Sepang Test 2

Joan Mir delivered a stunning statement of intent for Honda on Wednesday, topping the timesheets with a blistering 1:56.874. Mir’s lap, set during the peak conditions of the morning session, marks the first time a Honda has led an official test day since 2022. It wasn't just a one-lap wonder; the Spaniard showed consistent pace throughout his 32 laps, signaling that HRC’s winter development has significantly improved the RC213V's turning and rear grip. While Honda celebrated, a crisis unfolded at Yamaha. The Iwata factory made the drastic decision to keep all their riders in the garage for the entirety of Day 2. Following the mechanical failure that contributed to Quartararo’s crash on Tuesday, engineers placed the V4 project "on hold" to investigate a potential safety issue related to the engine's oil system. This left Alex Rins and the Pramac duo of Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu as spectators for the most critical day of the test. Behind Mir, the Ducati presence remained formidable. Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio secured a 2-3 for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team, with both riders also dipping into the 1:56s. Pedro Acosta continued his stellar adaptation to the premier class, finishing 4th as the top KTM, while Maverick Viñales rounded out the top five. Day 1 leader Marc Márquez took a different approach, focusing purely on aerodynamic comparisons and long-run consistency; he ended the day 15th, nearly 1.5 seconds off Mir’s pace. A late-afternoon tropical downpour eventually curtailed the action, forcing riders like Maverick Viñales and rookie Diogo Moreira to test their wet-weather settings in the final hour.