Рубрика: Motosport News

New Ducati GP25 a “huge” step forward from 2024 MotoGP bike

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Francesco Bagnaia has said he can already notice a “huge” difference between Ducati’s new MotoGP prototype and the outgoing GP24 bike with which he took 11 grand prix wins this year.

The two-time MotoGP champion got his first opportunity to sample an early version of the GP25 that he will be racing in 2025 when he took to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Tuesday for the official post-season running.

Completing a total of 56 laps over the course of the one-day test, split between the GP25, the GP24 and a hybrid version of the two bikes, Bagnaia ended up a strong third on the timesheets with a lap that was 0.595s down on pacesetter Alex Marquez of the Gresini team.

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While the GP25 bike he tested in Barcelona is still in development, Bagnaia was already impressed with the potential of the bike and the work Ducati has put in to maintain its hegemony in MotoGP.

“We have to say that we tested many things today and the GP25 [we have] is a good base to start developing and improving [upon],” he said.

“Our engineers and the team will work a lot this winter because we need to improve the base we tested. Luckily me and Marc [Marquez] had the same feeling about the bike and this is very important to go in the same direction on the development. This is great.

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“Already the difference between ’24 and ’25 is quite huge and I think we will not have a big step for Malaysia [test in February] because the step [forward] was already here, but we need to arrange it a bit [in terms of getting everything right]. 

“Also, we need to adapt the set-up of the new bike a bit.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Bagnaia admitted that there were still some areas where the GP25 is in fact weaker than Ducati’s 2024 contender, but he puts it down to the fact that the GP24 was quite refined by the end of the season after a full year of running.

“In terms of handling, the GP24 is still better on the braking,” he explained. “I improved a lot this year with the ’24 [bike] in terms of braking. We will have to search to go in the same direction [with the GP25]. 

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“But the ’25 has a very good stability in terms of fast corners and I like it, and also with used tyres. This is good. And the engine is very strong and fast. 

“Normally we start at this [early] point with the new bike, we also need some work to do. But the starting base is quite good and I’m happy about it.”

It is important for Ducati to start the 2025 season with a strong bike due to a combination of the new engine freeze rules and the concession system.

The engine Ducati will homologate at the start of next year must remain in the same specification until the current rules cycle ends after 2026.

Photos from Barcelona test



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Yamaha exceeded own expectations with updated M1 in Barcelona MotoGP test

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Yamaha says it outperformed its own expectations in Tuesday’s official MotoGP test in Barcelona, with Fabio Quartararo clocking the second-fastest time of the day.

The Japanese manufacturer brought a revised version of the M1 to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, having managed to upgrade the chassis, aerodynamics and engine.

Factory rider Quartararo ended up just 0.4s behind Gresini’s Alex Marquez on the all-conquering GP24, having managed to improve on the time with which he qualified 10th on the grid in last weekend’s season finale at the same track.

Team-mate Alex Rins also enjoyed a strong day to finish eighth, while Yamaha collected additional data from the bikes of Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller, as Pramac joined its stable as a satellite team.

Team director Massimo Meregalli hailed the performance of Yamaha in the Barcelona test, particularly because the feedback from the riders was backed up by the improved speed of the bike on track.

“The three items that we mainly evaluated were chassis, aerodynamics and a slightly updated engine, all these three items gave us positive feedback,” Massimo Meregalli told MotoGP’s official website.

“But before really judging anything we prefer to wait until [the next test in] Sepang [in February] because you can’t really judge single items in one circuit, it’s better to at least double check.

Yamaha MotoGP Team bike detail

Yamaha MotoGP Team bike detail

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“All the steps we did in this direction brought us a good feeling but also results. This is very important because many times in the past we always listened to the feelings of the riders but now we want to match the feeling with the results.

“I can say that the test finished better than our expectations. For me it’s a good way to finish such a long and tough season.”

Quartararo was also in an upbeat mood after testing the updated M1 on Tuesday, as he could attest the steps the Iwata brand had made with a bike that could finish no higher than sixth in a grand prix all year.

“I think it was a good day. We tried out quite a few things, and without really doing a time attack we set a better time than in qualifying,” he told reporters in Barcelona.

