Acosta quickest as Catalunya MotoGP Test marks end of 1000 cc development era
Pedro Acosta topped a rain-shortened Catalunya MotoGP Test, while Jorge Martin escaped fractures after another heavy fall as MotoGP’s development focus shifts next towards the coming 850 cc/Pirelli era.
Acosta tops Catalunya MotoGP Test as 1000 cc development window closes
Pedro Acosta topped the rain-shortened Catalunya MotoGP Test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, heading Fabio Quartararo and Enea Bastianini on what amounted to the final official test outing for the current 1000 cc/Michelin-era MotoGP machinery.
The Monday test followed a bruising Catalan Grand Prix weekend and was scheduled to run across morning and afternoon sessions, but a heavy downpour just after the lunch break effectively brought proceedings to an early end. All meaningful running was completed in the opening three-hour window, with nobody returning to the circuit once the rain arrived.
Rins managed 32 laps in the shortened test, but rain arrived before he could deliver a conclusive verdict on Yamaha’s latest fairing evolution.
That gave teams only a narrow window to work through their final 1000 cc development lists before attention turns fully towards the coming 850 cc and Pirelli tyre era. For some factories, that meant confirming parts already trialled in recent tests, while others used the limited dry time to refine aero, chassis and electronics packages that could still have a bearing on the remaining 2026 Grands Prix.
The day also brought another painful setback for Jorge Martin. The Aprilia rider crashed at Turn 7 during the morning, was taken first to the medical centre and then to hospital for checks. No fractures were found, but Martin was left in significant pain after what had already been a crash-heavy Catalunya stay, with six falls across the four days.
Acosta goes fastest late in the morning
Acosta stopped the clocks at 1m38.767s on lap 27 of 28, stealing top spot from Quartararo late in the morning. The Yamaha rider had led for much of the session after posting a 1m38.831s on lap 12, but Acosta’s final proper push put the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider 0.064s clear.
Bastianini completed the top three for Red Bull KTM Tech3, only 0.117s behind Acosta, while Maverick Viñales made it three KTMs inside the top four after continuing his return from shoulder injury with another useful 40 laps.
Maverick Viñales was fourth quickest for Red Bull KTM Tech3 and reported no major shoulder problems during another useful day back on the RC16.
The official timing also underlined how compressed the morning had been. The top three were covered by 0.117s, the top six by less than three-tenths, and the top 13 by less than a second. Acosta also set the fastest peak speed of the day at 355.2 km/h, while Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati recorded the best top-five speed average at 353.1 km/h.
“A short day and not too many things to try,” Acosta said. “We worked on some engine mappings and other set-up. Everything was working quite well. We have to keep working in the way we are doing because I’ve been competitive in the last races.”
Pedro Acosta’s late morning push put him 0.064s clear of Fabio Quartararo before rain ended any chance of further running after lunch.
KTM’s broader day was encouraging. Bastianini used the morning to work on corner entry and engine braking after identifying that area as a weakness compared with Acosta during the race weekend.
Bastianini worked on corner entry and engine braking in Barcelona, areas he had identified after comparing his weekend performance with Acosta.
Viñales tried the newer KTM aero package and suspension settings, reporting a better front-end feeling and no major shoulder problems across the day.
“I wanted to try my shoulder and it was good,” Viñales said. “I’m happy I didn’t have any strange feeling and I didn’t lose power during the day, which is a very positive sign.”
Viñales tried KTM’s newer aero package and suspension settings, reporting improved front-end feel as he continued his return to full strength.
Brad Binder was 12th after 28 laps, using used tyres from the weekend and trying a shorter damping direction that he felt suited the slippery Barcelona surface. KTM Team Manager Aki Ajo said there were no major new parts on the programme, but the riders added to their understanding of the second aero homologation and suspension direction.
Brad Binder was 12th for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing after a shorter programme focused on balance, used tyres and damping direction.
