MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

It is easy to get carried away by the times set during a MotoGP test, so it is worth putting them into perspective. And what better perspective than the times set during qualifying for the Thai GP at Buriram last year?

Setting out a list of who has improved and who hasn't is instructive, in part because it once again highlights that this is a test, and so very few riders have actually improve their times from last year. But also because it shows clearly that some riders haven't pushed hard for a quick time yet. 

A case in point: Pecco Bagnaia is 1.328 seconds slower on Wednesday than he was in qualifying last year. There are two causes for that. First of all, Bagnaia smashed the existing lap record during qualifying last year, and that is a time that is out of reach for everyone still. And perhaps more importantly, it shows that Bagnaia was too busy testing to waste time trying to chase a single fast lap. We have no idea of how fast he could have been today, and so can make no comparison.

There are still a few noteworthy things here. Luca Marini improving his time is a good sign of how much better the Honda is, as is the fact that Joan Mir is so close to his qualifying time last year. Jack Miller is not far off his best time on the KTM last year, despite having spent very little time on the bike. And Fabio Quartararo's time again indicates that the factory Yamaha rider was not chasing an outright fast lap.

Tomorrow we will have a better idea of where all the riders stand. The final day of the test is likely to be used to prepare the opening MotoGP round here in Buriram, and as such, almost everyone will chase a quick lap. Then will have a much better idea of who is really fast and those whose sandbagging has turned out to be a genuine lack of pace.  

2024 Q2 times compared to Day 1 of the 2025 Test: