Even after finishing on top of the timesheets on the opening day, Marc Marquez wasn’t shy about making adjustments to his new Ducati GP26 during the second day of testing in Sepang.
The 32-year-old got off to a strong start at the first pre-season test of 2026, posting a best lap time of 1:57.018 on Tuesday. That put him 0.256 seconds ahead of the rest of the field and nearly three-tenths clear of the fastest non-Ducati rider.
That session was also Marquez’s first time back on a MotoGP bike since last October’s Indonesian Grand Prix, where he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury following a collision with Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi. The recovery kept him out for several months and required surgery.
But even with a solid start under his belt, Marquez spent much of Wednesday looking for improvements. He finished down in 15th place, with his best lap coming early in the morning session before rain disrupted any chances to improve further in the afternoon.
Marc Marquez went back to Ducati’s 2024-spec front aero on Day 2 at the Sepang test
Marquez used the Sepang test as an opportunity to experiment with Ducati’s newest front aero package. The Italian team had already showcased this bold design during last week’s shakedown in Sepang, featuring an updated fairing, larger wings, and several other adjustments.
The latest front aero is particularly noticeable because of its increased wing size, internal ducting changes, and a reworked airbox inlet. But as Jack Appleyard pointed out on MotoGP’s Midday Live during the second day of testing in Sepang, Marquez decided to switch back to the 2024-spec front aero.
Appleyard said:
“The wings are so big, will be creating so much downforce, that he said it altered the balance of the bike so drastically that it’s going to take some time to really work out how to maximise that new aero, because it is so drastic on the front end.”
Marc Marquez shares thoughts on Ducati’s 2026 aero setup after Sepang test
The early feedback from all four factory-contracted Ducati riders has been positive, with several drawing comparisons between the GP26 and the successful GP24. It was on that older model where Jorge Martin edged out works rider Francesco Bagnaia to claim the title.
After setting the pace on day one, Marquez felt “everything” was working “quite well” for Ducati. But even with a strong start, there’s still work to be done before the next test at Buriram and the Thai Grand Prix in March.
“Of course, you feel a big change on the aero,” Marquez said about Ducati’s 2026 aero after day one at the Sepang test, via Crash. “It’s true that we need to be super patient with new aerodynamics, because the bike balance changes a lot.
“It’s there where we still need to work. It will be important to decide well, because the fact that the Thai test and Thai GP are super close, we need to be super clever here with all of the things.”
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