Fabio Quartararo Tops Day 1 of Sepang MotoGP Test 

El Diablo had a strong start to the Official Sepang Test and finished Day 1 at the top of the timesheets. 

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Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo made a commanding start to the Official Sepang Test, securing the top spot on the timesheets at the end of Day 1. 

The Frenchman, who had already shown strong form during last weekend’s Sepang Shakedown Test, continued his impressive performance by becoming the first rider to enter the track and the fastest by the day’s conclusion. 

Teammate Álex Rins also made progress, finishing 14th as the team focused on evaluating new components and gathering crucial data.

Quartararo wasted no time in making his mark, dipping under the 1’58s mark within just 20 laps. Two laps later, he set a blistering time of 1’57.754s, which held as the benchmark for much of the day. Undeterred by the challenging conditions, including high temperatures and strong winds, Quartararo completed a total of 54 laps. His best time of 1:57.555s, set on lap 50, secured him the top position by a narrow margin of 0.051s.

Reflecting on his performance, Quartararo expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress. “I think it was good to have ridden here for two days already and then have two days of rest, it was quite useful for us,” he said. 

“We didn’t really focus on doing a time attack, so being slightly faster today than in qualifying in Sepang last year is positive. I was feeling quite good. We were trying many things and put a new tyre in at the end just to do a good lap time. I think we did a good job!”

Meanwhile, Álex Rins made the most of his time on track, completing 41 laps despite the challenging conditions. The Spaniard, who had already gained valuable experience during the Shakedown Test, focused on comparing components and testing new front tyres brought by Michelin. His best time of 1’58.652s, set on lap 26, placed him 14th in the standings, 1.097s behind his teammate.

Rins acknowledged the impact of the strong winds on the team’s plans but remained optimistic about the days ahead. “The strong wind today changed our plans a bit,” he explained. “In the Shakedown, we were able to test many things: some set-ups and new items. Today we were planning to try the new chassis again, which was modified a little bit, but because of this wind, we couldn’t. We need to be precise when trying important items, and that’s not easy in these conditions. So, instead, we tried the three new front tyres that Michelin brought here for us. I didn’t put in a qualifying tyre to do a good lap time because this was not the right moment. Over the next two days, we will test the chassis, and let’s see what data we get from that.”

The Sepang Test marks a critical phase in preparations for the 2025 MotoGP season, with teams and riders working tirelessly to fine-tune their machines and strategies. Quartararo’s strong start bodes well for Yamaha, while Rins’ methodical approach ensures the team continues to gather valuable insights. As testing continues over the next two days, all eyes will remain on the Malaysian circuit to see how the competition unfolds ahead of the season opener.