Quartararo gives Yamaha an encouraging P2
Quartararo’s second place was the headline for Yamaha, with the Frenchman just 0.064s off Acosta despite the abbreviated programme. He tested a front wing similar to the one raced on Sunday, along with set-up and electronics refinements, but noted that the much higher grip level on Monday made direct comparisons difficult.
Fabio Quartararo was second quickest in the Catalunya test, only 0.064s behind Pedro Acosta after evaluating front aero, set-up and electronics items for Yamaha.
“We tested the front wing, one similar to the one I used yesterday in the race, which gives a bit more front feeling, as well as some settings and electronics,” Quartararo said. “The test ended early. There are always more things you would like to test, but today we got done what we needed to do.”
Quartararo gave Yamaha one of the main positives of the shortened test, with the Frenchman again showing strong one-lap speed on the M1.
Monster Energy Yamaha team-mate Alex Rins was 13th after 32 laps. He tested a chassis item and briefly tried the latest evolution of the fairing package, but the rain arrived before he could gather enough mileage to deliver a firm verdict.
Alex Rins was 13th for Monster Energy Yamaha after working through chassis and fairing items before rain interrupted the programme.
For Prima Pramac Yamaha, Jack Miller was 16th after 32 laps, concentrating on aerodynamic evaluation. The Australian worked through Yamaha’s standard fairing, the latest update, different front aero combinations and side-pod configurations. Miller reported gains in handling, particularly in cornering behaviour, although the afternoon rain prevented a full validation of Yamaha’s planned test list.
Miller worked through Yamaha’s standard fairing, latest update, front aero options and side-pod configurations as the M1 project continued to chase cornering gains.
“It was a busy but productive morning for us,” Miller said. “We focused mainly on aerodynamic testing and tried many different combinations throughout the session. I think we found some small but important gains.”
Jack Miller spent the morning evaluating Yamaha aero combinations, while Marco Bezzecchi completed 40 laps for Aprilia on a day cut short by rain.
Toprak Razgatlioglu completed the most laps of anyone, logging 45 laps on his way to 19th. His focus was chassis set-up and adapting his riding style to the YZR-M1. Although his outright position was modest, Razgatlioglu felt the day was positive, particularly on the medium tyre and in terms of consistency while riding alone rather than following faster riders.
Toprak Razgatlioglu completed more laps than anyone else in the test, banking 45 laps as he continued adapting his riding style to the Yamaha M1.
Pramac Team Director Gino Borsoi said Yamaha’s direction was becoming clearer, with recent weekends and the Barcelona test suggesting the M1 is improving in the corners, even if Mugello’s top-speed demands are likely to expose the remaining engine-performance deficit.
Razgatlioglu focused on chassis set-up and medium-tyre consistency, saying the test left him feeling more comfortable than he had during the race weekend.
Trackhouse leads Aprilia while Martin suffers another heavy fall
Trackhouse ended the day as the leading Aprilia squad, with Raul Fernandez fifth and Ai Ogura sixth. Fernandez recorded a 1m39.007s after 36 laps, despite still feeling the effects of being hit by debris during the huge Alex Marquez crash in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Fernandez completed 36 laps and gave Trackhouse a strong result before the rain brought the Barcelona test to an early halt.
Fernandez and his crew worked through set-up and Aprilia development items, including aerodynamic modifications and tyre-related details, before deciding there was no point risking further mileage once the track was wet.
“Nearly my whole body is in pain today because when Alex crashed yesterday I got hit by some parts at very high speed,” Fernandez said. “I took some medication and we did a good morning of testing.”
Raul Fernandez led Aprilia’s charge in fifth, despite still feeling the effects of being hit by debris in Sunday’s Grand Prix incident.
Ogura was only 0.054s behind his team-mate, posting a 1m39.061s after 38 laps. The Japanese rider evaluated a new frame and came away encouraged, particularly in corner-entry areas.
“During this morning, we tried a new frame and I think it was really positive,” Ogura said. “I felt better in all the entry areas with that new frame, so hopefully it’s going to work well for the next races.”
