MotoGP, it’s already 2026: from Moreira and Razgatlioglu to Yamaha’s V4, all eyes on the Valencia test

From the ones to watch Diogo Moreira and Toprak Razgatlioglu, both debuting in MotoGP with LCR Honda and Pramac Racing respectively, to Yamaha’s new V4 era. Let’s not forget Nicolò Bulega on track with Ducati after two GPs as a substitute. There’s no shortage of talking points in the single day of testing in Valencia, which both closes 2025 and “opens” the 2026 season, since we’ll get a small taste of the next championship. Today is split into two sessions, live (subscription) on motogp.com and Sky Sport: it starts at 10:00 and pauses at 13:00, restarts at 13:20 and wraps at 17:00.

Toprak Razgatlioglu has already had a first touch with the M1 in a private test session at Aragon, but it will be interesting to see the first lap times. #7 is the number chosen by the Turkish champion, while Diogo Moreira, in his very first outing with the RC-V, has opted for #11 (since #10 is already taken by fellow Honda rider Luca Marini). It will be interesting to see the situation at Honda after moving from D to C concessions, as many things will change. Aleix Espargaro already carried out various tests with a view to 2026 during his wildcard at Valencia, and we’ll learn more in this test. The other Japanese brand, Yamaha, officially kicks off its revolution, saying goodbye to the historic inline-four to embrace the V4: after all the wildcards and tests with Augusto Fernandez, alongside Andrea Dovizioso, what will the “debut” look like with the factory riders? Keep an eye on Aprilia too, buoyed by results especially from Marco Bezzecchi, as well as the major progress shown by Raul Fernandez.

Now the focus turns to helping Jorge Martin, coming off a terrible year of recurring injuries, and Ai Ogura, who has just wrapped up a season of ups and downs, with some injuries that certainly didn’t help. Ducati will count on the presence of Nicolò Bulega: the two GPs he raced were necessary to get acquainted with the Desmosedici, given his role as MotoGP test rider from 2026. There will also be aerodynamics and electronics tests, but not too much on the agenda for this outing. Attention is already turning to Bagnaia with a view to 2026—there’s a need to quickly rediscover the two-time MotoGP champion—but there’s also Alex Marquez promoted to the factory Ducati after this year’s runner-up finish. KTM is looking for further answers to support Pedro Acosta first and foremost, who described it as a “lost year” at the end of the Valencia GP. Maverick Vinales’ condition needs to be assessed too, without forgetting Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini. The Circuit Ricardo Tormo could give everyone the first answers—a taste of 2026—before next year’s full-fledged tests.