“We set the fastest time with the new chassis and the new engine, so that was positive, and without really starting with 3kg of fuel — I think we started with 8-9kg.

“Of course I was at the limit, but we could have made up a few more hundredths or tenths to go a bit quicker.”

While the Barcelona test was already encouraging for Yamaha, Quartararo revealed that bigger upgrades will follow when the paddock reconvenes in Malaysia for the start of pre-season testing on 5-7 February.

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha MotoGP Team

Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha MotoGP Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“The new engine already gave us a bit more speed, with the same agility, the steering with the new chassis was also good,” he said. “We also tried a new fairing to maybe have a bit more top speed but it wasn’t any better, it was the same. We tried some pretty interesting things.

“I think we’re heading in the right direction and the biggest things that were supposed to happen will happen in Malaysia, that’s what was planned. So the direction is good and I hope it can help for the future.”

However, Quartararo explained that Yamaha still has not been able to overcome some of the long-standing weaknesses of the M1, even if the overall packer was stronger than what he raced with in 2024.

“I don’t think there were any real improvements on the corner exit, which is where I think we need to improve,” he said. “With the new chassis, we’ve improved the corner entry a little bit, but what we’re lacking is a bit on the exit.”

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He added: “Power and grip is the only thing I can ask for. In terms of grip we are really, really far.

“And [as for the] the power, Santa Claus already came earlier to give us a bit of extra [power] but I will ask even more because we know we miss it.”

Yamaha’s approach to the Barcelona test was in stark contrast to that of Honda, which did not have any new parts to run — leaving factory rider Joan Mir a frustrated 15th in the standings.



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Martin ‘feared’ he would never win a MotoGP title as he opens up on mental health

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Pramac rider Jorge Martin has revealed he ‘feared’ he would never be able to win a championship in MotoGP at the start of the year as he struggled with his mental health.

The Spaniard said he became scared of losing while heading into his fourth season in the premier class, despite having accepted his championship defeat to factory Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia in 2023.

But working with his psychologist Xero Gasol helped him overcome his problems and improve on-track performances, which ultimately played an important role in Martin beating Bagnaia to the title in last weekend’s Barcelona finale.

With three grand prix wins, seven sprint successes and 16 podiums in 20 Sunday races, he became the first rider in the MotoGP era to win a title with a satellite team, finishing 10 points clear of the two-time champion.

But while Martin ended the campaign by adding his name to the ‘tower of champions’, things were much tougher for him at the start of the year, as he explained: “I was struggling with my mental health.

“Last season was great, even after being second, I was quite happy. But in general I started to have a lot of fears, I was really scared, like I will never be champion in MotoGP. 

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“So thanks to my coach I improved a lot. I was more focussed on the hope of winning than on the fear of losing. 

“If I lose, ‘okay, I’m not dying. This is life, it’s not ending here’. But I was without hope for winning — not only for me, but for my team, for my family, all the closest [members].”

Martin made several ill-timed errors during his first title assault in 2023, with his crash while leading the Indonesian Grand Prix often being cited as the moment where he lost the championship to Bagnaia.

He also gave away likely victories in Jerez and the Sachsenring in the first part of this year, but came back much stronger after the summer break, even as Bagnaia continued to drop the ball at important stages of the campaign.

Martin says a change in his approach made him much stronger in 2024, as he was living in the present and no longer dwelling on past mistakes.

“The important thing this year was to learn from the past and not repeat the same mistakes,” he said.

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“It’s like life, you can make mistakes, it’s completely normal, we are human and we make mistakes. 

“The important thing is to take the positives from the mistakes and say okay, ‘I will learn from this and won’t repeat it’. 

“For me the key is living in the present. We never know about the future, the future — who knows [what it holds]? So live in the present, improve from the past and just do your 100%, that’s it.”

Photos from Barcelona test

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Marquez felt «comfortable from the beginning» on first day with factory Ducati

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Marc Marquez says he felt «very comfortable and very calm» on his first day with the works Ducati team, describing it as the best outfit in present-day MotoGP.

