Francesco Bagnaia reflects on 2024 MotoGP errors: ‘I pondered over them extensively during my honeymoon’

Two-time MotoGP world champion anticipates a “challenging” 2025 season

Ducati MotoGP racer Francesco Bagnaia reflected extensively on the mistakes that led to him losing the 2024 championship, even while he was on his honeymoon.

Last year, Bagnaia missed the chance to secure a third consecutive MotoGP championship, falling short to his Pramac Ducati competitor Jorge Martin by 10 points during the final race of the season in Barcelona.

Despite Bagnaia securing victory in 11 grand prix races, in contrast to Martin's three wins, he was ultimately kept from clinching another title due to eight instances where he failed to score points throughout the season.

Bagnaia has consistently admitted to his mistakes, and he mentioned to Sky Sports Italy that he even reflected on them while on his honeymoon.

"Bagnaia mentioned at Valentino Rossi's 100Km of Champions event that the 2025 season is expected to be both exciting and challenging due to the increasing number of races and the rising level of competition."

Aprilia, along with riders Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, has the potential to be quick, while KTM, even after a challenging winter, boasts some exceptionally strong competitors. Meanwhile, Yamaha and Honda are expected to improve, particularly Yamaha.

"We need to reflect on our mistakes from this year and work on improving them."

"Successes from the previous year can be repeated, but we should continually strive for improvement."

"I frequently reflect on my actions, and even during my honeymoon, it occupied my thoughts considerably."

In 2025, Bagnaia is set to encounter his toughest competition in MotoGP when he joins forces with eight-time world champion Marc Marquez at the factory team.

The pair is set to unveil Ducati's 2025 season during a public event scheduled for January 20th in Italy.

Last weekend, Bagnaia and Bezzecchi teamed up for Rossi's 100Km of Champions event and secured a sixth-place finish.

Rossi finished in second place alongside his teammate Luca Marini, as Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre emerged victorious in the competition.

During a winter interview with Crash.net, Honda's official racer Marini expressed his belief that Marquez and Bagnaia have the potential to "compete for a win in every race" in the 2025 season.

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Valentino Rossi announces his racing plans for 2025. The MotoGP icon will compete in the LMGT3 category of the World Endurance Championship after initially being uncertain about his schedule for 2025.

The WRT BMW team revealed that MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi is set to participate once more in the LMGT3 category of the World Endurance Championship in 2025.

Last year, Rossi entered the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the first time, following his transition from MotoGP to GT racing in 2022, specifically in the GT World Challenge Europe series.

The experienced Italian racer, behind the wheel of car number 46 in the championship, secured two podium finishes: a second place at the Imola circuit and a third place at the Fuji track. Additionally, the driver achieved top-five finishes in races held in Qatar and Brazil.

The vehicle failed to reach the end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Rossi had mentioned earlier that he was uncertain about his 2025 plans because, having recently become a father again, he intended to reduce his involvement in racing.

WRT has announced that he will stay in the World Endurance Championship, teaming up once more with Ahmad Al Harthy. Additionally, Kelvin van der Linde, who has won the Nurburgring 24 Hours twice, is joining the team.

Rossi expressed his excitement about extending his journey in the FIA WEC, noting that his first season had been impressive.

"We had successful races with two podium finishes and aim to improve our strength and speed."

"We will collaborate closely with BMW to enhance our capabilities and become more competitive in each race."

"Undoubtedly, Le Mans holds the utmost significance for us. Although we faced some bad luck last year, we are determined to compete for a podium finish in 2025."

Van der Linde commended Rossi for being a versatile GT driver and expressed confidence in the potential of the #46 team.

He expressed his enthusiasm about becoming a part of the #46 team alongside Vale and Ahmad, two drivers he closely followed in the FIA WEC the previous year.

"Vale has developed into a versatile GT driver. Having collaborated with him previously, I am familiar with his dedication and his analytical approach to his work."

Ahmad is among the top Bronze drivers in the group, and we can feel proud to have him with us.

"We could form an excellent team together."

