Christian Horner has suggested that Red Bull might alter their driver roster by the 2025 F1 season.

Christian Horner has hinted at a potential shake-up in Red Bull's Formula 1 driver roster prior to the 2025 season.

Sergio Perez has secured his place for the upcoming season after agreeing to a contract extension earlier in the year, yet his prospects remain uncertain due to his ongoing struggles to match the performance of his teammate, Max Verstappen.

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Verstappen has the chance to clinch his fourth consecutive drivers' championship at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, but Red Bull is up against a challenging battle to retain their constructors' championship title.

Perez has accumulated just 48 points in the last 15 races as Red Bull has fallen to third in the constructors' rankings, trailing McLaren, the front-runners, by 49 points with merely three races left.

Red Bull's team leader, Horner, has stood by Perez in the past but has acknowledged that the team urgently requires the Mexican driver to enhance his performance.

"Horner expressed to the official F1 channel that Sergio is their driver and they are fully committed to maximizing his potential. He acknowledged that Sergio has been facing a challenging period in terms of performance lately."

"Viewed from the perspective of the team's builders, it's critical for us to have both cars performing closely together, something that's been missing. We are certainly hopeful that Checo will deliver solid results in the upcoming three races."

"However, achieving victory in the constructors championship is impossible without it."

Red Bull may consider elevating either Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson from its affiliate team, RB, as potential successors to Perez. Additionally, Franco Colapinto, who temporarily filled in at Williams, has been suggested as another replacement option.

Horner mentioned that Red Bull has the liberty to delay their final decision until the very start of the season at the Australian Grand Prix, if necessary.

"He mentioned that they have complete clarity on the contractual obligations of all the drivers they currently have agreements with."

"If desired, we have the option to delay our decision until next year's Melbourne event since our drivers are currently under contract."

"Undoubtedly, as the year draws to a close, we will gather and review all the data at our disposal."

Lewis frequently covers Grands Prix worldwide for Crash.net. He usually reports directly from the event, sharing the narratives of key figures in the sport.

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Mercedes puzzled by their own success in Las Vegas practice, George Russell acknowledges.

George Russell mentions that Mercedes is puzzled following their surprisingly solid performance at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton led the way in both practice rounds on the initial day of the event in Sin City, securing the fastest times in FP1 and leading a Mercedes one-two finish, while in FP2, he was followed closely by Lando Norris from McLaren, with Russell taking the third-fastest spot.

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Russell acknowledged that the reason for Mercedes' remarkable showing remains a mystery.

"Absolutely amazing day. Honestly, I'm eager to share the reason with you, though we're a bit puzzled ourselves about why it turned out to be incredibly positive," Russell remarked.

Clearly, it was just a practice session. Lewis also performed exceptionally well. From the very first lap, he's been in excellent form, and the car has been functioning smoothly. However, it's worth noting that we're racing on a street circuit, which tends to be quite dusty.

"The speed is increasing with each lap. Just because we had a quick pace today doesn't guarantee the same performance tomorrow, especially since the track might be about three seconds quicker. It's a nice surprise, though."

When questioned about the possibility of Mercedes experiencing a dip in performance throughout the weekend, Russell responded, "It's certainly not something I'm afraid of. I believe the idea that we're losing performance might not be entirely accurate."

"I believe it primarily stems from our rivals not fully utilizing their power. It's possible they consume more fuel than we do during Fridays, suggesting they've traditionally downplayed their capabilities somewhat. Once they revert to their standard setup, they return to their usual standing."

"It's possible it might occur once more tomorrow, yet the difference we observed between this morning and tonight was quite significant."

"However, I'm confident our competitors will put in the effort overnight to narrow the gap, though I'm hopeful that we can maintain our performance."

During a break in the practice runs, Mercedes leader Toto Wolff humorously remarked, "I believe we're the champions of racing on dirty tracks."

"FP1 typically starts off strong, but as soon as the grip improves, there's a noticeable decline in performance. Despite that, it's worth noting that the difference was quite substantial.

"This is the largest size we've encountered during the first practice session, so we will need to apply dust suppression for all of tomorrow's sessions, including qualifying or similar activities."

"However, I'm convinced that this edge currently held by rival teams won't persist. It's my sincere desire that we avoid repeating the setbacks experienced previously on certain circuits, and instead, stay in contention, battling at the forefront."

Lewis frequently travels globally to cover Grands Prix for Crash.net. Reporting directly from the events, Lewis shares the narratives of the significant figures within the sport.

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James Vowles discloses that recent severe accidents have resulted in a staggering million-dollar expense for Williams

James Vowles unveils the astounding repair costs for Williams following their recent significant crashes.

Williams F1 chief James Vowles has approximated that the team's recent accidents have led to repair costs amounting to a few million dollars.

The team based in Grove experienced consecutive severe incidents, with drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto involved in five significant crashes over the last two races in Mexico and Brazil.

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Albon was sidelined from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix due to a significant accident during qualifying that rendered his car irreparable before the race. His teammate, Colapinto, experienced severe crashes in both the qualifying rounds and the actual race.

