Red Bull KTM up to speed after first critical MotoGP test days in Malaysia

 In News

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.

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.”