Zebra-camouflaged Aprilia, Yamaha V4, high-profile debuts: the Valencia test already fires up MotoGP 2026

Moreira and Razgatlioglu make their debut, plenty of technical updates: a first taste of MotoGP 2026 in the Valencia test—here’s how it went.

A busy afternoon with rookies at their first official outing, all kinds of updates… and saves! Aprilia lead the way as in last weekend’s final GP, but this time it’s Raul Fernandez just ahead of Marco Bezzecchi by a whisker. A first look at MotoGP 2026, but only after a long wait for track conditions. Finally around 1:00-1:30 pm the circuit got busier and busier: the two high-profile rookies Razgatlioglu and Moreira could hardly wait, and Bezzecchi headed out right away too; gradually Bagnaia, Bulega, Miller and the rest followed. Below are some of the novelties and the times.

In the Aprilia camp: electronics trials, solutions to improve the engine, set-up refinement, and for Martin there’s also the chassis used by Bezzecchi in several GPs. Aerodynamic updates are not lacking: the two factory team riders ran a “zebra-striped” RS-GP, and the cover photo also shows a detail, the winglets on the rear of Fernandez’s bike. Those aren’t the only ones—there are also the ones below, this time highlighted on Ogura’s Aprilia.

For the record at Ducati, Di Giannantonio had a small technical problem on his afternoon out-lap, while Bagnaia tested electronics and a new fairing (and recorded the only crash of the day). A tidbit revealed by Tardozzi—who was satisfied nonetheless—is that his best time was set with a hard front and medium rear; in the soft-tyre time attack he made a mistake. In the last half hour there was also a super save by Aldeguer. Looking at KTM, for example, a new tail unit appeared, but the focus is on solving the two main current issues: traction and tyre wear. Acosta also had a close call, logging a fine save. In the box there’s no shortage of Dani Pedrosa, present throughout the GP and clearly staying on for the test.

At Yamaha all eyes were on the V4. Quartararo and Rins did their first run with the inline-four before switching to the new engine spec. Not without some aerodynamic updates, as seen in this image. And with a great save by Fabio Quartararo in the final half hour of this afternoon session—the rider set his best time of the day on the V4.

Let’s not forget Honda, which has just moved up to class C in terms of concessions. There won’t be many advantages—in fact there are more drawbacks—but HRC wants to climb back up in MotoGP, and setting aside some aids is certainly a first step. We’ll see how they manage 2026; it will be the first proving ground (here are all the changes). In the meantime, some details of the RC-V from the Valencia test.