The destruction has placed Williams in a difficult position, scrambling for replacement components before the season's last three contests, and Vowles has since disclosed the economic strain experienced by the squad.

"Your figures fall into the millions, somewhere between three and ten. It's a substantial amount if you consider our current position," Vowles shared with ESPN during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

In my 25 years of involvement in the sport, the extensive harm that occurred in both Mexico and Brazil was unprecedented for me, with five significant crashes happening over the course of two races. Assigning blame is difficult, as it's part of the nature of auto racing, but five incidents…

"This resulted in the destruction of five front wings, five floors, five back wings, three transmissions, two engines, two frames. It's an unbelievable quantity.”

Vowles commended the "colossal" work undertaken by his team during the interval between the Mexico and Las Vegas races to ensure both Williams vehicles were repaired to an identical standard.

"He elaborated on the significant endeavor involved in getting two cars fully upgraded to the correct specifications in Las Vegas, despite not having an extensive inventory of spare parts. He emphasized that this was not just a massive effort but a colossal undertaking that required the collective effort of the entire team."

What fills me with pride is how, in a time when we were truly at our lowest, feeling defeated and overwhelmed, our team managed to rise above it all, becoming even stronger than before. We arrived here with a renewed determination to show everyone that we're still in the game, ready to battle for every possible victory until the championship concludes.

"Leading the team at that time was a moment of great pride."

Lewis frequently covers Grands Prix worldwide for Crash.net. He typically provides firsthand reports on events, sharing the narratives of key figures in the sport.

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In the 2024 MotoGP championship, it wasn’t a crucial mistake by Pecco Bagnaia that cost him the title. Instead, Bagnaia was defeated this year by Jorge Martin, the very competitor he had triumphed over in 2023.

In the 2024 MotoGP season, the championship showdown once again featured Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. However, unlike the previous year, Martin emerged victorious, surpassing Bagnaia, who was outperformed by Martin's significantly enhanced performance compared to 2023.

At first glance, Bagnaia and Martin were so closely competitive throughout the 2023 and 2024 seasons that each claiming a championship over the last two years seems just.

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Nevertheless, it can be argued that the absence of a fight in both years might be attributed to a significant error made by Bagnaia.

Following the 2023 Catalan Sprint, Bagnaia held a 62-point lead over Martin in the championship standings. At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, last September, he was the sole competitor who could even come close to matching the speed of the Aprilia racers — Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales. Up to that moment, Bagnaia was performing at his peak and was undoubtedly the standout racer.

However, everything shifted following Bagnaia's accident at the second turn during last year's Catalan Grand Prix. Brad Binder, who was unable to avoid colliding with the Italian racer as he approached the third turn, played a significant role in the incident.

There is no doubt that if that crash hadn't occurred, Martin would have faced a significantly harder challenge in the latter part of the season trying to catch up to Bagnaia. In reality, one could even suggest that without the crash, Martin might not have been a genuine contender for the 2023 title at all.

He indeed became a contender for the title primarily due to a crash at turn two, which affected Bagnaia's physical condition for the upcoming San Marino Grand Prix and shook his confidence during the subsequent races in Asia.

Certainly, there were numerous other developments and surprises during 2023, yet their significance largely stemmed from the crash in Catalunya. That incident not only awarded Martin points but also provided him with crucial momentum.

From that point to the season's conclusion, Bagnaia often found himself struggling to keep up with Martin. There were instances where he managed to match him, but at other times, he fell short.

It was both Martin's errors during the 2023 season and Bagnaia's exceptional performance that secured the championship for Bagnaia.

Consider the crash that occurred during the Indonesian Grand Prix, the decision-making around tire selection at the Australian Grand Prix, and, naturally, the intense finale in Valencia that resulted in a collision involving Marc Marquez.

Certainly, Martin faced his own setbacks, most notably during his performance at the Qatar Grand Prix, which remains largely unexplained. However, this incident wasn't as detrimental to him as the events in Indonesia or Valencia.

Martin's success in 2024 can be attributed to his ability to identify and address his weaknesses from 2023. Achieving 32 podium finishes out of 40 races is an impressive achievement, despite securing victory in only three Grand Prix events this year.

In the eight races where he failed to secure a podium finish, one was the Texas Sprint. That weekend, Ducati faced significant issues with rear tire vibrations, although he still managed to outperform Bagnaia in both races. Another instance was the Barcelona Sprint, where he came in fourth while Bagnaia crashed. In four races—the Spanish Grand Prix, German Grand Prix, Italian Sprint, and Indonesian Sprint—he suffered crashes, all of which were won by Bagnaia. In the San Marino Grand Prix, Martin finished 15th after changing bikes, while Bagnaia secured second place. Lastly, Martin placed fourth in the Japanese Sprint after qualifying 11th due to a crash in Q2.

