Ducati’s Unmatched Dominance Leaves Rivals Puzzled: Insights from Aleix Espargaro and the MotoGP Grid

Aleix Espargaro expressed astonishment at the performance of the Ducatis, marveling at their ability to derive incredible grip from the tires.

Similar to his Aprilia teammate Maverick Vinales, Aleix Espargaro believes that Ducati has reached a level unmatched by others in MotoGP competitions.

"Vinales expressed that everyone in the paddock is curious about how Ducati manages to maintain such high speeds under any condition, following the Motegi Grand Prix."

Espargaro concluded the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday as the top performer among riders not on Ducatis, securing ninth position, 30 seconds behind the victor, Francesco Bagnaia.

Pedro Acosta from KTM, who had secured the pole position, was in the running until he suffered crashes in both events, whereas Vinales managed to secure a spot on the front row at least.

However, Espargaro insists that Ducati has undoubtedly made a significant leap forward.

Vinales (3) and Espargaro (1) secured initial wins for Aprilia, but Ducati has dominated, winning the last 20 races (including Sprints and Grands Prix) consecutively.

In the Saturday Sprint, competitors from the Bologna factory dominated by securing the first seven positions, and then continued their success by claiming the top five spots in the grand prix.

"Espargaro remarked on the incredible disparity between himself and the leading competitor."

"We completely lacked traction. It's astonishing how significant the disparity in traction was. As the Ducatis passed me, I was powerless, continually slipping and spinning."

"I'm eager for an explanation, yet I simply don't possess one," he further stated. "For the past three races, our technical discussions with Romano [Albesiano, Aprilia's technical director] have solely focused on this matter.”

Espargaro believes Ducati's superiority comes from their grasp of something unique about the updated 2024 Michelin rear tyre that other makers have yet to comprehend.

"He mentioned, 'The level of traction they're getting from the tires at the back is incredible.'"

"This is the reason they're shattering lap records, surpassing the overall race duration by upwards of 10 to 12 seconds, and we're left unable to keep pace. There's nothing within my power to do about it."

"Maverick excelled during the qualifying round, however, it was evident from the performances yesterday and today that everyone in Aprilia struggled with their pace in the race."

He further mentioned, "KTM performed slightly better in this situation. I believe it's largely due to KTM bikes naturally excelling in hard braking scenarios."

"Regardless, the performance of the Ducatis is astounding. Just yesterday, the top seven positions were dominated by Ducatis. Incredible."

With just four races remaining, the championship title for the 2024 MotoGP season is still within reach for the Ducati group consisting of Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, and Marc Marquez, as they are the only riders left with a theoretical possibility of clinching the crown.

Brad Binder ranks highest for KTM, trailing Bagnaia by 209 points, with newcomer Acosta and top Aprilia rider Vinales behind by 229 points.

Espargaro, transitioning to a test riding role with HRC following his retirement at this season's close, is presently in a joint eleventh position, lagging by 258 seconds from the lead.

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