After an intensive shakedown, Yamaha took to the Sepang circuit with its two official riders, Alex Rins and Fabio Quartararo, who are already familiar with the Iwata factory M1, and the two Pramac riders, who were completely new to it. Yamaha's new satellite team is progressing rapidly, however, and according to Miguel Oliveira, the 2021 world champion has had a lot to do with it.
Of the eleven teams that make up the 2025 MotoGP grid, Pramac is certainly the one facing the biggest challenge. Equipped with new bikes, the Yamaha M1s, and two new riders, Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira, the Italian team has thrown itself into the unknown for five days of intensive action at Sepang.
Step by step, the understanding of the machine by both engineers and riders has evolved. A few appearances in the top 10 in the general classification have also confirmed the progress of the Pramac riders.
“This first test of the season was great, confides the Portuguese. We leave Sepang with a lot of information, more experience and good feelings. I am a little disappointed to have missed today the lap time that I hoped to achieve at the end of the test. However, it is good to know that in a few days we will go to Thailand, so that the work we have done can be consolidated on another circuit.
Miguel Oliveira at the Sepang Test © Pramac Racing
In front of the Pramac riders, Fabio Quartararo was in perfect harmony with the 2025 version of his machine, and finished each day of testing in the top three in Malaysia. The Frenchman did not keep all his secrets to himself, however. In order to advance Yamaha's project, each rider's information is shared with the other three. The performances of the number 3 therefore help all of his teammates.
"We hope that this basic configuration can be productive on another circuit as well, He continues. It’s great to have the opportunity to fully share data between the four of us. Fabio makes a difference, and it helps everyone understand what we need as we prepare for the season.”
Everyone will leave Sepang with a smile on their face, before heading to Thailand, where two more days of testing await them. A constraint for Yamaha: its riders will have no prior experience on the Buriram circuit, with the 2025 machine, which was not the case with last week's Shakedown.
The test days, in which not everyone is allowed to participate, allowed the Blues to get ahead on the settings of their bikes.
MotoGP – Sepang Test – Day 3 Classification:
Ranking : MotoGP.com