During the races where Martin experienced crashes, he was at the forefront in Spain, ahead in Germany, leading in Indonesia, and trailing only behind Bagnaia in Italy. In San Marino, when he switched to his bike suited for rainy conditions, Martin was in second place, just behind Bagnaia.

Apart from the previously mentioned races in Texas, Martin consistently had a strong chance of reaching the podium throughout 2024, and he frequently lived up to that expectation.

In 2024, Martin achieved 32 podium finishes, with half of them being second-place results. Bagnaia clinched victory in nine of those events.

This demonstrates Martin's newfound ability to find stability, a trait he lacked in 2023 when he was more immature and uncertain about his skills. This lack of maturity and confidence resulted in errors such as those in Indonesia and Australia, but these incidents were notably infrequent in 2024.

In 2023, Martin might have attempted to compete with Marc Marquez in Aragon, but by 2024, he understood that Marquez wasn't his main rival. Similarly, in 2023, Martin might have continued pushing hard to surpass Bagnaia in Malaysia, but in 2024, he came to the conclusion that finishing in second place was sufficient.

Throughout 2024, there were numerous occasions like this, which were crucial to Martin's ultimate achievement. Although Bagnaia secured nearly four times the number of Grand Prix victories compared to Martin, he frequently found himself in the position of pursuing Martin.

What enabled Martin to demonstrate such maturity? Just a year ago, he overanalyzed his way out of securing a world championship.

The key moment occurred in Catalunya 2023, marked by Bagnaia's fall. This incident brought Martin into the championship race toward the end of the season, providing him an opportunity to demonstrate that he was not yet prepared to claim the title in 2023. As a result, it highlighted the aspects he needed to improve upon to enhance his prospects for a title win in 2024.

Had Martin not stayed close to Bagnaia in the final phases of 2023, he wouldn't have experienced the stress of the championship race. This pressure was crucial for him to learn and understand his own reactions under such conditions. Without the insights he gained in 2023, he wouldn’t have been able to make the necessary improvements over the winter. Consequently, he would have entered 2024 with plenty of speed but lacking the crucial mindset needed to secure the championship this year.

Could that have altered the results of the 2024 event? It might have, though it's undeniably uncertain to determine definitively.

In 2023, Bagnaia provided Martin with the opportunity to grasp the insights needed for a championship win in 2024. However, it remained Martin's responsibility to correctly understand and apply those insights.

Martin's victory in 2024 unexpectedly provides three-time World Champion Bagnaia with an opportunity to gain similar insights.

There's no mystery about what caused Bagnaia to miss out on the championship this year. It wasn't due to Brad Binder's determination in Jerez, a mechanical problem at Le Mans, or Alex Marquez's oversight in Aragon. The real issue was his loss of control in Catalunya, Silverstone, and particularly at Misano.

It will take time to determine if Bagnaia can achieve similar progress as Martin during the approaching winter season.

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

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Aleix Espargaro shares initial impressions of Honda's MotoGP motorcycle: 'He found it remarkable'

The ex-Aprilia rider completed his initial laps on the Honda during the Barcelona testing session.

Honda's MotoGP riders have shared some of Aleix Espargaro's first impressions of the RC213V, which he tried out during the post-season test in Barcelona.

Espargaro, who has achieved three grand prix victories, ended his career in full-time racing after the Solidarity Grand Prix. He has since taken on a new position with Honda as a test rider.

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On Tuesday in Barcelona, the Spanish rider completed his initial laps on the RC213V, achieving an admirable 14th place on the timing charts, surpassing the full-time racer Joan Mir.

Espargaro chose not to address the press, but Luca Marini was willing to discuss his discussions with Honda's newly appointed test rider.

He expressed his excitement about Aleix testing out the bike for the first time at the Barcelona track, which he considers possibly Aleix's strongest.

"He is incredibly quick on this track and has secured impressive outcomes with Aprilia here. This will significantly aid in the bike's development, particularly with his initial feedback at this location."

"I briefly chatted with him while the test was ongoing, and I plan to have a more in-depth conversation with him later. However, his lap times are impressive."

"His perspective indicates something important, and I believe he simply requires a bit more time to get accustomed to the bike, as it's quite distinct from the rest. However, he will eventually figure out how to assist us."

Mir observed that Espargaro identified both the strengths and weaknesses of the Honda similar to what others have experienced. He humorously mentioned being "impressed" by the shortcomings.

"He tested our basic model, which is the regular bike we offer. As far as I’m aware, he didn’t experiment with any new features," Mir commented, expressing dissatisfaction with Honda's failure to introduce new items in the test.

He found it impressive and plans to discuss it further. Indeed, his observations align with common critiques we often hear: the bike's insufficient torque, lack of grip, and inadequate power.

"In areas where we usually have fewer complaints, he also didn't express much dissatisfaction. Regarding the turning zone, he mentioned that he felt relatively fine."

He didn't have many complaints about the bike itself or its design, as they were quite satisfactory. However, he was notably surprised by the bike's insufficient grip, acceleration, and top speed.

Alberto Puig, the manager of Honda's factory team, commended Espargaro for providing "accurate" input to the engineers on the Honda test team.