Each of us has gone through our inaugural LMGT3 season in the WEC, and we can combine what we've learned to aim for significant achievements, particularly at Le Mans, where we are all eager to excel. I'm thrilled and eager to get started.

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The CEO of Ducati announced that Marc Marquez set a record lap time on the new Panigale V2 at the Aspar Circuit. The eight-time world champion tested the motorcycle at Aspar Circuit the previous week.

Claudio Domenicali, the head of Ducati, stated that Marc Marquez, a six-time MotoGP world champion, equaled the "unofficial lap record" at the Aspar Circuit using the new Panigale V2 in its standard form.

Last week, Marquez participated in a winter training session at the Aspar circuit in Spain. He rode a 2024 race-version Panigale V2. The event was also attended by Jorge Martin, the 2024 MotoGP world champion.

In a LinkedIn post, Domenicali mentioned that he reached out to some contacts to arrange for Marquez to test the 2025-spec V2, which had previously been used for promotional purposes.

According to reports, Marquez completed a lap of the track in 1 minute and 12.2 seconds using the 2025 model, and it seems he matched this time with the 2024 race-specific V2 as well.

In a conversation with Marc right before Christmas, while exchanging the customary holiday greetings, Domenicali learned that Marc had scheduled a training session at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia.

The idea was to conduct a session using a 2024 Panigale V2 because he was informed that the completely new 2025 model wasn't ready for racing yet.

Eager to know his thoughts on our latest baby track bike, I couldn't resist reaching out. While on my skiing vacation in the mountains, I took the opportunity to make some calls to ensure he could take it for a spin. This was the same bike featured in our official launch video and photos.

At the end of the day, I was unexpectedly contacted by Marc.

He expressed to me that he was impressed with the bike's responsive steering, exceptionally comfortable seating arrangement, and its energetic power output. Additionally, he mentioned that he completed a lap in 1 minute and 12.2 seconds.

My team told me that this equals the unconfirmed fastest lap time for the Supersport category.

Marc took the 2024 Panigale V2, equipped for racing, around the track and matched his lap time. In contrast, the 2025 Panigale V2 was a street-legal model, featuring a catalytic exhaust, along with a headlight, taillight, and kickstand.

"We're eager to put the 2025 Panigale through its paces in full racing configuration with Marc and Pecco Bagnaia. This model will boast 126 horsepower, up from the current 120 horsepower, and will be almost 10 kilograms lighter by eliminating all the components needed for street legality."

I am extremely satisfied with how the bike performs, as it is built to balance achieving fast lap times on the track and providing enjoyment on winding mountain roads.

Thank you, Marc, and kudos to the Ducati engineering team for crafting this motorcycle. We're excited to introduce the new Panigale V2 to our lineup. As always, prioritizing a lightweight design has shown to be a successful strategy.

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Exclusive Interview with Max Bartolini: A Mere Half-Second in MotoGP Can Be Catastrophic!

"A gap of just half a second over 15 turns might seem insignificant, but the competition is incredibly fierce."

Fabio Quartararo, racing for Monster Yamaha, kicked off the 2024 MotoGP season by securing the eleventh spot in Qatar. He ended the race 17.701 seconds behind Francesco Bagnaia, with each lap seeing him fall behind by an average of 0.84 seconds.

At the conclusion of the season, the French racer secured the eleventh position once again during the Barcelona Grand Prix held in November. He was trailing Bagnaia by 10.756 seconds across 24 laps, which breaks down to an average deficit of 0.45 seconds per lap.

The figures generally indicate that Yamaha has made advancements over the course of the 20 rounds, even though they didn't secure a podium finish for the first time in the MotoGP era. They also highlight the intense level of competition.

Yamaha's technical director, Max Bartolini, mentioned to Crash.net that the current skill level among all MotoGP riders is exceptionally high.

"Each weekend brings new lap records, and the competition is so close that being 4-5 tenths of a second slower is seen as a catastrophe."

"Covering half a second across 15 turns is a very small margin. Everyone is performing at an exceptionally high standard."

Top performers in the 2024 MotoGP season included Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, both of whom are familiar to Bartolini after his twenty years with Ducati.

