Miller takes the Yamaha V4 to the top as Day 2 of the Shakedown test concludes.
Pacing Yamaha’s new project in Malaysia, the Australian took the top spot by just 0.025 seconds.
As Day 2 of the Sepang Shakedown Challenge draws to a close, it’s time to keep rocking as we take another step into the first racing month of the year. With the factory test riders, the Tier D manufacturers – Yamaha and their full-time riders – and the rookies on track, it’s a momentous track time that’s impossible to replicate in any season. With today’s warmer and more humid day compared to the first day, sunny skies greeted the riders for their second day of 2026.
Fabio Quatararo (20) at the Sepang test, Day 2. Photo courtesy of Dorna.
It was a positive day for Yamaha as Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) climbed into the 1’57 bracket and set a 1’57.908, two fastest times from Alex Rins’ day in 2025. Just a few tenths behind him in P4, we got our first look at 2026 Fabio Quattararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and 2021 World Champion. He put both his bikes in the top five, with teammate Alex Rins not far behind in P7 on time but the fifth fastest rider.
Rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) dropped seven tenths of a lap time as he continued to learn the V4 Yamaha, Michelin tires and Sepang. Finally for the Iwata manufacturer, their test team was once again hard at work but this time with two riders: Augusto Fernandez and MotoGP Legend Andrea Dovizioso. Among them, the best of 1’59.351.
Pol Espargaro (44) at the Sepang test, Day 2. Photo by Dorna.
On the heels of the Japanese manufacturer, the KTM clan was again at the top of its time. Pol Espargaro was up in P2 at the checkered flag and in the 1’57s, 0.025s ahead of Miller. ‘Polyccio’ wasn’t the only KTM as Dani Pedrosa continued his afternoon work, setting 47 laps and placing both RC16s in the top ten fastest times. Along with Pedrosa and Espargaro, Mika Callio also joined, with a best lap time of 2’04.376.
Diogo Moreira (11) at the Sepang Challenge, Day 2. Photo courtesy Dorna.
On the Honda and the fastest rider was Espargaro, a descendant of Alex. Aleix Espargaro posted a 1’58.066 to put himself third and 0.133s behind brother Paul. He had a technical problem, but that’s why testing was done to make sure all the new equipment was in good shape before the full-time race team took over. Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) continued to improve, almost a second off the first day and now knocking into the 1’59s.
Michel Pirro (51) at the Sepang Challenge, Day 2. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Ducati’s lone rider, Michel Pirro, continued to put in the hard yards. 46 laps bagged and a best of 1’59.155 meant he was just 1.2 seconds off Miller’s best time of the day and took six and a half tenths off the opening day banker. After the first flight incident, the day seems calm for the Italian manufacturer.
Lorenzo Savadori (32) at the Sepang test, Day 2. Photo by Dorna.
Finally, on to the busiest test driver on the track: Lorenzo Savadori for Aprilia. Responsible for ringing all bikes used during pre-season inspection. That’s eight on board – two with one full-time driver. On the technical front, who spent two days focusing mainly on bikes from Trackhouse, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) finished his 2025 campaign strongly and team-mate Jorge Martin, who was favored in Valencia, will now be the regular for 2026. It’s a small matter of air that needs to be completed.
Three different manufacturers out of the three, covering around a tenth and a half and Yamaha not only leading the way, but V4s seem to be finding their feet. The full-time riders will have a two-day ‘break’ in the heat and humidity of Sepang to gather their energy to hit the track!
 topped the timesheets and dipped into the 1’57 bracket, setting a 1’57.908, nearly a second quicker than Alex Rins' day two-topping time){kind=link}