory bikes” on the grid. And if all of them stay at this level, that’s a frightening prospect for the opposition.

Marquez’s battle for fitness is dragging on into the new season
Marquez still isn't fully fit following his shoulder injury suffered last year

Marquez still isn’t fully fit following his shoulder injury suffered last year

Photo by: Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP via Getty Images

Marc Marquez was applauded for taking his time to recover from his big spill at Mandalika late last season. Back then, it appeared to be a case of missing a couple of races. Nobody could have guessed that the Spaniard would still be troubled by his injuries at the 2026 season-opener.

At 33, Marquez may already have reached that depressing age where the body takes longer to recover. His attitude in Thailand was to accept the situation as it was and adapt as best he could. He offered the media some fascinating titbits in this regard. First, he was using the 2024 aero package simply because that made the bike less physical to ride. He also said he preferred running on old tyres – not always possible in competitive sessions, of course – because this was less taxing on his shoulder.

Marc also said that his condition meant he was battling for speed on the flip-flop corners leading up to the final turn at Buriram. That may have been a key ingredient in the sprint being so thrilling, as Pedro Acosta repeatedly found himself in a position to take a look into the last corner.

Add to all this the fact that he was ill over the preceding weekend. He may have shaken that off by the time the racing began, but his preparation had suffered compared to the rest. All things considered, Marquez was vulnerable in Thailand. The fact that he led the Ducati charge regardless was simply another reminder of his class.

The good news for Marc is that he’s got a three-week break until the Brazilian Grand Prix. His fitness there and beyond is one of the biggest questions marks around this nascent championship.

MotoGP’s two rookies look the part
Razgatlioglu and Moreira made a positive impression on their MotoGP debuts

Razgatlioglu and Moreira made a positive impression on their MotoGP debuts

Photo by: Steve Wobser / Getty Images

In a season with almost no movement on the rider market, MotoGP’s two rookies were a welcome storyline. The series bid farewell to Somkiat Chantra (LCR Honda) and Miguel Oliveira (Pramac Yamaha), welcoming Diogo Moreira and Toprak Razgatlioglu in their respective places.

With Moreira stepping up from Moto2 and Razgatlioglu coming to MotoGP via a stellar World Superbike career, the speed with which they could adapt was always going to be a talking point. But that has inevitably been complicated by the fact that Honda is in rude health compared to Yamaha’s ongoing public V4 development project. Although you can always make comparisons with team-mates, the general situation is significantly tougher for Razgatlioglu.

Moreira was outright impressive in the broader Honda context. He was a shade faster than veteran team-mate Johann Zarco in qualifying, although MotoGP’s vicious format (Moreira was in Q1…) meant he lined up three spots behind the Frenchman on the grid, in 15th.

On Sunday, Moreira scored his first three MotoGP points with a 13th place, two spots and around five seconds down on Zarco, who, for reference, was right behind the factory bike of Luca Marini. Importantly, perhaps, he didn’t fall behind any Yamahas, with Fabio Quartararo following Moreira home. The 21-year-old was, broadly speaking, where a Honda was supposed to be in Thailand.

Aboard the recalcitrant Yamaha, Razgatlioglu could only dream of points in a race of limited attrition. He came home 17th, albeit several seconds ahead of team-mate Jack Miller. The Australian did have serious tyre difficulties, though we don’t know much more than that because Yamaha forbade its riders from speaking to the media on Sunday. He had however outqualified the Turk in Q1, though the gap, three tenths, was respectable from the rookie’s perspective. All things considered, many feared far worse for Razgatlioglu’s MotoGP debut.

Bagnaia’s old flaws remain an issue
The signs of old Bagnaia were all there in Thailand

The signs of old Bagnaia were all there in Thailand

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Nobody wanted to see Francesco Bagnaia embark on the fresh season with a 2025-style failure to miss Q2. Watching him battle was wearing. Another 22 weekends of it would be trying, to say the least. Perhaps that’s the reason why so many bought the theory that Bagnaia was coming into this year as a new man. Testing had gone well and he had worked on himself mentally over the winter, went the line.

But the first Friday of competitive action at Buriram set up perfectly to expose familiar Bagnaia flaws. Rain was threatening throughout practice. It was a time for abandoning the programme. It was a time for quick responses and riding on instinct. It was a time for not thinking about the set-up changes you might or shouldn’t have made. It was a time to cast the quest for perfection to one side – even one of your nicknames was Pecco Perfetto.

What Friday showed, sadly, was that the winter hadn’t changed Bagnaia’s limitations in such circumstances. Such sessions are the exception rather than the rule, of course, but this might at least serve to temper expectations that the old Bagnaia is back. As might the fact that he didn’t get through Q1 on a perfectly dry track either. That’s something even the 2025 edition of Bagnaia managed in Thailand…

2026 could be intriguing after all
Acosta fighting, and winning, the sprint race against Marquez wasn't on anyone's prediction cards at the start of the Thai GP

Acosta fighting, and winning, the sprint race against Marquez wasn’t on anyone’s prediction cards at the start of the Thai GP

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

Fair play to sport for its ability to surprise. Testing at the very same circuit that would host the first race had handed us a ready-made script, which certainly didn’t help build the anticipation. Most things unfolded in line with those expectations. Especially the pecking order behind the big two manufacturers: Honda/KTM, followed by Yamaha, it was.

Five things we learned at the MotoGP Thai GP

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