How do the current Yamaha factory team riders, 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo and six-time race victor Alex Rins, stack up against their competitors, Bagnaia and Martin, when it comes to data?

"It's challenging to make a comparison due to the distinct setup, as the Yamaha motorcycle demands a unique riding approach," Bartolini responded.

"Certainly, both Fabio and Alex possess immense talent as they have both won races in MotoGP, with Fabio even securing a world championship title."

Fabio typically excels at braking and maintaining speed through the corners, while Alex is particularly skilled at handling the exit of corners. However, both riders demonstrate exceptional abilities.

"Currently, we are experiencing an overall performance issue with the bike, which forces us to push beyond its limits to compensate, and this is often challenging."

"That's one of the toughest challenges: avoiding the temptation to take control. However, they are handling it well."

Prior to Bagnaia's crucial error during the Sepang sprint, which gave Martin the advantage to clinch his inaugural MotoGP championship, Bartolini commented on the championship race:

"To be frank, both of them are worthy of victory. Over the last couple of years, they've shown remarkable speed. Ultimately, the winner will be the one who minimizes errors."

"It's an evenly matched competition between two highly skilled riders. Both have the potential to secure victories for years to come. It's an exciting contest, but I truly can't predict who will come out on top!"

Check out this Instagram post from Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse)

This content was posted by Ducati Corse on Instagram (@ducaticorse)

"I hope to find myself in that scenario so I can share the experience with you!"

Throughout the dramatic developments of the 2024 world championship, television frequently focused on the Ducati factory team's garage. There, the composed demeanor of Gigi Dall’Igna was notably different from the expressive nature of team manager Davide Tardozzi.

When Bartolini tunes into a MotoGP race, does he resemble more of a Tardozzi or a Dall'Igna?

He stated, "I'm typically very composed, unless perhaps during the final 2-3 laps when there's something significant at stake."

Overall, the focus at Yamaha is currently more on development. When observing a race, the analysis often leads to conclusions like, 'We've made some progress in that area…'. This makes it simpler to remain composed.

Bartolini chuckled and remarked, “Davide [Tardozzi] is on the opposite side, and he’s always been that way!”

"I spent two decades working alongside Davide, so he is more than just a friend to me. Meanwhile, Gigi has a very serene demeanor, or at least he appears that way!"

"I believe Davide demonstrates to everyone what goes through a person's mind during those final two laps when competing for something significant."

"I hope that within the upcoming years, I'll find myself in that position and be able to inform you!"

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For two decades, Peter has been present in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is closely involved with the developments surrounding Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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2026 MotoGP Rider Roster: A Look at the Current Line-up

Here's an update on the contractual status of each MotoGP rider for the 2026 season, which marks the final year of the 1000cc engine era.

A minimum of four riders in MotoGP have agreements that will end in 2025…

Ducati has officially announced that its factory Lenovo team will feature Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez for the MotoGP seasons in 2025 and 2026, forming what many are calling a "dream team."

Similarly, the Gresini Ducati team, featuring riders Alex Marquez and newcomer Fermin Aldeguer in 2025, is scheduled to compete for two seasons.

Starting in 2025, Fabio di Giannantonio from VR46 will begin a fresh two-year factory contract. However, looking ahead to 2026, there might be an opening for a Desmosedici, as his teammate Franco Morbidelli is presently signed for just a single year.

KTM

Despite the recent financial instability, the four RC16 riders, who include Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta from the official KTM team, as well as the newly contracted Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini from Tech3, are expected to remain with their current teams until the conclusion of 2026.

Jorge Martin, the world champion, and his new teammate Marco Bezzecchi have signed contracts with the official Aprilia team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Raul Fernandez from Trackhouse, along with Ai Ogura, who will be a newcomer in 2025, are both beginning contracts that will last

Yamaha has announced that its factory Monster Yamaha team will continue featuring Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins as its riders, with no changes expected until at least 2027.

A seat on the M1 might become available in 2026, as Jack Miller is set to join the newly established Prima Pramac Yamaha team under a one-year contract. Meanwhile, his teammate, Miguel Oliveira, has secured a two-year agreement with the Yamaha factory.