He expressed to motogp.com that they were extremely content and pleasantly shocked.

"It's not shocking since he's quick. On Sunday, he was competing for a spot on the podium."

"The individual possesses remarkable speed, but what truly impressed me was how he communicated with our engineers. He was straightforward, precise, and clear in expressing his thoughts on the bike's strengths and weaknesses."

"This is exactly what we needed: someone with experience who is also quick, because ultimately it's important to have a mix of both."

"He seems quite cheerful, and I'm confident that his role with both our team and Honda will be significant. We should kick things off with a solid strategy involving him."

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Alex Rins disclosed that Yamaha has issued an apology concerning a problem with their 2024 MotoGP bike. "I had an in-depth conversation with them, and they expressed their regrets

Alex Rins disclosed that Yamaha issued an apology to him following the Solidarity Grand Prix for not resolving the braking issues he faced during the 2024 MotoGP season.

The racer, who has clinched six grand prix victories in his career, faced a challenging debut year with Yamaha, managing to accumulate only 31 points and finishing 18th in the overall rankings.

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The main challenge Rins encountered with the M1 was insufficient rear grip during braking, a problem that he claims Yamaha was unable to resolve.

Following what he referred to as "one of the worst races of my life, if not the worst," at the Solidarity GP in Barcelona, he mentioned that Yamaha's management apologized for not resolving the issue he faced.

When questioned following the post-season test about which area Yamaha should focus on improving for 2025, he responded that if he had to pick one, it would be the braking and entry.

"This year, they couldn't provide me with a bike that would allow me to compete effectively here."

Throughout all the races, I faced difficulties maintaining traction with the rear tire. Without this grip, the bike couldn't be properly controlled during braking. This lack of control meant I either ended up going wide on turns or, in cases where I managed to stop the bike, the front tire overheated and ended up damaged.

Following the race, I had a detailed conversation with Max Bartolini and Massimo Meregalli, during which they expressed their apologies.

"I am confident they are addressing this issue, but we also need to enhance the engine's power and the electronics."

On Tuesday in Barcelona, Yamaha experienced a hectic day of testing, as each of their factory riders had access to three M1 motorcycles in their respective garages.

Yamaha had several things to evaluate, including a new engine, a redesigned chassis, and some fresh setup concepts.

Rins expressed satisfaction with the updated chassis but mentioned that he feels unprepared for the power generated by the new engine, as it does not align with his riding technique.

"We made incremental adjustments during the setup, not entirely to my preference. However, after discussing with the engineers post-race, they mentioned that the upcoming tests won't lead to dramatic changes. They anticipate perhaps a 5 to 10% improvement, rather than a complete transformation."

"I experimented with a setup adjustment that I hadn't used during the Grand Prix weekend, and it has made handling the bike somewhat easier for me."

In addition to that, Yamaha introduced several updates, including a revamped chassis and a new engine. I found the new chassis to be quite impressive.

"I managed to maintain a higher speed while going through the middle of the turn. I anticipated that the braking performance would be superior, but the enhancement was only minimal."

"The engine indeed offers more power on straightaways and when coming out of corners. However, with my current riding technique, we aren't fully prepared to harness this power."

"The motorcycle exhibited a lot of forceful spinning, indicating that we need to modify the engine's electronic settings."

"Our efforts were not primarily on the electronics due to time constraints. Instead, we concentrated on developing the new engine, the new chassis, and made some adjustments to the setup."

"In my opinion, we lacked an additional engine to experiment with a unique setup. This might have been the fifth or sixth new engine I've tried out."

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Francesco Bagnaia confesses: "I understand the reasons behind my defeat"

Ex-MotoGP titleholder contemplates the loss of his championship

Francesco Bagnaia expresses that he harbors 'no frustrations' over not securing the 2024 MotoGP championship, stating he "understands the reasons for his loss."

In the final race of the 2024 Solidarity Grand Prix season, which took place last weekend in Barcelona, Jorge Martin emerged victorious over the two-time world champion.

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After taking the championship battle to the last event and securing victories in both races at Barcelona, Bagnaia ultimately fell short against Martin by a margin of 10 points.

Ahead of the weekend, the two-time MotoGP world champion conceded that overcoming a 24-point shortfall, after failing to finish eight races throughout the season, was expected to be a significant challenge. He showed sportsmanship in acknowledging his loss to Martin.

After a test session in Barcelona on Tuesday, where Bagnaia finished third with 58 laps completed, he discussed his lack of frustration over his recent loss and explained how he moved past the weekend's events.

"Truly, I don't consider myself someone who gets upset over such matters," he commented, in response to inquiries about whether he was bothered by not securing his third top-tier championship.

"I understand the reasons behind my defeat. I won't try to justify the outcome."

"After the race in Malaysia, given that I came into the final Grand Prix trailing by 24 points, it was hard to envision clinching the victory."

"Jorge performed exceptionally well. This is satisfactory. To be honest, I spent a lot of time walking around Barcelona just yesterday, Monday."

