Day 1: Thrilling Start

The Shakedown test in Malaysia kicked off with a mix of veteran riders and rookies. It was an exciting return to action, with MotoGP legends like Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso hitting the track alongside rookie Ai Ogura from the Trackhouse MotoGP Team.

The day was packed with action as Red Bull KTM’s Pol Espargaro took the fastest time, followed by a stunning performance from Ogura, who clocked a 1:59.862. Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami rounded off the top three, while Pedrosa was in fourth after leading for much of the day.

Rookies to Watch:
Ogura was the fastest rookie and showed great potential, only a few tenths ahead of Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini Racing MotoGP. Aldeguer was getting familiar with his Ducati GP24, while Somkiat Chantra from IDEMITSU LCR Honda skipped riding on Friday, as he was preparing for the following days.

Test Riders:
Along with Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa for KTM, Andrea Dovizioso was busy testing Yamaha, while Michele Pirro represented Ducati, and Lorenzo Savadori tested for Aprilia.

Day 2: More Action, More Surprises

Saturday brought more anticipation with the arrival of Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, and the new duo of Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira from Prima Pramac Yamaha. They had been in Kuala Lumpur presenting the 2025 bikes but were also ready to get on track. And let's not forget, we also saw Aleix Espargaro’s debut as a Honda test rider.

As the test continued, new riders and faster lap times dominated. Fabio Quartararo was on fire, clocking the fastest time of 1:58.745, just 0.003s ahead of Pol Espargaro. Yamaha’s Quartararo was closely followed by his teammate Rins.

Rookies on the Rise:
Ogura continued to shine, taking a time of 1:58 on his Aprilia, with Aldeguer just 0.016 behind on his Ducati. Both rookies showed that they are ready for the challenges ahead. Somkiat Chantra, who had sat out Day 1, was back on track and slowly improving as he got more familiar with his new MotoGP bike.

Summary:
Saturday also introduced some exciting new features, with KTM and Honda revealing their updated tail units. The test was shaping up to be a key moment for many teams as they fine-tuned their 2025 bikes.

Day 3: Final Day, Quartararo Takes Fastest Time

The final day of the Shakedown brought even more intense competition. Fabio Quartararo proved he’s in top form, becoming the only rider to break into the 1:57s with a time of 1:57.794. He ended the test with a comfortable lead, 0.3s ahead of Jack Miller in second. Honda’s Aleix Espargaro made a late charge, securing third place with his final lap.

Rookie Stars:
Ai Ogura, the Moto2 champion, continued to impress, finishing fourth overall and just 0.414s behind Quartararo. He also completed a race simulation and showed great consistency. Fermin Aldeguer, despite a small crash, finished sixth, with Somkiat Chantra still finding his rhythm in 12th place.

Behind the Times:
While the times were important, there were plenty of stories behind the scenes. Yamaha reportedly tested new chassis and swingarms for Quartararo and Rins, with Quartararo’s lap times impressively close to last year’s qualifying times. Miller, on the other hand, was just half a second off his qualifying time from last year’s Malaysian GP.

Other Test Riders:
Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro continued to shine for KTM, while Lorenzo Savadori worked on different spec machines for Aprilia. Michele Pirro kept busy with Ducati, and Aleix Espargaro made his mark on Honda’s 2025 bike.

Looking Forward:

After three intense days of testing, it’s time for a short break before the official test begins from February 5th to 7th. We’ve seen impressive performances from rookies and veterans alike, and the battle for 2025 is just heating up. Don’t miss the official test, as it promises even more action on the track!