MotoGP Fires Up For 2025
T
he 2025 MotoGP season
is fast approaching as the
three-day Shakedown test kicked
off last weekend in Malaysia,
where all five factories put the
early versions of their new ma-
chines through their paces.
The test was topped by Fabio
Quartararo, who was the only
rider lapping in one minute, 57
seconds by the close of day
three. Yamaha's (and Honda's)
full-time riders were allowed to
test thanks to the concessions
currently afforded to the two
Japanese factories.
Quartararo was three-tenths
of a second quicker than
Pramac Yamaha new boy Jack
Miller. The Australian was a
lowly 22nd at the Barcelona test
last November, 2.2 seconds off
the fastest time as he got to
grips with the Yamaha M1. But
there was huge progress on the
final afternoon session as he
took a full second out of his time
from day two.
Despite rumors to the con
-
trary, there was no sign of Ya-
maha's new V4 engine on track,
with its riders instead focusing
on the inline-four configuration.
Technical Director Max Barto-
lini did reveal the V4 could well
make its race debut this year
in the hands of new test rider
Augusto Fernandez, who will
make six wildcard appearances
in 2025.
Surprisingly neither of Honda's
factory riders—Joan Mir and Luca
Marini—tested at the Shakedown.
"We can count on a fantastic test
team," said Marini of their absence
in Malaysia. "Two very good riders
can push each other. And when I
spoke to the engineers, they said
it's better to start with them, as
three days [at the official test] is
more than enough for us."
Instead, it was the job of new
HRC test riders Aleix Espargaro
and Takaaki Nakagami to try the
new RC213V. Espargaro was
impressive again, as he posted
the third quickest time.
"My time on the bike didn't
stop since last year," said the for
-
mer Aprilia rider. "After Barcelo-
WIND
IN THE
P28
Fabio Quartararo topped
the MotoGP Shakedown
test ahead of new
Yamaha member Jack
Miller, but all the big
guns from Ducati and
Aprilia were missing.