"I just found myself waking up in the field and thought, 'alright, I'll head out for lunch at a beachfront eatery'."

"After that, I spent an hour walking, covering a distance of about 10 kilometers for the entire day, and it was beneficial."

Following the Solidarity Grand Prix on Sunday, Bagnaia shared a photo on his social media channels showing him tearing apart the number one decal that had adorned his Ducati for the past two years.

He stated, "My intention was to take it out on my own without relying on anyone else to do it for me.

"I placed the numeral one on the initial fairing, which meant I had to take off the numeral one from the final fairing of the season.

"Therefore, I believe it was the right decision."

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Insight: Initial Optimism Shown in Jorge Martin's Inaugural Aprilia MotoGP Testing

A review of Jorge Martin's initial performance on an Aprilia, by Lewis Duncan in Barcelona

On a chilly yet sunny Tuesday morning in November, Jorge Martin received a warm reception from a notably sizeable audience (considering it was a testing event) in Barcelona. Present was a rider who appeared quite at ease, a stark contrast to his demeanor throughout the previous weekend's Solidarity Grand Prix.

To give him credit, it was entirely justifiable that he was feeling the pressure, given it was his last opportunity to clinch his inaugural MotoGP world championship. Indeed, he turned his aspirations into success during the season's concluding grand prix on the previous Sunday, securing a third-place finish while Francesco Bagnaia took the race victory.

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The celebrations were short-lived. By Monday, all traces of Ducati and Pramac had been removed from his racing attire, marking his initial engagement with the Aprilia factory team, whom he'll join in the racing circuit come 2025.

Entering the garage decked out in his racing suit on Tuesday, Martin couldn't hide his joy. That joy remained unmistakably etched on his face even after he came back to the pit following his initial five-lap stint on the 2024-spec RS-GP.

To a certain degree, it mirrored the initial moments Marc Marquez had with the Ducati during the previous year's Valencia test after the season ended. While the context of their transitions significantly diverged, Martin nonetheless garnered considerable attention.

He has swapped the top motorcycle in the competition for a bike that ranked third among manufacturers in 2024, although it was the sole brand to interrupt Ducati's series of grand prix wins, thanks to Maverick Vinales' victory at the Americas Grand Prix.

Jorge Martin takes to the track with the 2024 Aprilia RS-GP 🏍️#MotoGP #BarcelonaTest pic.twitter.com/hmPjoghThg— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) November 19, 2024

However, the performance of the RS-GP towards the latter part of 2024 likely didn't sit well with Martin. With Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro at the helm for the factory team, from the British Grand Prix through to the season's close, they collectively amassed 137 points and secured just two podium finishes in sprint races. In contrast, Jorge Martin alone reached and surpassed this total in just five rounds.

After participating in seven rounds, during which Aprilia secured a victory at the Americas GP and two sprint triumphs, Martin opted to join the team. While Aprilia wasn't performing at Ducati's standard, it was far from being at its lowest, which was evident in the latter half of the season.

On his initial ride, dividing his efforts between the 2024 RS-GP and the upcoming 2025 RS-GP models, Martin managed to cover 77 laps. This impressive count was only surpassed by his teammate Marco Bezzecchi and the newcomer from Trackhouse Aprilia, Ai Ogura. The freshly crowned world champion landed in 11th place on the leaderboard, trailing by 1.056 seconds behind the pace leader, Alex Marquez of Gresini.

This doesn't hold significant value, but there's a slight sense of achievement in being the premier rider to change manufacturers for the trial.

Due to contractual obligations with Ducati that last until the year's end, Martin is restricted from engaging with the press. Consequently, his impressions of the RS-GP will remain unknown until February. During the testing phase, Martin appeared at ease on the bike at certain moments, but less so at other times. His initial attempt on the 2025 RS-GP concluded with a minor accident at Turn 5 during the last three hours of the testing session. Additionally, he didn't undertake any significant long-distance tests, leaving little to infer from his performance.

Aprilia's CEO, Massimo Rivola, remarked that Martin's response to the RS-GP was surprisingly more favorable than anticipated, and he seems to have taken a significant liking to the bike. For the time being, we'll have to rely on his assessment, particularly given the track's history of favoring Aprilia. Nonetheless, Martin's physical demeanor seemed to support Rivola's observations.

Aprilia's freshly appointed technical chief, Fabiano Sterlacchini, engaged with the press recently. Although he declined to make definitive statements regarding the RS-GP, given his recent involvement with the project, he did share insights into the team's spirits following Martin's initial experience on the motorcycle.

"Having Jorge, a rider with a world title in biking, join us is a tremendous opportunity. It gives us a clear reference point and helps us focus on what areas we need to prioritize," he shared with the press, including Crash.net, on Tuesday.

"In the brief period we've collaborated, just half a day yesterday and today, I see him as a blend of a victor and a guide. Honestly, the manner he's tackling his responsibilities is remarkable. So, truly impressive."

