It is “harmful” to suppose Ducati will maintain 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 unit staff for 2021 that it turned the powerhouse that it’s in the present day.

Bagnaia gained back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 on the speedy 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 companion Bagnaia this 12 months, many anticipate Ducati’s dominance to proceed till the tip of the present rule cycle in 2026, if not longer.

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

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

“However we will see that each one our improvement components are on the identical degree as a result of we’re in MotoGP.

“Yamaha final 12 months made a step. They will arrive within the Malaysia [test] with a brand new bike and so they have [Fabio] Quartararo who’s a brilliant good rider. [With] KTM, [it is the] identical. [And there is] Aprilia [and] Honda. 

“We’re in MotoGP. What I discovered once I was combating towards them, with [Andrea] Dovizioso, in 2017, is you might want to handle all people as a result of one level to a different they will change the scenario.”

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 unit 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 12 months versus eight in 2024.

Jorge Martin, Aprilia

Photograph by: Aprilia Racing

The Italian producer has additionally slashed the availability of factory-spec equipment this 12 months, with VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio the one rider aside from Bagnaia and Marquez to have entry to the newest GP25.

Within the wake of the present scenario, Bagnaia admitted that Ducati is unlikely to dominate the championship in the identical method this 12 months – with Aprilia and KTM anticipated to be its greatest challengers.

“I feel that with a staff much less in Ducati [roster after Pramac’s exit], will probably be tougher to do like we did final 12 months – lockout of the rostrum and races,” the double world champion conceded.

“KTM riders are tremendous aggressive, particularly [Pedro] Acosta. However now we have to see the [financial] scenario [of KTM]. 

“Aprilia lastly have a world champion [Martin], and in addition Bezzecchi – two new riders and with so much to realize. Bezzecchi desires to enhance the outcomes from final 12 months and Jorge desires to stay primary. So Aprilia can be aggressive. 

“[With] Honda and Yamaha [it] is tough to know. Yamaha final 12 months was already a very good step in entrance. Within the final races they have been extra shut, so they are going to enhance [further]. 

“[For] Honda will probably be tough to proceed in the identical scenario so I anticipate additionally a step in entrance from them. However the principle ones are Ducati, Aprilia and KTM in the meanwhile so let’s examine.”