It’s “dangerous” to think Ducati will keep dominating MotoGP

New Ducati signing Marc Marquez believes will probably be “harmful” to imagine the Borgo Panigale marque will stay the benchmark in MotoGP for 2025 and past.

The Italian outfit had been making main strides because the latter a part of final decade, nevertheless it was solely after the arrival of Francesco Bagnaia within the manufacturing facility staff for 2021 that it grew to become the powerhouse that it’s at this time.

Bagnaia gained back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 on the fast Desmosedici amid a decline in fortunes of Japanese giants Honda and Yamaha, whereas Jorge Martin added one other championship to Ducati’s tally in 2024 with the satellite tv for pc Pramac staff.

Given six-time champion Marquez has joined Ducati to associate Bagnaia this yr, many anticipate Ducati’s dominance to proceed till the top of the present rule cycle in 2026, if not longer.

Marquez feels it might be unwise to get complacent although, having witnessed how shortly Ducati rose up the pecking order whereas he was racing for Honda within the late 2010s.

“It may be a harmful environment considering that Ducati will win the championship [every year],” he mentioned on the staff’s 2025 bike launch.

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Workforce, Michele Pirro, Marc Marquez, Ducati Workforce

Picture by: Ducati Corse

“However we will see that every one our growth components are on the identical stage as a result of we’re in MotoGP.

“Yamaha final yr made a step. They’ll arrive within the Malaysia [test] with a brand new bike and so they have [Fabio] Quartararo who’s an excellent good rider. [With] KTM, [it is the] identical. [And there is] Aprilia [and] Honda. 

“We’re in MotoGP. What I realized once I was preventing in opposition to them, with [Andrea] Dovizioso, in 2017, is that you must deal with everyone as a result of one level to a different they will change the state of affairs.”

Ducati loved a record-breaking 2024 season because it gained 19 out of 20 grands prix and swept the highest eight positions within the dash race at Buriram.

Though Marquez has joined the manufacturing facility staff, Ducati has misplaced Martin in addition to race winners Marco Bezzecchi and Enea Bastianini from its roster to rival groups. 

Pramac additionally ended a two-decade partnership to hitch forces with Yamaha, leaving Ducati with six bikes on the grid this yr versus eight in 2024.

Jorge Martin, Aprilia

Picture by: Aprilia Racing

The Italian producer has additionally slashed the availability of factory-spec equipment this yr, with VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio the one rider aside from Bagnaia and Marquez to have entry to the most recent GP25.

Within the wake of the present state of affairs, Bagnaia admitted that Ducati is unlikely to dominate the championship in the identical means this yr – with Aprilia and KTM anticipated to be its largest challengers.

“I believe that with a staff much less in Ducati [roster after Pramac’s exit], will probably be harder to do like we did final yr – lockout of the rostrum and races,” the double world champion conceded.

“KTM riders are tremendous aggressive, particularly [Pedro] Acosta. However we’ve got to see the [financial] state of affairs [of KTM]. 

“Aprilia lastly have a world champion [Martin], and likewise Bezzecchi – two new riders and with quite a bit to achieve. Bezzecchi needs to enhance the outcomes from final yr and Jorge needs to stay primary. So Aprilia can be aggressive. 

“[With] Honda and Yamaha [it] is tough to know. Yamaha final yr was already a very good step in entrance. Within the final races they had been extra shut, so they’ll enhance [further]. 

“[For] Honda will probably be tough to proceed in the identical state of affairs so I anticipate additionally a step in entrance from them. However the principle ones are Ducati, Aprilia and KTM for the time being so let’s have a look at.”

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