MotoGP: KTM and Aprilia on for two days of private testing at Misano

Following the season opener on March 2, the 2025 MotoGP season has already completed its first three stops: the Grand Prix of Thailand, Argentina, and the United States. The next scheduled event is the Qatar GP, set to take place from April 11 to 13.

Before that, however, the test and development teams from some of the premier class outfits will make a two-day stop at the track in Misano, Italy, to begin preparing updates ahead of the official MotoGP test set for Monday, April 28, in Jerez. This official test will happen the day after the Spanish GP, with teams remaining at the Andalusian circuit.

There, all MotoGP teams and riders are allowed to test without restrictions from the concessions system, only limited by the number of tires each rider is allocated for testing throughout the season: 170 for Ducati riders; 220 for Aprilia and KTM; and 260 for the Japanese manufacturers, who benefit from the highest level of concessions.

Some teams, however, are looking to run additional test laps prior to the official test in Spain.

Pol Espargaró, Pedrosa and Savadori back on track

Dani Pedrosa, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Photo by: Dorna

KTM is confirmed to be present at the two-day private test in Misano with their Spanish test riders, Pol Espargaro and Dani Pedrosa, who haven’t ridden the RC16 since the Sepang shakedown tests in early February.

Also taking part will be Italian Lorenzo Savadori, Aprilia’s test rider, who has been standing in for the injured Jorge Martin on the RS-GP in the races held so far.

Ducati has not confirmed its presence. The Bologna-based team could participate under current concession rules with their test rider Michele Pirro, who also hasn’t ridden since the official pre-season test in Sepang on February 7.

Honda to test in Valencia after Qatar

The two Japanese manufacturers, Yamaha and Honda, will definitely not be present at this week’s mini-test in Misano. Both constructors currently benefit from the highest level of concessions, meaning they are allowed to test on any circuit with any rider, including race riders, as long as they stay within their allocated tire limit—a number rarely reached in a single season.

Honda had planned a private test at Jerez two weeks ago, but severe flooding at the southern European track forced its cancellation. The Tokyo-based team now has testing scheduled for the week after the Qatar GP (between April 14 and 18). However, since those dates fall within the 14-day restriction period before the Spanish GP, they’ve had to move their test to the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia.

In addition to the official MotoGP test in Jerez on April 28, the 2025 season includes two more official testing days open to all riders and manufacturers: June 9 at MotorLand Aragón and September 15 in Misano—each held the day after a Grand Prix.