Honda might experience the highest number of rider changes in 2026. This comes as LCR's Johann Zarco, who will be Honda's top rider in 2024, along with Luca Marini and possibly newcomer Somkiat Chantra, are set to become free agents by the end of 2025.

This means that Joan Mir, who won the world championship with Suzuki in 2020, is the sole Honda rider formally announced for the 2026 MotoGP lineup.

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For two decades, Peter has been involved in the racing paddock, witnessing the career of Valentino Rossi from start to finish. He is currently a key figure in covering the news about Suzuki's departure and the injury challenges faced by Marc Marquez.

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Valentino Rossi shares his initial forecast for 2025, mentioning Marc Marquez.

The MotoGP icons turn their attention to the upcoming season.

Valentino Rossi has shared his thoughts on Marc Marquez's performance prospects for this season.

Marquez is joining the official Ducati team alongside VR46's protégé, Pecco Bagnaia.

In 2022 and 2023, Bagnaia secured the championship title with Ducati. However, last season, he was unseated by Jorge Martin, his fellow manufacturer teammate, who has moved to the official Aprilia team this year.

Although Bagnaia claimed 11 grand prix wins compared to Martin's three throughout the season, Bagnaia's eight races without any points caused him to lose the championship by a margin of 10 points in the final event.

Bagnaia will continue with Ducati's factory team through 2025, but he is set to encounter his most difficult test to date with the arrival of eight-time world champion Marquez to the team.

During the recent 100Km of Champions event held in Tavullia and organized by Rossi, he spoke to Sky Sports Italy about Bagnaia, whom he mentors, as well as his competitor Marquez.

Rossi stated that the riders from the Ducati factory team are the top contenders for the championship.

"Bagnaia is thrilled as he aims to make up for his loss from the previous year."

"We're optimistic that he can provide an additional 5% effort."

Rossi and his teammate Luca Marini secured second place in the 100km of Champions event held last weekend, finishing behind Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre, who took the top spot.

Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassarri finished in the podium positions.

Bagnaia teamed up with Marco Bezzecchi and secured a sixth-place finish, whereas Pedro Acosta and renowned Isle of Man TT racer Michael Dunlop ended up in the last position.

In 2025, Rossi will remain a factory driver for BMW, although the specifics of his car racing schedule for the next season have not been finalized.

In the previous year, Rossi participated in the World Endurance Championship for the first time and also raced in the GT World Challenge Europe, teaming up with the WRT team, which is supported by BMW.

He plans to reduce his racing activities in 2025 and attend more MotoGP events.

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Surprise victors overshadow Valentino Rossi and Luca Marini at the 100km of Champions event

Outcomes from Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions race

Valentino Rossi and Luca Marini missed out on winning the 100km of Champions due to an unexpected victory by other competitors.

Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre emerged victorious in Tavullia during Rossi's yearly celebration event.

The victorious pair completed the circuit in 1 minute, 43 seconds, and 59.623 milliseconds.

Rossi and Marini secured second place, with Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassarri finishing off the top three.

Pecco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi notably secured the sixth position.

JD Beach and Sammy Halbert, both from the United States, secured the

The British duo of Davey Todd and Ryan Vickers finished in the 17th position.

Pedro Acosta and Michael Dunlop, undeniably the most striking duo, ended up at the bottom of the rankings.

The unexpected victory of Moreira and Chareyre concluded Rossi's annual event in his native town. On Friday evening, Marini clinched the victory in the three-lap Americana race.

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Allegation that Ducati's worry about "danger" prompted partnership with Marc Marquez

New speculation on the reason behind Ducati's significant decision

It has been proposed that Ducati's apprehension regarding "risk" influenced their decision to collaborate with Marc Marquez.

A year ago, Marquez transitioned from Honda to Gresini Ducati and thrived in 2024, competing on a machine from the previous year. He mounted a significant challenge for the title, which only diminished in the last few rounds.

