Manufacturing facility Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi not solely recorded the quickest lap time within the Buriram MotoGP check, he was additionally the quickest within the practically full Grand Prix simulation check.
But it surely was Trackhouse Aprilia’s Ai Ogura who led a big record of riders who opted just for shorter dash simulations forward of this weekend’s Thailand opener.
The Japanese rider, who gained 4th place (dash) and fifth place (grand prix) in his MotoGP debut on the identical circuit a 12 months in the past and attracted consideration as the highest non-Ducati rider, recorded a median tempo of 1 minute 30.101 seconds over 12 laps.
This was under Marc Marquez’s dash successful common finally 12 months’s Grand Prix and a fraction quicker than Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia’s subsequent greatest check simulation on the primary day of Buri Ram.
Main Race Simulation: 2026 Buriram MotoGP Check.
©Peter McLaren
Alex Marquez was subsequent quickest with a median of 1 minute 30.444 seconds, however crashed on the eleventh lap.
The Gresini rider, who completed second to his brother in each races a 12 months in the past, later joked that he ought to have accomplished 20 laps, nevertheless it appears extra doubtless that he’ll cowl half the space.
Marc Márquez, who had beforehand set the tempo barely under Ogura, crashed on the seventh lap of his future. However the identical query stays, what number of laps was he scheduled to do?
In any case, Ogura had its ft firmly planted on the bottom.
“For those who requested me the identical query yesterday (about expectations for the opening race), I’d have mentioned high 10. However at this time I’d say high seven or six,” he mentioned on the finish of the check.
“The most important enchancment from final 12 months is the entry section main as much as the apex. I can now really feel the entrance tire extra,” he added.
“By way of race tempo (simulation), there have been three or 4 guys who had been actually, actually quick. And there have been different guys doing related issues, and I used to be one among them.”
“So, let’s examine. However three or 4 guys are actually quick,” he reiterated.
“Actually, this monitor helps, as a result of I like this monitor. However now we have improved in lots of areas, primarily within the entry section. In fact we’ll attempt to enhance much more throughout the race weekend.”
The check led to a one-two for Aprilia, however Ogura was unable to say that “RS-GP was a match for Ducati.”
“Marc is tremendous quick, Pecco is tremendous quick, Franco, Dighia… all of the Ducati guys are tremendous quick, however perhaps it is due to the rider! So I do not know,” he added.
Bezzecchi’s teammate, Jorge Martin, was eighth total, whereas Ogura’s teammate, Raul Fernandez, was eleventh.
