The Shakedown is underway and Friday welcomed a mix of new faces and veteran test riders to the track in Malaysia. From MotoGP Legends Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso to headline-grabbing performance from rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), it was an intriguing return to action for MotoGP.
The Shakedown, which is for factory test riders and rookies, also allows manufacturers with concessions to field their race riders. For Friday though, Red Bull KTM test rider Pol Espargaro was fastest, ahead of a stunner from Ogura with a 1:59.862 as his best. Honda HRC development rider Takaaki Nakagami completed the top three, with Dani Pedrosa slotting into fourth having led for much of the day for Red Bull KTM.
The fastest rookie – and second overall – was Ogura, but the Japanese rider was actually only a couple of tenths clear of Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Racing MotoGP) as the Spaniard gets to grips with his Ducati GP24. He slotted in behind Pedrosa. Thai rider Somkiat Chantra didn’t head out to actually ride his new MotoGP machine at IDEMITSU LCR Honda on Friday, taking it as a prep day before he’ll roll out tomorrow.
As well as Pol Espargaro and Pedrosa at KTM and Nakagami’s first outing in his new role with Honda, Dovizioso was out for Yamaha, putting three machines through their paces. Ducati were repped by longtime test rider Michele Pirro and Aprilia by Lorenzo Savadori. The latter took every Aprilia on site for a spin, truly shaking them down on Day 1.
Saturday brings the anticipated arrival of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, and Prima Pramac Yamaha’s new line-up of Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller. They were in the centre of Kuala Lumpur on Friday presenting their new colours for 2025, but are expected on track on Saturday.
We’re also waiting to see when more of the Honda contingent might head out, including newly arrived test rider Aleix Espargaro. Honda HRC race riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini are in Jakarta at the moment, preparing to take the covers off their 2025 machines in their team presentation tomorrow.