His performance was sufficiently impressive to secure a spot on the prestigious Ducati team this season, providing him with the top-tier equipment on the circuit.

The decision made by the manufacturer negatively impacted Jorge Martin, the MotoGP champion on a Ducati, who has since moved to Aprilia.

"Wayne Gardner expressed to Motosan that the choice of Marquez over Martin didn't catch him off guard."

Frankly speaking, had I been in that situation, I likely would have remained with Jorge.

"However, it's clear that Marc possesses remarkable skills as a rider. They're both from Spain, aren't they?"

"I believe Ducati's actions effectively ousted Marquez from the contest."

Having him collaborate with them is preferable to having him oppose them.

"Everyone is aware of Marc's talent. It appears he has made significant progress since becoming part of the Ducati team."

Clearly, Ducati boasts the top motorcycle in the lineup, and this has been the case for several years.

"Marc has been struggling to handle the Honda, leading to his numerous crashes."

"He continues to experience a number of accidents, yet there's now a semblance of regularity, likely due to the improved performance of the motorcycle.

"However, from Ducati's perspective, they cannot afford to let Marquez join an opposing team."

"Placing him in their team ensures a victory next year, whether it's with Pecco or with Marquez."

Thus, a choice was necessary, leading to the outcome.

"Now Martin is making a move to Aprilia, and I believe it’s going to be amazing on that motorcycle."

"In my opinion, this will add an extra layer of excitement to the championship, honestly."

Last summer, Marquez presented a challenge for Ducati as they deliberated over their roster for the 2025 season.

He emphasized that the possibility of Pramac, despite having a factory-spec motorcycle, was out of the question.

Ducati had to reverse their initial decision to honor Martin.

As a consequence, Martin inked a deal with Aprilia and ultimately wrapped up an ideal season by clinching the MotoGP championship title.

He is now in a position to race with the top spot on an Aprilia in 2025.

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For ten years, James worked as a sports reporter for Sky Sports, where his coverage spanned a variety of sports including American sports, soccer, and Formula 1.

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Chico Lorenzo firmly positions himself in the Marc Marquez versus Valentino Rossi discussion, stating, "Upon Valentino's entrance, he faced no comparable adversaries…"

Chico Lorenzo has unequivocally expressed his opinion on who he believes stands as the top motorcycle racer in MotoGP history.

The argument, often centered around Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi, polarizes supporters.

Jorge, the son of Chico, found himself at the heart of their most intense conflict, and has established himself as a MotoGP icon independently.

Chico has defended his opinion that Marquez surpasses all, including Rossi, as the greatest of all time.

"When Valentino Rossi entered the 500cc category, he was riding the same motorcycle as Mick Doohan," he shared with Moto.it.

"He competed alongside Doohan, who had been victorious over his competitors for five consecutive years."

Upon Marquez's arrival, he faced competition from Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, and Valentino Rossi—riders who are among the top 10 in the sport's history.

"When Valentino made his entrance, he was unmatched, without any competitors. His era was before the likes of Gibernau, Capirossi, Biaggi, Melandri…"

Rossi, undoubtedly the most recognizable figure in MotoGP, is now embarking on his fourth year since retiring.

Marquez, his perennial rival, has the opportunity this season to match his record of nine world championships.

Marquez is taking on the challenge of riding a factory Ducati, a machine quite distinct from the one Rossi struggled to master during his unsuccessful period.

Jorge Lorenzo's dad has cautioned that Marquez will encounter a challenger for the 2025 championship from a specific competitor.

Chico is convinced that Pecco Bagnaia is the sole competitor certain to challenge.

"Jorge Martin is with Aprilia," Chico clarified.

"I believe Martin matches Marquez in skill, yet it remains uncertain how well he will perform with Aprilia."

"I believe if Aprilia performs well, Bagnaia, Marquez, and Martin are the top three contenders, with Martin potentially making it into the leading trio."

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EXCLUSIVE – Carchedi on Aldeguer: Remarkable Improvement, Shattered Windscreen, Ambitions for 2025

"Carchedi believes Fermin is set to astonish many this season"

By assisting eight-time world champion Marc Marquez in revitalizing his MotoGP career with 20 podium finishes, of which three were wins, while at Gresini, crew chief Frankie Carchedi is now teaming up with newcomer Fermin Aldeguer for the 2025 season.

