Just over 100 days after Valencia’s checkered flag, the most exciting sport on earth is back in competitive action.
Test done, talking. ready? The reviews pick up as MotoGP prepares for the first battle of 2026: Buriram, as we return to Thailand for the season opener. After the challenges of recent weeks, the kilometers have been put on before the new season, but in the next 22 weekends of action, one objective remains: to lift the tower of champions and write MotoGP history.
The champion is back – and this time he’s got company.
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) put it all in red last year as a gamble that paid off, completing one of the most spectacular comebacks in the sport’s history with five laps to go. A late injury In 2025, the flawless copybook is gone and Thailand is where that glorious run begins. He will be hoping to repeat last year’s successes and add to Buriram’s three wins. The test suggested he was the rider to beat here for once – but there was another rider who looked ready to try and give him a run for his money: Marco Bezecchi (Aprilia Racing).
The new fastest rider ever at Buriram and consistently fastest throughout the test, #72 leads the way. And remember, this time last year it was the first GP in the RS-GP.
Meanwhile, another of the #93’s familiar rivals was on top in Sepang: Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). He was also quick at the Buriram test and impressed here in the 2025 GP – even before ending his impressive run at the podium. 12 months from now, could he keep #93, instead of taking it to him?
Aprilia vs Ducati: The deck is stacked against the contenders:
Aprilia made a big run at the end of 2025, and while it didn’t always go to plan, the pace was there – especially for Bezeci. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) took that incredible win in Australia and ended the year on the podium. In the pre-season, the form has been amazing from the factory. Bezchichi was the fastest rider around Buriram, while Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) was second in Sunday’s test. This time last year, the first weekend was amazing too. George Martin (Aprilia Racing), meanwhile, was delighted to be back in the top ten straight away and more than qualified for the race.
Meanwhile, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team duo Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio had plenty to say on the timesheets. Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) will be a little wary of getting back to work as he sees Michel Pirro hold the machine’s potential for the weekend.
In the end, however, Francesco Bagnaia will be the one to watch in the two factories. For the two-time MotoGP champion, 2025 has been a tough race. There were poetic moments like his demolition job in Japan, but there was a lot of pain for #63. He doesn’t want 2026 to start like that, and he doesn’t want it to continue like that. There have been positive vibes and progress in testing, so could it be headed back to the top?
GOAL OF GLORY: Acosta and Viñales lead the Orange charge.
At KTM, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has had a more positive pre-season than in previous years and hopes to be at the front this weekend. He was leading KTM on Sunday, but is still chasing his first MotoGP Grand Prix win. Can 2026 launch on the rostrum as a start? Team-mate Brad Binder hasn’t had an easy time of things throughout testing but has a tough stance against Buriram so expect the South African to open up Sunday after the Burners.
Another rider back from injury woes is Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). Now working alongside three-time MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, the #12 has been one of KTM’s leading lights throughout testing. He’s not chasing his first MotoGP win, but his fourth with a different machine after winning one with Suzuki, Yamaha and Aprilia. Team-mate Innea Bastianini has some magic to find but it looks like a much better start than 2025 – will it be enough to get back to the bottom of the process?
Momentum Mode On: Honda’s Return Accelerates:
With a track record like HRC’s, we knew they wouldn’t struggle for long – but Honda’s lead from the off-season was impressive. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) and teammate Luca Marini made improvements in both tests, and are expected to start making some moves as the season begins.
Last year’s Grand Prix winner Johan Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) supported Mir and Marini in testing – and he was the top Honda in Buriram in 2025. Now, the history maker has Brazilian rookie Diogo Moreira in the other box as he heads to MotoGP. Brazil’s first world champion in any Grand Prix class will be looking to make it count ahead of his home race this weekend, gathering more information and making the most of his track time.
V4 Power: Yamaha’s new era, Razgatlioglu ready for Grand Prix debut
After years of inline-four expertise, Yamaha made the bold decision to switch to a V4 engine configuration for 2026 – ahead of the start of the dramatic transformation that comes next season. That’s a sign of interest, but with it comes some hurdles and challenges. Buriram’s test was easy, but questions remain: where will Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and his teammate Alex Rins finish, how competitive will they be, can they make major gains in 2026? There will also be plenty of ears on Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team), as the Australian has extensive V4 experience. Discounts remain in Level D, unlimited testing, but are looking to make big strides as the season begins.
For Turkish rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team), it’s a double-edged challenge: help the factory move forward while adapting to a whole new championship. The three-time World SBK Champion arrived with an impressive CV, a popular character and a large following. No one is disputing his talent — and he’s been declining throughout the season to show it more and more.
Test done, talking. After the pre-season, and even after the amazing start of the season in Kuala Lumpur, thousands of questions remain to be answered. Luckily, it’s almost time to switch off the lights – so be sure to tune in for the Thailand PT Grand Prix this weekend.
Post MotoGP: Thailand PT Grand Prix preview It appeared at first Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle riding, racing and technology news.
 putting it all on red was a gamble that paid off last year as he swept to the title with five rounds remaining, completing one of the most impressive comebacks in sporting history. A late injury blotted an almost faultless copybook in 2025 and Thailand is where that run of glory started. He’ll hope for a repeat of){kind=link}