The Ducati GP26 impresses at the MotoGP test in Sepang – Jorge Lorenzo recognizes clear progress – The new ride height system in particular is causing a stir
As Maverick Vinales’ new coach, Jorge Lorenzo was present at the preseason test in Sepang. The three-time MotoGP world champion also observed the action from the sidelines and, with his experienced eye, gained an accurate picture of the situation.
Lorenzo came away with the impression that Ducati will continue to set the standard in 2026. Ducati has clearly made further progress with its new motorcycle. The new, significantly more complex ride height system plays a particularly important role in this. “When you watch it on the track, you can see in the corners that the Ducati is extremely stable, especially when accelerating out of corners,” Lorenzo described his impressions to MotoGP.com. “They are so extremely smooth.”
“This applies both to the maximum lean angle at around 20 percent throttle and to the phase in which the bike is straightened up again – the Ducati maintains this calm for a very long time. The other bikes, on the other hand, seem a bit more nervous.”
“As far as I could tell, they have improved the ride height system. When exiting corners, you can see that the bike is extremely low, really very low. Of course, this helps with acceleration so that the front wheel doesn’t lift.“
”We also saw very large wings at the front, almost like on a Formula 1 car, and this additional downforce obviously helps enormously to keep the bike stable during acceleration.” On the last day of testing, however, Ducati fitted the smaller winglets again.
The sprint simulations by Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia were particularly impressive. Marc Marquez was close behind. If it had been a real race, these three Ducati riders would theoretically have been at the front.
That’s why Lorenzo concludes: “Well, unfortunately, it looks like Ducati has taken a significant step forward, a really big one. But it’s just one track. Maybe we, KTM, will be closer on another track, or maybe Aprilia will be.”
“It varies greatly from track to track, but clearly, Ducati’s start is pretty impressive.” The Spaniard also believes that the progress is related to the fact that Ducati did not make a decisive step forward last year.
Despite Marc Marquez’s dominant victories, his race times were often slower than those of Bagnaia and Jorge Martin in 2024. Behind the scenes, work was done to remedy the weaknesses of the GP25. “Ducati hardly improved at all last year, they just kept working on it. And from what I’ve seen on this track, they’ve clearly taken a step forward this year,” Lorenzo says of Sepang.
And on Ducati’s pursuers, he says: “Aprilia isn’t bad either, and Honda has also made a very good step forward. We have also improved,” says Lorenzo about KTM, “but not as much as we would like.”