Aldeguer, after securing his position with Ducati by excelling in the final stages of the 2023 Moto2 season, despite finishing fifth in the previous year's championship, embarked on his first MotoGP appearance at the Barcelona test in November.

The young rider from Spain surpassed Moto2's current champion, Ai Ogura of Trackhouse Aprilia, securing the position of quickest newcomer in 20th, with a time that was 1.761 seconds behind his team member and the top performer in the test, Alex Marquez.

On the Crash.net MotoGP podcast, Carchedi shared that the test presented significant challenges for the new riders, primarily because of the cold weather and the absence of soft front tires, a situation that arose due to the unexpected switch of the season's final race from Valencia to Barcelona.

"Carchedi mentioned, "There was a minor mishap, yet given the challenging circumstances, it could have been much worse. Every newcomer had a moment in the gravel, which honestly didn't come as a shock. Nonetheless, the trial was overall quite encouraging."

"He mentioned that by the second or third lap, you start getting used to the pace. However, definitely, when we analyzed the data, it was clear that braking was the aspect where there was significant room for enhancement."

"Perhaps we exerted a bit too much pressure on him!"

However, once informed about the areas requiring enhancement, Carchedi disclosed that Aldeguer took a 'frightening' leap in terms of performance.

Something that truly stood out to us was during a session where we reviewed [the braking], by the following exit, he had significantly narrowed the gap with the leading riders. Honestly, it was a bit alarming because it made us wonder if we had perhaps encouraged him a bit too aggressively.

"It's important to keep in mind that how a rider is positioned on the bike, essentially their comfort and fit, plays a huge role in MotoGP. When it comes to a newcomer, figuring out the right fit during [the initial test] is largely speculative."

"We consider the placement of the other riders and have placed him somewhat centrally, but there's additional effort required on this aspect over the winter."

"Our windshield was indeed shattered…"

Standing at 1.81 meters, Aldeguer towers among the riders. The importance of him moving his body more to the back was vividly demonstrated as the Spaniard shattered the windshield with his helmet while attempting a practice start!

"Carchedi disclosed that they focused primarily on mastering the ride-height mechanism throughout most of the morning, and he was able to grasp it quite rapidly. They didn't discuss the starting process or the controls involved at all."

"We approached it gradually, and as the day came to a close, the cooler weather led us to perform some trial starts at the pit lane's exit [prior to the designated start practice session concluding the test]."

"Jumping directly onto the grid to perform his inaugural practice start in full view of everyone would have been somewhat unjust – however, as observed, we ended up with a shattered windscreen regardless!"

"The unexpected twist emerges in the second weekend of racing"

Despite being at different stages in their MotoGP journeys, Carchedi pointed out that Marquez and Aldeguer share common ground in adjusting to a fresh motorcycle.

"He mentioned that there are indeed parallels with [2024]," he expressed. "The challenges aren't overly difficult since you have an entire day on the track. It's something you can strategize for. With two motorcycles at your disposal, everything tends to be pretty clear-cut. You're able to pace yourself and achieve a solid performance level. Therefore, it's common to witness many newcomers performing exceptionally well in the initial race.

The unexpected twist occurs during the second racing weekend, at a circuit where prior testing hasn't happened. You're limited to roughly 20 laps in the first practice session before you need to shift gears into qualifying mode to secure a spot directly in Q2.

"That's when you experience a sudden jolt."

"We have around five to six days allocated for testing at Sepang, which should be sufficient for even a newcomer to become competitive. Similarly, for the inaugural race weekend in Thailand, the preceding test in Buriram is expected to level the playing field."

"However, the journey begins with the first fresh circuit, taking place in Argentina."

"In Joan [Mir's debut with Suzuki in 2019], he was close to securing a podium finish up until the final few laps of his inaugural race in Qatar. He performed exceptionally well. However, the subsequent race took place in Argentina, which presented a totally different set of challenges.

