This week, the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia plays host to an important private test for Honda and Yamaha. The two Japanese giants, aiming to reclaim their place at the top of MotoGP, run on track for two days—Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th—with their respective test teams.
Making full use of their development concessions, both factories are putting their bikes through their paces. For Honda, Stefan Bradl is joined by Aleix Espargaro, who returns to the RC213V after a strong showing in pre-season testing.
Yamaha, meanwhile, have Augusto Fernandez in action—standing in for the injured Miguel Oliveira at recent Grands Prix in Austin and Lusail—alongside veteran test rider Cal Crutchlow, who brings a wealth of experience as he returns to the bike after several months away. There's been speculation in the media that Yamaha may be testing its new V4 engine this week. Will they confirm it after the test? For now, we’ll have to wait and see.
These two days of private testing allows both teams to fine-tune key details ahead of the crucial Jerez Test, scheduled for the Monday following the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España. In recent weeks, results have sparked optimism. Honda currently sit second in the Constructors’ Championship thanks to performances like Johann Zarco’s (CASTROL Honda LCR) fourth place in Qatar—where Yamaha also saw a solid result from Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team), who finished seventh after starting from the front row.