Raul Fernandez set the pace in one-day MotoGP test in Valencia in 2026 prep, as ART signs Tasanapol Inthraphusak for 2026 F2 season.
Fastest out of the blocks in 2026? Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Aprilia. The Valencian GP podium finisher ended the Valencia Test with a 1:29.373, with Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) making it a Noale 1-2 to send the factory into the winter at the summit. P3 went the way of Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), with the top three split by less than a tenth during a busy few hours of crucial work at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
APRILIA –
Brand-new front aerodynamic changes across the board were the most obvious parts to spot when Bezzecchi ventured out on a black and white painted RS-GP. Front, side and rear upgrades were tested by the Italian, and it was quite a lot different to what we saw Aprilia racing with in 2025. On the other side of the box, 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin got to head out on an RS-GP that was fitted with the chassis that Bezzecchi was racing with in the last few Grands Prix of the campaign. And it’s safe to say that it birthed an immediate positive feeling. After an injury-hit year, gaining much-needed experience was a priority ahead of the winter for the #89, but work for 2026 was also key as Martin also lapped with the new aerodynamic package. It was P2 and P16 for the Aprilia Racing stars, with the vibes high heading into the winter break at Noale.
TRACKHOUSE –
Speaking of good vibes, table-topping Fernandez was pleased with his day at the office. While there was nothing new to try in terms of parts from Aprilia, those will come at the Sepang Test, both Fernandez and Ai Ogura leave Valencia with a good feeling on board their RS-GPs. Ogura was able to test some different settings and try something with his riding style, with Fernandez also able to run through some electronic work that riders and teams aren’t able to do during a Grand Prix. P1 and P11 for Trackhouse, with Ogura completing the most laps of anyone (64), spelt a promising day for the American outfit.
DUCATI LENOVO –
Ducati’s day was solid as they began work towards 2026; in the factory squad, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed 32 laps and remained in the top six for the majority of the day. At the chequered flag, he was tenth and despite a crash at Turn 2 with just 45 minutes to go, Pecco was positive about the feeling he had on the first version of the GP26. Front-end feel on corner entry was much better, so the double MotoGP World Champion heads into the winter with a bigger smile on his face than before.
With just over an hour to go, his temporary teammate for the final two rounds of 2025 and the Valencia Test, Nicolo Bulega, briefly went P4 and top Ducati with his fastest laps of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit. In the end, he finished the day in an impressive P8, not a bad way to conclude his stint in the team. The Italian was also feeling a lot more comfortable on the MotoGP bike ahead of testing duties continuing in 2026.
BK8 GRESINI RACING –
The fastest Ducati honours went the way of Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who was also vital in the development of 2026’s bike. He was P3 whilst teammate Fermin Aldeguer was fourth as the #54 got to put the GP25 through its paces for the first time. Notching up 93 laps between them and both securing a spot in the top four, it was a strong way to end 2025.
PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 –
In the manufacturer’s other Independent team, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) secured seventh but had a small technical problem just before 3pm. With teammate Franco Morbidelli out injured, it was a dream come true for Celestino Vietti who got a late call-up to replace him. Setting 21 laps, the Italian stated that quite simply, it was “the best day of my life” as he watched on in the afternoon following his early festive season present.
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING –
Throughout the day, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the fastest KTM rider on track and for plenty of it, the #37 was sporting a new side fairing. It was one of the main objectives from the day for the KTM quartet on track, with Acosta’s teammate Brad Binder also getting to try the RC16’s new side fairing set-up too. Overall, Acosta finished P5 on the timesheets having completed 53 laps, with Binder ending the day in P9 after posting 52 laps.
RED BULL KTM TECH3 –
Team Manager Nicolas Guyon confirmed that both Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales were trying a new seat configuration to help with the ergonomic set-up of the bike, something Bastianini in particular has struggled with in 2025. Viñales cut a positive figure at the end of the day, with aerodynamic work a big part of what the Spaniard did on Tuesday. Viñales finished the day in P6 and with a better feeling as he returns to full fitness, while Bastianini begins 2026 with a P17 on the timesheets.
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA –
Still yet to turn the new engine up to 100% power, it was clear they were missing top-end speed down the start-finish straight. They will also remain in Valencia for a further day of testing tomorrow, with factory boss Maio Meregalli confirming chassis and aero parts set to be tested. Quartararo’s 1:29.927 was good enough for 15th on the timesheets as the Yamaha engineers now head back to the factory with a huge amount of data that they’re hopeful they can use to fine-tune the M1 into a competitive package in 2026. The Frenchman confirmed they’re still searching for a base setting on the new V4-powered YZR-M1 and have another important private test on Wednesday in Valencia, with Alex Rins confirming that the day was a positive one on board the V4.
PRIMA PRAMAC YAMAHA –
Yamaha grabbed headlines for two separate reasons today as three-time WorldSBK King Toprak Razgatlioglu made his public debut and the next step in their V4 project was taken, as mentioned. The Turk impressed at a circuit he’d never raced at before, managing to close out his first day as a MotoGP rider three-quarters of a second behind the Iwata factory’s benchmark, Quartararo, and even ahead of both Rins and Jack Miller.
Result: https://x.com/MotoGP/status/1990824557070934183?s=20
Tasanapol Inthraphusak –
ART Grand Prix is pleased to announce that Thai driver Tasanapol Inthraphusak will step up to the FIA Formula 2 Championship with the team for the 2026 season. Aged 20, Tasanapol will make his debut in Formula 2 after a strong 2025 campaign in FIA Formula 3, where he finished 7th in the championship standings, claiming three victories and consistently fighting at the front of the field.
After a season marked by progress and consistency, Tasanapol now steps up to FIA Formula 2 for his rookie year. His results in FIA Formula 3, combined with strong race performances, earned him this opportunity to take on the next level of competition in 2026.
Sébastien Philippe – Team Principal: “Tasanapol delivered a solid season in FIA F3, with three wins and some strong performances. He now has the opportunity to take on the next step in Formula 2, and we look forward to seeing how he adapts to this new challenge.”
Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak: “I’m very proud to finally announce that i will be joining ART Grand Prix for my rookie season in Formula 2. The team has proven over the years with its great successes, so I’m confident it’s the right environment for me to take this next step. Im excited to start this new chapter and to work with everyone in the team ahead of the season.”
2026 F2 line-up so far –
AIX Racing – Emerson Fittipaldi Jr, Cian Shields
Invicta Racing – Rafael Camara, Joshua Duerksen
Campos Racing – Noel Leon, Nikola Tsolov
ART Grand Prix – Tasanapol Inthraphusak
Rodin – Martinius Stenshorne
Van Amersfoort Racing – Nicolas Varrone
Other news –
Jamie Chadwick named Gensis Magma reserve for 2026 WEC season: https://x.com/JamieChadwick/status/1990694837260103909?s=20
[The story is as per press release]