Three intense days of activity brought 2026 MotoGP to life at the Sepang International Circuit, host of the Malaysian Grand Prix in October, where potential modifications for the KTM RC16 prototype were tried and tested by the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 teams. It was Pedro Acosta who ranked highest on the timing screens by the end of the third day with the 8th fastest lap-time.
Hot and humid conditions greeted the MotoGP paddock once more at Sepang. The long and varied layout, which is due to be resurfaced before the 20th GP of the 2026 series this autumn, provided a decent testing ground of the ideas and parts of the KTM race department. The worklist was comprehensive with a view towards the 22-round contest starting at the end of the month in Thailand.
Rainfall forced a delay on day two but otherwise the track was grippy and beneficial to evaluate new aerodynamic, chassis, and set-up options for the 2026 race package. Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales made back-to-back comparisons as well as race and Sprint simulations and then used their stock of soft tire options today (Thursday) to get their duties ticked off. Key decisions must be made for homologation of certain components, especially the first phase of aerodynamic profiling.
Acosta was just 0.8 from the quickest chrono effort despite not putting his energies into a time attack. Bastianini increased his comfort on the RC16 to rest in P10 with Binder and Viñales close in P13 and P14 once the session reached a checkered flag.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3 will remain in Malaysia for the MotoGP championship launch in Kuala Lumpur on February 6-7 and then the factory will gather at the Buriram International Circuit for the final two days of testing on February 6-7 prior to GP1.
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 8th: “I was making chassis tests on day one, then using the 2025 bike yesterday and then we worked with both today and we didn’t really have the target for a fast lap-time. Even though we were trying a lot of things and not really knowing the bike the lap-time was quite good I’d say. I wanted a clear image in my head of what pieces we need now for Thailand and then completing the package, and I’m quite happy for this. I want to create pure speed now in Thailand because here I wanted to spend more time on track.”
Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech3, 10th: “It’s been interesting. We worked a lot these three days and we improved in every area; that was important for me and it was also good to work with my new Crew Chief. I’m comfortable on the bike now and that’s thanks to work in the winter with the wind tunnel and more things here. We have some good solutions but we can still improve! It’s just the first test and we want to try more at the next one.”
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 13th: “We have slowly put together all the parts we’ve tried these days and I feel a lot better. I was not able to put in a super-fast lap-time by any means but I felt more comfortable on the bike and the times were coming easier. I’m happy with the work we have done and I think the comfort will turn into more speed at the next test. I think we can use a little more turning, and this will then take us a long way. I have a much better idea of what I have underneath me.”
Maverick Viñales, Red Bull KTM Tech3, 14th: “Day three was positive again. We arrived to the point where you can confirm what you like and what you don’t. We tried different set-ups, especially for the time attack and, for me, we decided the best was what we tried on day one. This is the feeling I like. Today the lap-times didn’t look so positive but, for knowing what I like, it was positive. I was working on technique and my riding style and to understand the bike more. I was more focused on set-up today and I think we have good pace. The bike gives me good feedback and making that strong lap-time on day one was a good sign because normally there is not good grip at that time, and if you have a bike that works when the grip is low then you’ll be competitive. We’ll try to improve more in Thailand.”