Ai Ogura finished sixth for Trackhouse after testing a new frame that gave him a better feeling in corner-entry areas.
For the factory Aprilia team, championship leader Marco Bezzecchi was 11th after 40 laps, while Martin’s day ended after only 15 laps. Martin’s best of 1m39.992s put him 17th before his Turn 7 crash. The hospital checks finding no fractures were the main positive, but the fall continued a punishing run through Catalunya for the 2024 World Champion.
Aldeguer heads depleted Ducati contingent
Ducati’s test presence was limited, with several riders either already sidelined or sitting out after Sunday’s drama. Marc Marquez had been out injured before the weekend, Alex Marquez continued his recovery after Sunday’s crash, and Fabio Di Giannantonio did not ride for VR46 as he focused on recovery ahead of Mugello.
Aldeguer ended the morning just over three-tenths from Acosta’s benchmark as Ducati’s test presence was limited by injuries and post-race recovery.
Fermin Aldeguer was the fastest Ducati rider, seventh on the BK8 Gresini Ducati after 35 laps. Franco Morbidelli was next in eighth for VR46, only 0.045s behind Aldeguer after completing 41 laps.
“This test was very useful, I am happy,” Morbidelli said. “It was good to go through some stuff that we couldn’t try during the weekend. I liked some solutions, so it was a good day, it’s a pity we had to stop halfway through the day.”
Francesco Bagnaia was 10th for Ducati Lenovo after 23 laps. He continued work on the new swingarm seen over the weekend and, while only 10th on the outright sheet, his ideal lap was almost identical to his best actual lap.
Moreira top Honda
HRC works through fairing and set-up items
Moreira focused on aero configurations and set-up options, gathering more valuable mileage on the RC213V.
Diogo Moreira was the leading Honda rider in ninth, the Pro Honda LCR rookie posting a 1m39.254s. The Brazilian focused on aerodynamic configurations and set-up options as he continues to build mileage and understanding on the MotoGP bike.
“Monday tests are always useful, although we’re also quite tired after a race weekend,” Moreira said. “Every lap is important because we’re still learning a lot, and so far everything has gone well.”
Diogo Moreira was the leading Honda rider in ninth, continuing his MotoGP learning curve with 41 laps for Pro Honda LCR.
For Honda HRC Castrol, Luca Marini was 14th and Joan Mir 15th, split by only 0.014s. Marini completed 41 laps while concentrating on general set-up and a new fairing specification for the RC213V. Mir circulated 32 times and worked through different configurations intended to refine the character of the bike for later in the season.
“We tested a lot of things today, very productive even in a shorter amount of time,” Marini said. “I like the direction that the development is going, good ideas for the future.”
Marini said Honda’s development direction was producing “good ideas for the future” after a condensed but useful morning in Catalunya.
Mir said the day produced the usual test mixture of positives and negatives, but felt Honda achieved the essential items before the rain arrived. Johann Zarco was absent after his scary Turn 1 fall in Sunday’s race.
oan Mir completed 32 laps for Honda and said the team managed to test the essential items before the weather closed in.
End of one chapter, Mugello next
With the Barcelona test cut in half, few factories were able to complete their full work list, but the morning still provided useful confirmation runs before MotoGP moves towards the next round at Mugello on May 29-31.
For the current bikes, the test felt less like a revolution than a tidy-up exercise. KTM left with the strongest headline after putting three RC16s inside the top four. Yamaha gained further evidence that the M1 is improving through the corners, even if engine performance remains a concern for Mugello. Aprilia’s Trackhouse riders both found positives, while Martin left battered but without broken bones. Ducati and Honda both worked through narrower, more targeted programmes.
Enea Bastianini rolled out of the Tech3 box and into a productive morning, later finishing third fastest behind Acosta and Quartararo.
From here, the bigger engineering effort now turns increasingly towards the next rules cycle. The 1000 cc MotoGP machines still have plenty of racing left in them this season, but Catalunya marked the final official test for this generation before the sport’s technical focus moves to the 850 cc and Pirelli era.
