MotoGP rookies Ai Ogura and Fermin Aldeguer delivered impressive results over the three-day Sepang Shakedown Test 2025 which concluded with Fabio Quartararo on top.
The three-day event served as a crucial opportunity for teams to fine-tune their machines and assess rider performance ahead of the official MotoGP test scheduled for February 5-7.
Sepang Shakedown Test 2025 was particularly significant for rookies, test riders, and concession teams, allowing them to gather essential data and experience in preparation for the competitive season ahead.
Day 1: KTM and Honda Set Early Pace
The first day of Sepang Shakedown Test 2025 kicked off with a buzz of excitement as teams rolled out their latest machinery.
KTM’s Pol Espargaro set the early pace, clocking a remarkable lap time of 2:00.307s which put him at the top of the leaderboard. His teammate Dani Pedrosa also showcased impressive form finishing the day with a lap time of 1:59.926s.
Meanwhile, Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami made a notable impact by topping the afternoon session with a time of 1:59.888s signaling potential improvements for the beleaguered manufacturer.
Yamaha adopted a cautious approach, fielding anonymous test riders as they evaluated aerodynamic updates and engine configurations. Despite their stealthy presence, one Yamaha test bike secured sixth place (2:00.881s), hinting at incremental improvements
MotoGP rookies Ai Ogura and Fermin Aldeguer riding for Trackhouse Aprilia and Gresini Ducati respectively began their adaptation to premier-class machinery, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Day 2: Yamaha’s Race Riders Join the Fray
Yamaha unleashed its full factory lineup on Day 2 of Sepang Shakedown Test 2025 with Alex Rins delivering a stunner—a 1:58.745s lap that edged out Pol Espargaro’s 1:58.791s.
Rins’ teammate Fabio Quartararo secured third (1:58.954s), signaling Yamaha’s resurgence under the concession system. Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller and teammate Miguel Oliveira joined the mix with Miller finishing sixth (1:59.221s) despite a minor crash while Oliveira took ninth.
MotoGP rookies Aldeguer and Ogura continued impressing, the Spaniard slicing his lap time to 1:58.421s and the Japanese rookie logging 1:58.208s to take fourth and fifth respectively.
Meanwhile, KTM maintained momentum as Espargaro and Pedrosa claimed second and sixth, while Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori focused on tire durability tests.
Aleix Espargaro shared the HRC test bike with Takaaki Nakagami to finish 8th and 10th respectively while Ducati’s Michele Pirro worked through electronic glitches on the GP25 to finish 11th (1:59.508s).
Day 3: Fabio Quartararo Reigns Supreme
The final day proved to be an exhilarating conclusion to Sepang Shakedown Test 2025 as Fabio Quartararo emerged as the fastest rider overall, setting an astonishing lap time of 1:57.794s—becoming the only rider to dip into the 1:57s during the testing session.
Jack Miller closely trailed him with a time of 1:58.103s, while Aleix Espargaro matched Miller’s pace but finished third on countback due to timing discrepancies.
Meanwhile, Ai Ogura continued his impressive run by securing fourth place with a time of 1:58.208s, demonstrating his rapid adaptation to MotoGP machinery as a rookie rider.
Pol Espargaro finished fifth with a time of 1:58.291s, indicating that KTM remained competitive throughout all three days of testing.
Fermin Aldeguer also showcased his potential by clocking in at sixth place with a lap time of 1:58.421s, further establishing himself as a promising talent within the Gresini Ducati team.
Alex Rins followed closely behind in seventh position with a time of 1:58.489s while Pramac Yamaha’s Miguel Oliveira secured eighth place at 1:58.526s.
Sepang Shakedown Test 2025 provided valuable insights into each team’s performance and strategies as they prepare for the upcoming official test at Sepang from February 5-7.
