Red Bull KTM shows encouraging early speed at Sepang as Pedro Acosta leads a strong 2026 MotoGP pre-season test, with the RC16 making gains in aero, chassis balance and race pace ahead of Thailand.
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Red Bull KTM Factory Racing left Sepang International Circuit with something more valuable than headline lap times: clarity.
Across three hot and demanding days in Malaysia, KTM treated the first official 2026 MotoGP test as a full-scale development exercise, cycling through aerodynamic updates, chassis refinements and countless set-up combinations on the evolving RC16. The goal wasn’t to chase a single fast lap, but to understand exactly what the bike needs before the season begins.
Even so, the pace came naturally.
Pedro Acosta ended the test eighth fastest, just 0.8 seconds off the top time, despite spending most of his track time comparing parts and switching between configurations rather than attacking the clock. It was a quietly impressive showing that hinted at the RC16’s underlying speed.
There was steady progress across the garage as well. Enea Bastianini grew increasingly comfortable with the bike to finish inside the top ten, while Brad Binder and Maverick Viñales focused on consistency and feel, both reporting better confidence with the package by the final day.
Behind the scenes, the test carried extra weight as KTM worked to finalise key aerodynamic choices ahead of homologation. The laps at Sepang gave engineers the data they needed, and the general mood suggested the team has taken a small but meaningful step forward over the winter.
The job isn’t finished yet. KTM now heads to Kuala Lumpur for the season launch before wrapping up pre-season preparations at Buriram International Circuit, where attention will shift from experimentation to outright performance.
Sepang was about learning. Thailand will be about proving it.
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