Having signed a two-year contract with the Italian factory, Marquez got his first taste of the Ducati GP25 in the official test at Barcelona on Tuesday.

Completing a total of 49 laps, including some on the championship-winning GP24, Marquez ended up fourth on the timesheets after posting a time of 1m39.454s late in the seven-hour session.

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The test was crucial for his preparation as it not only allowed him to acclimate with a development version of the bike that he would be racing in 2025, but also learn to work with new engineers at the factory Ducati team after a year with Gresini’s year-old GP23.

Summing up his thoughts, the six-time champion said: «I made a risky bet a year ago [leaving Honda] and now it was time to finish it off in the factory team. It [getting the Ducati deal] was the best news, and that has been a bit of the idea of the plan.

«The feelings with the team have been good, I felt comfortable from the beginning, very calm.

«The fact that I didn’t change factories or bikes and met a lot of engineers has made me feel comfortable. I’ve had that peace of mind all day.»

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Marquez said he could immediately notice a difference between Ducati and its satellite squad Gresini, as he was now having to follow a more detailed run plan.

«Today was to go back to work a bit like a factory does, with a very strict plan, with everything established and knowing what you have to test and that’s where the rider is 100% available to work for the factory to give the best feedback,» he explained.

Marquez is reserving his judgement on whether there is a big difference between the performance of the title-winning 2023 bike and the new GP25 prototype that is being developed for the 2025 season.

«I have had a jump from ‘23 to ‘25, it is a new bike and the first outing on the track always requires more time to get everything ready,” he said.

“I’ve jumped to ‘24 twice, there are some differences. I think the ‘25 is more competitive, but we have to see it.»

Tuesday also marked the first day Marquez worked directly under Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi, who has always had a soft spot for the Spaniard.

Marquez and Tardozzi represented rival manufacturers in MotoGP during the former’s time at Honda, when he defeated then-Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso to the 2019 title.

«Davide is more in the sporting part and today we focused on technical issues, but without a doubt there are people I have known for more than 10 years and with whom I have always had a good relationship, before as rivals and now in the same team,» he said.

«It doesn’t change, we have a personal relationship. With the people inside the box very comfortable, very precise and 90% of the starts already testing the 2025 bike.»



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Mir on Honda's lack of new parts in Barcelona MotoGP test: "How can I not be angry?"

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO




Joan Mir admitted that he was «angry» with Honda after Tuesday’s MotoGP test in Barcelona, as the Japanese manufacturer failed to bring any new upgrades to the beleaguered RC213V.With Honda ending the season at the bottom of the manufacturers’ championship and 49 points behind its nearest rival Yamaha, expectations were high from HRC during the all-important end-of-season test in Spain.But while …Keep reading



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Alex Marquez tops Barcelona MotoGP test as Marc makes factory Ducati debut

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Gresini rider Alex Marquez set the pace in the post-season MotoGP test in Barcelona on Tuesday, as his elder brother Marc Marquez completed his first outing with the factory Ducati team.

The younger Marquez led the times for the majority of the seven-hour session at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after jumping to the top of the leaderboard early on with a 1m40.006s flier.

New factory KTM rider Pedro Acosta enjoyed a brief stint at the front in the morning, before two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia moved to the top with a 1m39.398s in the third hour.

Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo then dispatched Bagnaia from the lead, before the younger Marquez clocked the circuit in 1m38.803s in the fourth hour to wrest back the control.

Although the Spaniard damaged his new GP24 bike with a crash at Turn 7 in the penultimate hour, his previous time remained unbeaten as the track rapidly cooled up in the evening.

Quartararo was also able to hold on to second place on his Yamaha M1 courtesy of his earlier effort of 1m39.199s, which put him 0.396s down on Marquez’s time.

Bagnaia finished a further two tenths adrift in third, as he tried three different Desmosedici bikes over the course of the day. The Italian not only had his race-winning GP24 bike and the 2025-spec GP25 at his disposal but also a hybrid of the two machines available to test in Barcelona.

Marc Márquez, Ducati Team

Marc Márquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

He took part in the test with his old bike number, 63, having ceded the right to use the #1 plate after losing the 2024 title to Jorge Martin last weekend.