The 2025 Aprilia initiative marks a significant departure from its 2024 counterpart. Setting aside Raul Fernandez (who couldn't test the RS-GP 25 owing to an ongoing parts shortage), Aprilia has entirely revamped its team. Martin will be accompanied by newcomers Bezzecchi and Ogura.

Romano Albesiano, the driving force behind the bike's evolution for the RS-GP, has left his position as technical director for Honda. Following him is Aleix Espargaro, another key figure in transforming the Aprilia into a compelling option for elite riders like Martin.

Aprilia is facing a crucial winter season as it aims to revamp its strategy for 2024, introducing new technical direction and fresh riders. The addition of Martin to the team brings additional expectations, yet CEO Massimo Rivola observed on Monday that the team appeared remarkably cohesive, as if they had been collaborating for a significant period.

Martin's display of maturity throughout the year, leading to his championship victory, has evidently positioned him well for the challenge with Aprilia.

After moving to the Noale-based team when Ducati decided against advancing him to its main squad, there's been much speculation about Martin potentially bringing the premier title to Aprilia. The absence of a prominent number one on the front of his RS-GP during his outing in Barcelona might just reveal his current mindset.

Indeed, when Crash.net inquired before the weekend about his feelings regarding the championship scenario, particularly about Ducati's decision favoring Marc Marquez over him for the factory seat, his answer revealed a rider whose drive isn't fueled by vengeance.

He expressed, "In my view, it's not about not being up to par for them. I'm confident in their belief in me, evident from the contract I hold. It was a different scenario, possibly with a stronger focus elsewhere. I can't imagine their discussions centered around me not being capable enough for a factory bike."

"I am content with their choice, assuming they believe it's the optimal decision, and I am pleased with what lies ahead for me. I believe this ensures we maintain a positive relationship. The future is uncertain, and anything could happen when the next contract period arrives in two years. However, what matters most is that we continue to have a strong relationship."

Undoubtedly, defending his title will be a challenging endeavor for Martin. The RS-GP isn't matching the performance of the Ducati and might not catch up by the beginning of 2025, or possibly throughout the entire season. However, given the opportunity to stay with Ducati under Pramac following Marquez's advancement, Martin chose to chart a new course for himself. Regardless of the outcome, his courage to forge his own path deserves commendation.

During the Barcelona race weekend, Ducati's leader Davide Tardozzi commented, saying, "should Aprilia decide to acquire the top spot, we'll watch to see if they can maintain it into the next season."

The remark somewhat obscures the full reasoning behind Aprilia's acquisition of Martin. However, judging by the significant impression he made during his initial ride, it seems the investment has paid off handsomely…

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"Maverick Vinales was immediately impressed with the speed, feeling confident 'right from the get-go' during his first outing on a KTM MotoGP bike.

'Absolutely suits how I ride,' he remarked enthusiastically."

Maverick Vinales embarked on his mission to be the inaugural MotoGP racer to secure victories on four distinct motorcycle manufacturers, starting with his first outing on a KTM during the Barcelona testing session on Tuesday.

The Spanish racer, who has claimed victory in ten races with Suzuki, Yamaha, and Aprilia bikes, was also marking his initial laps as a member of the Tech3 team, in his new role as a satellite rider.

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The initial reaction was favorable.

"Beginning the day without any preconceived notions, I aimed to maintain an open mind. Yet, immediately, even from the first lap, I experienced a positive sensation. Everything felt instinctive," Vinales expressed.

"Clearly, I have a lot to learn and incorporate into my approach to riding. However, the experience was positive. We didn’t do a lot of testing. I simply requested to use Pedro’s settings to get a feel for the bike and grasp how it operates."

During the middle part of the day, Vinales found himself in fourth place on the leaderboard, but later slipped to the 12th position.

He finished merely one second behind the top tester, Alex Marquez from Gresini Ducati, and was closely trailing Brad Binder's fastest KTM by just 0.3 seconds.

"Currently, I'm not encountering any issues, but it's clear I haven't pushed the bike to its maximum potential yet," Vinales remarked. "Therefore, I'm choosing to keep a low profile at this stage and focus on reaching the bike's limit before I begin to delve into identifying any deficiencies.

"However, I never encountered any sort of barrier. Each occasion I ventured out, my speed increased progressively."

Vinales, the sole racer to triumph over Ducati in a grand prix this year, thanks to his victory at COTA, stated:

One aspect of the bike that really complements my approach to riding, and stands out as a positive, is its performance when coming out of a turn. Essentially, the sooner you get back on track, the quicker you can accelerate.

"This suits my biking technique perfectly. I tend to lift the bike quite soon, and there's consistently force propelling you as you exit the turn."

"I'm still figuring out the dynamics of the bike, particularly its stability. However, I notice that as I attempt to initiate a slide, I must learn to gauge the extent to which I can apply the front brake at various stages."

"Before the test, my main worry was handling the fast turns, since I've always performed well with other bikes in those situations. However, theoretically, all those bikes were supposed to excel in fast corners."

