Barcelona MotoGP test ended early after heavy rain

After a dramatic weekend at the Catalan Grand Prix, the MotoGP riders stayed in Barcelona for an important one-day test. However, heavy rain stopped much of the action and the session finished early.

Young KTM rider Pedro Acosta was the fastest man on the track. He set a best lap of 1 minute 38.767 seconds before the weather became too bad for more running. French rider Fabio Quartararo finished only a small distance behind in second place for Yamaha. KTM also showed strong pace with Enea Bastianini taking third and Maverick Vinales ending the day in fourth.

The test began well in the morning. Riders were trying different bike parts and new settings for the rest of the season. Yamaha especially attracted attention because Quartararo tested a new front wing design on his bike. Teams wanted to gather as much information as possible, but the changing weather made the work difficult.

Rain started falling shortly before lunch and conditions became worse during the afternoon. Most riders stayed inside their garages as the wet track gave them little chance to improve lap times. With around 90 minutes left, officials decided to stop the test completely.

There was also more trouble for reigning world champion Jorge Martin. The Aprilia rider crashed again at Turn 7 during the morning session. It was another difficult moment after a hard race weekend in Barcelona. Luckily, medical checks showed he had no broken bones and he was able to walk away safely.

Several riders missed the test because of injuries from Sunday’s race. Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco were both in hospital after crashes during the Grand Prix. Race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio also did not ride because of a hand injury. Meanwhile, six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez skipped the whole Barcelona weekend after recent surgery.

Despite the short running time, KTM left Barcelona feeling positive. Acosta’s speed continued the strong form he showed during the Grand Prix weekend, proving again that the Austrian manufacturer is becoming a serious challenger at the front of MotoGP.

Attention in the MotoGP paddock is now starting to move towards the future. Teams are already preparing for the new 850cc engine rules that will arrive in 2027. Riders are expected to test the first versions of those bikes later this year.