Simon Patterson

Joan Mir currently topping the time sheets, over half a second faster than his qualifying time from last October.

The new RC213V has some legs!

Much better!

Lots of early activity, but no Yamahas even looking like they’re thinking of heading out yet.

There’s been a nice breeze the past few days that kept the temperature not totally awful, but it’s settled today and pit lane is an oven already. If it stays like this, expect nothing in track in the early afternoon

Green flag, pit lane open, and Diggia the first on track for day two

YouTube video by The Race MotoGP Quartararo-Honda, Acosta-Ducati, Martin-Yamaha? MotoGP rider market madness

A much-anticipated podcast is live! www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CSB...

Track conditions vary hugely depending on time of the day, and he was one of only two guys to set times at the perfect moment

Marc insistent that his lap time today means nothing. Says he isn’t feeling great on the bike, still quite weak, and time only came because of when he set it.

Everyone complaining today about the tyre allocation, how few softs they have, and how bad the medium is. Everyone except Maverick, who says that Jorge Lorenzo has had him riding in such shit conditions all winter that the medium feels amazing 😆

A happy Pecco is a good sign for the year

‘Fastest crash of my life’ for the rookie at T5. Rider OK!

Test over for Fabio Quartararo. Broken finger after today’s crash, and heading home. Says they’re confident enough after the shakedown and three days completed.

Crash today for Jack at T9 while working on electronics, when the engine braking did something weird at the slowest point of the corner! Picked it up and rode it home though

Uhoh. They’re letting me back in!

Day one of 2026 completed

Not riding, but still doing a bit of media

Simon Patterson Lives in a van and chases motorbikes around the world for fun and beer money. Freelance MotoGP journalist. Opinionated.

Something new for 2026 (especially for Ukrainian friends 🇺🇦)

I'm now also posting MotoGP updates on Telegram 🥳

Amazing what you can do these days with an iPhone, isn't it?!

First look at the 2026-spec Ducati aero (and the old spec in red for comparison)

Waiting on something new

🌬️🏍️💨

A principal benefit of V4 packaging = reduction in hull width in critical aero zones. The 'wasp-waisted' hull form of the V4 layout has allowed Iwata to swap their efficient, but weaker, triplane airfoils for a more powerful Ducati type.

Remember: Downstream flow's as important as upstream 😉👍

Half way through day one. Big crash for Fabio Quartararo earlier at T5 means it looks like he's going to sit out the rest of the day.

Very different Yamaha aero package on one of Dovi’s machines (compared to the blue version we saw on the V4 up until now)

First day on the GP26 for Marc after missing Valencia

Aprilia has actually managed to make tail unit aero look pretty!

I love it when people message to say that they've got some new toys for me 🤩 Some cool content coming soon

A brief stoppage here, but there aren't normally very many marshals in testing so most crashes or technical problems mean a short red flag to clear it. Don't know what happened here yet, no info exactly.

Why Phillip Island's MotoGP future is in such jeopardy Phillip Island's days on the MotoGP calendar look numbered. But what could replace it - and does F1's Melbourne venue have a shot?

www.the-race.com/motogp/why-p...

The 2026 MotoGP season is officially underway

Espargaro… Pol Espargaro 😆 🔫