"I'm particularly fond of this one due to its capability in handling quick turns. Specifically, corners like 13-14 feel quite intuitive and allow for maintaining a high speed through the bend."

Vinales discovered that the RC16, not only excels in cornering speed but also outperformed Aprilia's RS-GP, securing the second place in the constructors' championship, trailing only behind Ducati this year.

The Spanish rider achieved the fastest speed recorded during the test, reaching 354km/h without any drafting assistance, surpassing Aprilia's top speed of 352.9km/h from the Grand Prix weekend.

"Speed is immediately noticeable," Vinales expressed. "Additionally, the exit performance is impressive, along with the traction. And as I've pointed out before, the moment you accelerate, the motorcycle propels forward out of the turn. However, it truly shines when in 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear; it's incredibly swift."

Another distinctive feature of the orange device is its capability to start up efficiently.

"After completing three practice starts on Tuesday, Vinales expressed his realization for his numerous position drops [this season], stating, 'Now it makes sense why I fell behind so much,' and optimistically added, 'It's alright, I'll make a comeback next year. So, that's wonderful.'"

Relative to the RS-GP's significant downforce, the KTM appeared "quite nimble. It's demanding but not overly so. Switching directions comes with more ease."

Distinct characteristics of the KTM include its chassis made from carbon fiber instead of aluminum, and its preference for WP suspension over the commonly used Ohlins.

"Right from the initial braking, the sensation was positive. To be honest, I anticipated some uncertainty, thinking, 'let's wait and see…' but the suspension definitely gets my approval," he commented.

This encompasses the back apparatus, which is excellent. Its descending motion is quite sleek and fluid, preventing the tire from spinning, which is outstanding.

Following a decade-plus tenure as a team's primary racer, Vinales is optimistic about enjoying the team spirit at Tech3, where newcomer Pedro Acosta secured five podium finishes and was at the forefront for 13 laps in grand prix races this year.

"Positive vibes, great environment. I'm confident that we can forge a solid team," Vinales expressed. "It feels like a family. That's the sense I get from the interaction among the mechanics. And likely, it's exactly the feeling I've been looking for."

"Vinales mentioned, "We barely made any changes to the bike, just some straightforward tweaks. However, I was quite tempted to just grab Pedro's bike and push it to its limits until I could speed up."

"I had the opportunity to collaborate somewhat with Dani [Pedrosa] and Pol [Espargaro], aiming to grasp how to exert more force on the bike and when to handle it with care. It was a pleasant experience interacting with them."

Vinales' colleague, Enea Bastianini, who recently transitioned from Ducati, secured the 16th quickest time, lagging by 1.269 seconds, following a significant crash at Turn 5.

The upcoming authorized MotoGP trial is scheduled to take place in Sepang come February.

Peter has spent two decades in the racing circuit, witnessing Valentino Rossi's rise and retirement. He's leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure from the race scene and the challenges Marc Marquez faces with his injuries.

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"Marc Marquez clarifies the humor behind the Gresini middle finger gesture, stating, 'They were ahead of us!' He added, 'My dad was among the group too!'"

After completing his initial day of testing with the factory Ducati team, Marc Marquez returned to the pits at Tuesday's MotoGP session in Barcelona, where his previous team from Gresini eagerly awaited his arrival in the pit lane.

The entourage was composed of Alex, the younger sibling, their parent Julia, and Gresini team's leader Michele Masini, all sharing a laugh as they watched #93 zoom by.

Marc replied with a solitary finger gesture and subsequently clarified the humor behind it:

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Check out this Instagram post from the official MotoGP™ account (@motogp).

"Marc Marquez mentioned, "Team Gresini is constantly making jokes!"

During their final lap, they found humor while standing outside the garage, chuckling over their Sunday declaration to me, ‘Every race, we’ll be ahead of you!’

Right from the initial trial, Alex and the team completed ahead of me!

"Surprisingly, my dad was among them too! Hence, he's heading towards being the quickest one! That's why I exclaimed, 'get lost!'"

"Only kidding!"

Alex, who led the testing scores in his first appearance with the GP24, shared, "The whole team greeted him, saying, 'hey, we're ahead of you!'"

"Throughout the weekend, our rivalry is akin to that of siblings, and following the Sprint on Saturday evening, where Alex outperformed Marc, we really gave him a hard time about it back at the hospitality area."

"He told me, 'Hold off until Sunday. Hold off until it's all done.' And then, come Sunday, he [assaulted me].

"Today, we simply bid him farewell by saying 'ciao' as we found ourselves face to face with him once more!"

Marc secured the fourth quickest time in the trial, transitioning from the GP23 to an experimental model of the GP25.

For two decades, Peter has been a constant presence in the racing world, witnessing the rise and departure of Valentino Rossi. He's currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure and the ongoing challenges Marc Marquez faces with injuries.

