The second day of testing at Sepang has wrapped up, and the results are nothing short of electrifying, with Joan Mir blazing through the competition to claim the top spot. In the early moments of the session, it was Pecco Bagnaia who set the pace with a time of 1:57.785, leading the charge alongside Marc Márquez, both of whom were working with the older aerodynamic package. However, Bagnaia quickly improved his time to 1:57.286, only to have Fabio Di Giannantonio snatch away the fastest lap with an impressive 1:57.049. It’s worth noting that Yamaha has opted out of these tests for safety reasons, leaving the field open for the likes of Honda, who saw Mir clock in the day’s first sub-1:56 time.
Alex Márquez also made headlines as he tested a new aerodynamic feature, blending the 2025 windscreen design with the 2026 fairing, signaling Honda’s commitment to innovation. Meanwhile, KTM’s Bastianini was busy experimenting with a new fairing of his own. Acosta made waves by becoming the top performer from his team, landing in the fourth position. However, not all was smooth sailing; the Gresini rider suffered a crash that left his bike in a sorry state, although fortunately, he walked away unscathed.
As the afternoon session commenced, action on the track dwindled significantly, with many riders hesitant to return after the lunch break. It took considerable time before Bagnaia and Viñales finally emerged from their garages, with Viñales impressively sitting third on the leaderboard as Jorge Lorenzo made his debut as his coach. Di Giannantonio ventured out for a lap but returned to the pit after just one circuit, demonstrating the uncertain atmosphere on the track.
The second day saw a lull in activity, particularly after Alex Márquez resumed post-crash. His teammate Acosta, alongside Ogura and Diogo Moreira, rejoined the fray, with Alex clocking the best time momentarily. But it was Mir who soon overtook the leaderboard once again. Just as riders were building momentum, rain began to fall over Sepang, complicating matters and leaving the track damp. Although the rain was brief, it altered the conditions significantly.
The reprieve from rain was short-lived as heavier showers returned, effectively halting any chances of further improvement on lap times. With the weather playing a villainous role, Mir’s earlier time remained unchallenged. Meanwhile, Aprilia was busy testing new components on Bezzecchi’s bike, while Moreira teamed up with Viñales to test wet tires. Morbidelli also hit the track, but as the clock wound down on this intense day of testing, it was clear that the standings remained largely unchanged since the midday break.
As teams and riders prepare for the next round of tests, the anticipation builds. Will Mir maintain his dominance, or will challengers like Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio rise to the occasion in the coming sessions? The Sepang tests have only heightened the intrigue leading into the racing season.