"As I mentioned earlier, there are 20 laps ahead of you, followed by a qualifying round. Currently, in MotoGP, the position you start in significantly influences your performance and strategies during the races. This process will require some time."

"The focus is consistently on moving forward"

When questioned about his ambitions for Aldeguer in 2025, as he competes against Ogura and Somkiat Chantra for the premier rookie award, Carchedi responded:

"I've consistently maintained with past riders, and it will be no different for Fermin, that my focus is on continuous improvement. So, if you start off by placing 20th in the initial race, but each subsequent race shows improvement, then you've met your objective. This sets you up for success in the next year."

"If you have a year with highs and lows… It might feel good to secure a top-three finish in the fifth or sixth race, but if you end up in 20th place in the following race, it ultimately doesn't pay off."

"Reflecting on our beginnings with Diggia in 2023, the focus was on achieving consistent progress. The approach will be identical with Fermin."

"The real challenge arises when you secure a podium finish in the opening race, as enhancing your performance throughout the season from that point on will be tough!"

"I anticipate that over the course of the year, we'll see our competitiveness increase, rather than fluctuating based on whether a track suits us or not. There should be a consistent rise in our performance."

"He achieved his quickest lap time while conserving the most tire wear," Carchedi noted. He emphasized that initially, it would be more advantageous for Aldeguer to focus on fine-tuning the setup instead of risking everything to secure a direct spot in Q2 during Friday's afternoon session.

Carchedi emphasized that at the beginning of the season, it wouldn't be wise to arrive at a new circuit, complete 20 laps, and then hastily attempt to secure a spot in Q2 by pushing too hard.

"It's more beneficial to focus on tuning your motorcycle, and once you're prepared to truly challenge the limits to advance into Q2, that's the time to act. Thus, we'll proceed in a manner similar to our approach during the [Barcelona] test.

"A standout aspect of the test was his ability to manage tyre wear effectively. It goes beyond merely speeding on a bike; it's about maintaining a swift pace while ensuring the tyres don't wear out to the point of requiring a pit stop mid-race!

"In fact, on the latest set of tires, he achieved his quickest lap and exhibited the most efficient tire usage."

"In essence, the focus will be on elements such as tyre durability because, frankly, starting further back in the lineup doesn't preclude gaining positions. Should your tyres withstand the entire race, it's likely you'll effortlessly move up five or six spots regardless."

"Each person sets their own objectives and aspirations. We've established our own, focusing on what we aim to accomplish, particularly during the initial stages."

"Fermin is set to leave a remarkable impression on many this year," Carchedi expressed, further emphasizing his lack of worry regarding Aldeguer's challenging Moto2 season the previous year.

The anticipated frontrunner going into the season, despite securing the same number of victories as champion Ogura in the inaugural season featuring Pirelli tyres, ended up nearly 100 points adrift of the Japanese racer due to failing to score in seven races, resulting in Aldeguer concluding the season significantly behind.

The switch in tire supplier for Moto2 led to challenges for numerous competitors. It appeared that each leading rider experienced a phase of three to four races where they dominated, only to face significant struggles in the following three to four events.

"In light of it being the inaugural season with Pirelli tires and all that entails, I believe it's not something to overly dwell on. Honestly, the way Fermin wrapped up the [2023] season was nothing short of phenomenal. He emerged as the sole contender capable of challenging Pedro, whom we recognize as a top-tier competitor."

"I believe Fermin is going to surprise many individuals this year."

On Saturday, January 18th, Gresini is set to unveil its 2025 MotoGP season efforts, showcasing team members Aldeguer and Alex Marquez during the team's official presentation.

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For two decades, Peter has witnessed the motorsport landscape evolve, including Valentino Rossi's rise and departure. Currently, he's leading the coverage on Suzuki's withdrawal and the challenges Marc Marquez faces due to injuries.

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Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez share the racetrack for their initial joint session in the 2025 MotoGP season build-up.

Last week in Spain, Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez took to the circuit side by side as they ramped up their training for the upcoming 2025 MotoGP championships.