One of the biggest headliners of the day was Marc Marquez, who made his debut with Ducati’s factory squad as Bagnaia’s team-mate after a year racing for the satellite Gresini team.

The six-time MotoGP champion tallied up a total of 49 laps on Tuesday, jumping to fourth on the leaderboard with 15 minutes left on the clock with a late effort of 1m39.454s.

Like new team-mate Bagnaia, Marquez also had different specifications of the Desmosedici available to test, but hit the track for the first time with the new GP25 that he will be racing in 2025.

His bike was painted in a bright shade of red and carried little sponsorship branding, much like his race suit.

Behind, Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez was the top Aprilia runner in fifth, while Brad Binder leapt up to sixth with a late improvement on his factory KTM.

Franco Morbidelli finished seventh on his first day with VR46, the team owned by his mentor Valentino Rossi, beating the Yamaha of Alex Rins by 0.003s.

Acosta rounded out his first day with KTM’s main squad in ninth place, while LCR rider Johann Zarco was the top Honda rider in 10th.

Newly crowned MotoGP champion Martin made a much-awaited debut with Aprilia on Tuesday morning, testing the waters with its race-winning 2024-spec RS-GP before switching to its new prototype later in the day.

Apart from a slow low-side crash at Turn 5, Martin’s day went largely smoothly as he tallied up 77 laps, ending up 11th with his best time being just over a second down on Alex Marquez.

Jorge Martín, Aprilia Racing

Jorge Martín, Aprilia Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

New Tech3 KTM signing Maverick Vinales finished 12th quickest, but his new team-mate Enea Bastianini destroyed an RC16 with a crash at Turn 5 at the start of hour six.

Bastianini was able to complete the test on a spare bike, finishing 16th out of 24 runners.

Barcelona also saw recently-retired Aleix Espargaro make his first appearance as a test rider for Honda, ending up 14th on the board and ahead of HRC’s Joan Mir.

The fastest rookie of the day was Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer in 20th place, one spot ahead of Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura and two positions clear of LCR rider Somkiat Chantra.

All three riders suffered crashes in the first three hours of running, but were able to recover and gain important mileage as they began preparations for 2025.

VR46 rider Fabio di Giannantonio, who will be one of the three riders to race with the new Ducati GP25 in 2025, was again absent from action as he continues to recover from surgery.

He was effectively replaced by Ducati tester Michele Pirro, who also trialled a new two-way radio communication system that Dorna has been working on.

 



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Ducati trials two-way radio communication in Barcelona MotoGP test

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Ducati test rider Michele Pirro was able to exchange spoken messages with team manager Davide Tardozzi over radio during Tuesday’s MotoGP test in Barcelona.

In the first minutes of the official test at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, an intercom that Dorna had been developing was installed in Pirro’s helmet before he went out on track. On the other side, Tardozzi was given a headset with an in-built microphone.

During several outings that Pirro made in the first hour of testing to fine-tune the bikes of Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, the Italian was able to receive some messages from Tardozzi, while he himself was able to provide input to the veteran team boss while still circulating on track.

For the moment, the company that is developing the system together with Dorna does not want to offer too many details about the test, but Tardozzi could be seen both talking and putting his hand to the headset to listen to what was coming from the microphone installed in Pirro’s helmet.

For years, Dorna has been developing a system so that riders can receive and exchange spoken messages when they are on track from the box.

First, a series of short pre-recorded messages were developed that the riders could receive in their helmets, but to make a real leap, those responsible for the championship hedged their bets on a radio system similar to the one that has been so successful in Formula 1.

While a rider who racing at 300 km/h on a bike will never be able to have a calm conversation with his team, the idea is that he can receive comments, warnings or suggestions from the wall during races — and that a microphone picks up a rider’s voice in case he wants to respond.

This year’s San Marino GP was one race where a radio system would have come in handy.

Pramac rider Jorge Martin came in to change bikes while most riders remained on track after the first drops of rain. If this system had been in his place, he could have asked team Gino Borsoi or his chief mechanic for their opinion on this matter.

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Aprilia’s Rivola appointed new president of the MotoGP Constructors’ Association

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola will become the new president of the MotoGP World Championship Constructors’ Association (MMSA), Motorsport.com has learned.