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Miguel Oliveira shares initial thoughts on the distinct Pramac Yamaha

"It's extremely different compared to my previous experiences"

Following a six-year stint on V4-powered MotoGP bikes with KTM and Aprilia, Miguel Oliveira transitioned to Pramac Yamaha, making his first appearance for the team during Tuesday’s test session in Barcelona.

Immediately after securing the world championship in their last race with Jorge Martin and Ducati, Pramac embarked on a new chapter with Oliveira and Jack Miller, transitioning into their Yamaha phase.

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The racer from Portugal, achieving their top result this year with a third-place finish in the Sachsenring Sprint for Trackhouse, finished 60 laps at the Catalunya track on the factory-version M1.

"Oliveira noted that it was certainly a departure from what he was accustomed to."

"Particularly during the deceleration process, it's distinctly unique. However, I must admit, it's also a motorcycle that is immediately, quite easy for the rider to handle."

"The bicycle provides excellent feedback, letting you know the position of the wheels, which is extremely important."

However, the five-time MotoGP champion highlighted that the quickest motorcycle is usually not the most comfortable to ride.

"He emphasized that their priority isn't to design a bike that prioritizes comfort or rider-friendliness, but rather one that emphasizes speed, and he's confident they'll definitely have the chance to focus on developing such a bike," he stated.

Oliveira secured the 17th position in the test rankings, trailing the top contender, Alex Marquez from Gresini Ducati, by 1.335 seconds and was 0.939 seconds behind the quickest Yamaha M1, ridden by Fabio Quartararo from the official Yamaha team.

"Oliveira went on, describing it as a favorable day for preparation, in his view."

Numerous engineers from Yamaha were present in the garage, assisting the team in seamlessly adapting to the new motorcycle, updated software, and all other changes.

"I definitely connected well with my new crew chief and data analyst. We're certainly going to progress further during the Winter tests."

When questioned about a specific aspect he wishes to enhance, Oliveira responded, “Braking. That’s all,” elaborating that his focus is on the bike’s steadiness when slowing down.

Yamaha is set to introduce a new V4 engine, but the individual, who is 29 years old, steered clear of making detailed comparisons between the V4 engines he's competed with in his MotoGP career and the existing M1 Inline4.

"Oliveira noted that while the current engine has its advantages, there are also areas that require enhancement."

Due to his contract with KTM, which prohibits him from speaking to the press, Miller recorded the 22nd quickest time, trailing Alex Marquez by 2.2 seconds.

For two decades, Peter has been a staple presence in the paddock, witnessing Valentino Rossi's rise and departure. He is leading the coverage on Suzuki's withdrawal and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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Aprilia responds to Ducati's 'purchase the #1' taunt

Leaders from Ducati and Aprilia engage in a tit-for-tat over the #1 plate

The playful rivalry between Ducati and Aprilia is already underway.

Just last weekend, Jorge Martin clinched the MotoGP title while competing for Pramac Ducati, but a lot has already shifted since then.

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Martin has relocated to Aprilia, a team he evaluated in Barcelona riding a motorcycle marked with #89, as he remains undecided about choosing to compete under the #1 plate in 2025.

This suggests that Ducati could witness their competitors from Italy rejoicing over the current champion's victory, even though he achieved this success riding their motorcycle.

"Ducati team leader Davide Tardozzi conveyed to TNT Sports, 'The FIM record will state '2024 champion, Jorge Martin riding a Ducati.'"

"If Aprilia acquires this top spot, it remains to be seen whether they can maintain their position…"

Aprilia's CEO, Massimo Rivola, responded with laughter, saying, "I believe our expenditure for that figure was lower than theirs!"

Tardozzi expressed uncertainty about the strategies of their competitors. Following their triumph in Barcelona, Martin, along with the whole Pramac squad, has parted ways with Ducati.

However, the manufacturer will maintain their stronghold even as their leading factory rider, Pecco Bagnaia, acknowledges losing the championship to the competing satellite rider, Martin.

Speaking to TNT Sports in Barcelona, Tardozzi said, "It's been an incredible year for Ducati, given that Pramac is part of the Ducati team.

"Our team consists of seven members dedicated to supporting our main racer. This is because Jorge holds the position of our primary racer."

"Indeed, while his victories were fewer compared to Pecco's, his consistent presence on the podium justifies his position at the top of the championship standings."

In the upcoming year, Ducati is set to receive Marc Marquez, following his trial run with the GP25 during the offseason evaluation.

However, Tardozzi will monitor Aprilia's advancements closely, especially after Ducati secured Marquez, allowing Aprilia to bring on board Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.

Tardozzi cautioned, "We're looking at an incredible lineup for next year.

"The 2025 bicycle is set to undergo development throughout the winter season effectively."

"However, I'm uncertain about the actions of our competitors. We believe there's going to be a progress from 2024 to 2025."

"However, I'm unsure about the extent of progress from the competitors, particularly Aprilia, which boasts an impressive pair – Martin and Marco Bezzecchi – along with a new technical head."

For ten years, James served as a sports reporter for Sky Sports, where he covered a wide range of sports, including American sports, soccer, and Formula 1.

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