MotoGP™ landed in style in Thailand with an unforgettable season launch in capital city Bangkok on Sunday, as we saw the best two-wheels riders of the world introduce the new 2025 MotoGP™ season to Thai fans, ahead of the much-awaited opening round at the end of the month, the Grand Prix of Thailand. Smart suits were quickly swapped for leathers as Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini began their two-day testing program on Wednesday in Buriram, at the Chang International Circuit.
Thailand MotoGP™ Test
Two key days of testing in Buriram therefore awaited Maverick Viñales, who looked eager to continue the work started in the Malaysia Test last week. After three full days on the RC16, 'Top Gun' had already a better understanding of the KTM machinery, but there was still a long way to go for the #12 to learn his new rocket. The goal of the day was to obviously continue the adaptation, work on the bike set up, and in the continuity of Sepang, try different chassis configurations. Viñales was out on track early as the green light was shown at 10:00 local time. By lunch time, he had already completed 38 laps with a best in 1’31.113. As the action resumed later on for the second half of the day, the Spaniard rode another 34 laps, during which he eventually made some progress to improve his fastest lap of the day to a 1’30.827, placing him in 18th of the timesheets. He will have one final day to get as much ready as he can for the opening round.
The targets were pretty much the same for Italian Enea Bastianini at the Buriram test, still in the need to get the laps in to understand his new machinery. Sepang was not the easiest of all for the number 23, arguably coming from the best package of the class, but Enea has been up for the challenge. The Italian got on with his plan for Buriram with two days to learn more, improve, and be as ready as possible for the opening round in a bit more than two weeks. A 1’31.247 was his fastest at lunch time after 36 laps after most of the riders stopped for lunch. As he looked to continue trying different things in the afternoon with another 35 laps, Bestia completed the first day of the Buriram Test with a best lap in 1’30.461, placing him 16th in the timesheets at end of play. The boys will be back on track tomorrow at 10:00 local time for the ultimate testing day of the preseason, and it’s going to be a busy one in the office!
ENEA BASTIANINI: "At the start of the day, we weren't going in the right direction so I was not feeling very well during the whole morning, but we did a complete reset to try, and rethink which directions to take to be more competitive, which we did. At the moment, I don't feel very comfortable on the bike, I need to adapt my riding style to the machine, change a few things. I spent four years with the same brand, and I logically have habits. The reset is going to take a bit of time, but the KTM bike has good potential, and I want to give my 100% to reach the maximum we can."
MAVERICK VIÑALES: "We continued to do many laps to keep learning the bike, it is never easy to adapt to a new bike, but we are working hard. The KTM is behaving very differently to what I was used to in the past, so the cure is laps and time. I think that we improved from Sepang, and I am sure that tomorrow will be better, we are progressing day after day. It might take us two or three races to be competitive, but I am confident that we will be there soon, as we continue working and learning."
DAY 1 COMBINED SESSION RESULTS
1. Marc Marquez (SPA), Ducati Lenovo Team, 1'29.184
2. Alex Marquez (SPA), Gresini Racing MotoGP, + 0.465
3. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), VR46 Racing Team, + 0.499
16. Enea Bastianini (ITA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 1.277
18. Maverick Viñales (SPA), Red Bull KTM Tech3, + 1.643
TRACK RECORDS
All Time Record: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'28.700, 184.8 km/h
Best Race Lap: 2023 - M. Bezzecchi (ITA) - 1'30.896, 180.3 km/h
Best Pole: 2024 - F. Bagnaia (ITA) - 1'28.700, 184.8 km/h
Top Speed: 2024 - P. Acosta (SPA) - 340.6 km/h
