Who was Fastest at the Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test?
Preparations for the 2025 MotoGP season got underway last weekend with the three-day Shakedown test at Sepang
If you’re a petrolhead who loves his two-wheel racing, you’ll be pleased to know that preparations for the 2025 MotoGP season are well underway following a three-day test at Sepang where Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo was fastest.
With racing fast approaching, test riders, rookies and established stars in the form of Yamaha’s 2021 world champion Quartararo and Alex Rins were all present across the three-day test, and it was Quartararo who took the top spot ahead of new Pramac rider Jack Miller on day three, thanks to a lap time of 1:57.794s.
Quartararo’s time was the only sub 1m 58s lap of the entire three-day test, as the Frenchman, together with Rins, put in a lot of work to test the M1’s new parts. That was the same for Miller who swapped KTM machinery for Yamaha in 2025, while new team-mate Miguel Oliveira was also present.
Aided on day one and half of day two by multiple MotoGP race winner, Andrea Dovizoso, Yamaha’s strong line-up of riders continued into day three when new test rider Augusto Fernandez jumped aboard the M1.
There were fresh faces also in action for Honda as its substantial test team of Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami were in action for the Japanese brand. Espargaro was the quickest Honda rider come the end of the test, while LCR rookie Somkiat Chantra was also in action, finishing day three in 13th (last place).
Despite its troubled financial situation, KTM was present in a large way as Dani Pedrosa and Pol Espargaro carried out testing duties for the Austrian manufacturer. Espargaro took fifth on the final day of running while Pedrosa was ninth fastest.
Aprilia’s test program was carried out by two riders as the experienced Lorenzo Savadori was joined by impressive rookie Ai Ogura, who claimed a very strong P4 finish on day three. The reigning Moto2 world champion was within half a second of Quartararo’s top time while also managing to get the better of fellow rookie Fermin Aldeguer.
That leads us to the world champions - Ducati. Whichever way you look at it, 19 Grand Prix wins out of 20 in 2024 suggests the Italian marque will take some stopping again in 2025, although at the Shakedown test, none of its big hitters were present as Aldeguer was joined by Ducati’s long-time test rider Michele Pirro.
Results for the final day of the test go as follows.
| 2025 Sepang MotoGP Shakedown Test Results | ||||
| Rider | Nat | Team | Time | |
| 1 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1:57.794 |
| 2 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1:58.103 |
| 3 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Honda Test Rider (RC213V) | 1:58.103 |
| 4 | Ai Ogura | JPN | Trackhouse Aprilia (RS-GP25)* | 1:58.208 |
| 5 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | KTM Test Rider (RC16) | 1:58.291 |
| 6 | Fermin Aldeguer | SPA | Gresini Ducati (GP24)* | 1:58.421 |
| 7 | Alex Rins | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1:58.489 |
| 8 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Pramac Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1:58.526 |
| 9 | Dani Pedrosa | SPA | KTM Test Rider (RC16) | 1:59.080 |
| 10 | Michele Pirro | ITA | Ducati Test Rider (GP25) | 1:59.508 |
| 11 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Test Rider (RS-GP25) | 1:59.843 |
| 12 | Test Rider | N/A | Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) | 2:00.115 |
| 13 | Somkiat Chantra | THA | LCR Honda (RC213V)* | 2:00.550 |
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