Marquez spent his day at the Aspar Circuit getting acquainted with the Ducati Panigale V2, his initial ride on the motorcycle since joining the Ducati factory team. This new model is lighter yet not as robust as its predecessor, an advantage of Marquez's recent role with Ducati.

Jorge Martin and Marc Márquez spotted sharing the circuit 📸👀 Photo by Manu Tormo at the Aspar Circuit pic.twitter.com/TrUgqJKh2R— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) January 12, 2025

Conversely, Martin was experiencing the Aprilia RSV4 for the first time, a bike that might be considered too powerful for what is fundamentally a karting track at the Aspar Circuit. This occasion marked his inaugural ride on the track since his official Aprilia team agreement commenced at the start of January.

The pair not only spent time together at the racetrack, but they also shared a few laps, closely observing each other's performance ahead of the official MotoGP tests scheduled for February.

This off-season wasn't the inaugural occasion for Martin and Marquez to pair up for a ride, as the Spanish duo had previously hit the motocross tracks together back in December.

A major narrative during the 2024 MotoGP campaign, which culminated in Martin securing his inaugural championship in the top division, centered around Ducati's selection of a teammate for Francesco Bagnaia in the Ducati Lenovo Team for the upcoming 2025 and 2026 MotoGP seasons.

Marquez and Martin were both contenders for the coveted second Ducati team spot, competing alongside Enea Bastianini. Prior to the Italian Grand Prix, it appeared that Martin was set to team up with Bagnaia. However, following the conclusion of the post-race testing at Mugello, Ducati opted for Marquez, leading Martin to secure a position with Aprilia.

Looking ahead to 2025, the story will focus on Martin's attempt to disrupt Ducati's supremacy in the racing circuit with Aprilia, the sole brand besides Ducati that secured a victory in 2024. Attention will also be on how he stacks up against Marquez and Bagnaia, who are widely regarded as the top contenders for the championship title this year.

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In August 2024, Alex became a part of the Crash.net crew after spending two years reporting on both consumer and racing motorcycle news for Visordown.

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Carlo Pernat Reveals Why He and MotoGP Rider Enea Bastianini Parted Ways

Pernat Discusses the Shift in Bastianini’s Representation

Carlo Pernat attributes the end of his managerial relationship with KTM MotoGP racer Enea Bastianini primarily to his own declining health.

Throughout his extensive career, Pernat has guided numerous notable riders, including Andrea Iannone and Loris Capirossi. He has served as Bastianini's personal manager since the latter's early days in Moto3, a period during which Bastianini has clinched victory in seven MotoGP races.

Just last week, the London-based firm MSM declared that Bastianini had joined its lineup of represented talents.

Amid financial turmoil and an unpredictable future in MotoGP for KTM, rumors have emerged suggesting that this situation led to Bastianini's split with Pernat.

In an interview with GPOne, Pernat disclosed that his declining health, preventing him from attending races, led Bastianini to look for new management.

"Pernat opened up, stating, 'I'm dealing with a health issue. I've been diagnosed with pulmonary emphysema, which means I can't travel anymore. Being a manager, I used to attend all the races.'"

"I had discussed it with Enea, and it's appropriate that he made his decision.

"All the experiences we shared remain memorable. Our journey began in Moto3, he clinched a championship in Moto2, and ultimately, we fulfilled our aspiration of joining the official Ducati team."

Dressed in red, he faced misfortune, missing an entire year because of an injury. The decision to go with KTM also presents its challenges, yet it seemed like the most sensible option for both parties at that moment.

"However, it turned out not to be as great as expected. This similar situation occurred with both [Dani] Pedrosa and [Maverick] Vinales as well."

In response to allegations suggesting that Bastianini had terminated him, he clarified, stating, “That’s incorrect. My health is the actual issue.

"This move was necessary to maintain a manager's professionalism towards their athlete."

"Enea possesses exceptional skills, and I've committed to supporting him offstage. We've come to an understanding. My primary objective for this year is to improve."

Pernat mentions that the KTM circumstance contributed merely "20%" to the decision for the separation.

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