Overview
- Reigning champion Marc Marquez set a 1:57.018 on the Ducati to top the opening day at Sepang in his first official outing since shoulder surgery.
- Rookie Diogo Moreira featured near the top of the early times for LCR Honda after a strong shakedown, before a later crash halted his progress.
- Fabio Quartararo said no contract for 2027 is signed and confirmed talks with Honda and other teams, with broader links for Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta still unconfirmed.
- LCR revealed split 2026 colours with Johann Zarco continuing in Castrol livery and Moreira racing in Pro Honda branding after Idemitsu’s exit.
- Honda presented an unchanged factory RC213V livery and retained Joan Mir and Luca Marini for 2026, while Aprilia secured Marco Bezzecchi on a new multi-year contract.