The Italian was chosen in a vote that took place on Monday during preparation for the official post-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

With his election, Rivola will replace KTM CEO Stefan Pierer for the next two years, with the option to extend his term to a total of four years.

Rivola joined Aprilia in 2019 after a long stint in Formula 1 where he worked for Toro Rosso and Ferrari and has been instrumental in turning the Italian brand into a race-winning force in MotoGP.

The MMSA brings together all manufacturers that compete in the championship, although that doesn’t mean they are aligned in all aspects.

In fact, in recent times there have been tensions within the organisation when delicate issues were brought up. One of the most recent examples was the discussion regarding the engine freeze which will come into force when next year’s engines are homologated. The engine freeze will continue until the end of 2026, just before new 850cc units arrive on the scene in 2027.

Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO

Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing CEO

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Despite the fact that the technical regulations had already been presented by then, the proposal left a wide margin for interpretation in the regulations, something that always creates conflicts between manufacturers.

Aprilia was one of the most sceptical members of the proposal that was approved. Among other things, the Italian manufacturer considered it a contradiction to impose a restriction of that extent under the pretext of preventing costs from skyrocketing, when Yamaha — which enjoys the most flexible level of concessions — was allowed to develop an engine in V-configuration with the current displacement (1000cc) when it will have to move to a smaller specification motor (850cc) in less than two years.

In any case, the matters discussed in the meetings of the MSMA must always be ratified by the Grand Prix Commission, which is the governing body of the World Championship, and in which, in addition to the manufacturers, members of the promoter (Dorna), the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), and the Teams’ Association (IRTA) are also represented.

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Details of Marc Marquez’s first test with factory Ducati emerge

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Marc Marquez will make his debut as a factory Ducati team rider in Tuesday’s official MotoGP test in Barcelona wearing an all-red suit without personal sponsorship branding on a one-off basis.

The Spaniard will start a new chapter in 2025 and will once again have all the muscle that drives a factory team after a season with Gresini, which is one of the most modest outfits on the grid, racing on a satellite GP23 bike.

The post-season test at Barcelona on Tuesday is an occasion that is likely to grab attention, because the expectation is that it will be comparable to the hype generated by Valentino Rossi’s debut with Yamaha at the Sepang test in 2004, and Marquez himself when he got to sample a Desmosedici for the first time in Valencia 12 months ago.

As Motorsport.com can reveal, Marquez will wear a red suit in the corporate colour of Ducati. The bike will also be painted red and will only bear his famous #93 number, plus the branding of Ducati, tyre supplier Michelin and exhaust supplier Akrapovic.

There will be no trace of Red Bull, one of Marquez’s most faithful sponsors in his career, as the energy drinks giant will stay on the sidelines given Ducati’s link with rival brand Monster.

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Oriol Puigdemont

The contract between Monster and Ducati expires in 2027, one year after the end of Marquez’s own deal with the Italian marque, making impossible for Marquez to continue with Red Bull at any event in which he represents Ducati.

In fact, on the spaces that are owned by the team – suit, cap and motorcycle – the Spaniard will have to incorporate the famous ‘green claw’ logo of American energy drinks maker Monster.

The only exception will be the helmet, where the place normally occupied by Red Bull will be taken over by the stickers of Estrella Galicia, which will also be featured on his water bottle. Monster approached Marquez and made an identical offer to the deal it has with Francesco Bagnaia, but Marquez turned it down.

Marquez also has a long-term agreement with sunglasses brand Oakley, but he won’t be able to use its glasses during his Ducati stint as it has a clashing deal with Carrera. Like Monster, Carrera also tried to bring the six-time MotoGP world champion to the list of athletes its sponsors, but he declined the offer.

Marquez will initially test the GP24 on Tuesday, the same prototype with which Bagnaia and Jorge Martin fought for the 2024 title, before switching to a hybrid version of the bike.

Marquez and Bagnaia will get to sample the GP25 in Malaysia at the beginning of February, and that specification of bike will be much closer to what they will race in the opening grand prix of 2025 in Thailand in March.

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