Each MotoGP Team’s Goals for 2025

An overview of the aspirations and targets every MotoGP team is setting for the year 2025.

In less than a month, MotoGP bikes will return to the track to kick off their 2025 preparations with the Sepang shakedown.

The 2025 racing season is marked by considerable changes, including major shifts among riders. The most prominent is Marc Marquez joining the official Ducati team, while reigning world champion Jorge Martin makes a switch to Aprilia.

At the start of a new season, teams that performed well last year have the opportunity to evaluate and strengthen their standing, while other teams can view it as a fresh start to improve.

As the new year begins, Crash examines what each team's goal should be for the 2025 season.

Ducati Corse – Global Supremacy

Currently, Ducati is at the peak of its performance, though this commanding position may not last indefinitely with the upcoming regulation changes set for 2027.

In 2025, Ducati boasts what many consider its strongest factory team to date, featuring two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia and eight-time grand prix champion Marc Marquez, both donning the iconic red.

Although Ducati lost the 2024 world champion and its top satellite team, there is strong confidence in Borgo Panigale that the decision was correct. Marquez secured three grand prix wins in 2024 on the GP23, a bike that soon became outdated. On the other hand, Bagnaia achieved 11 wins but fell short of the championship by 10 points because of eight races where he failed to score.

Ducati's GP24 is arguably their most outstanding motorcycle to date and ranks among the top in MotoGP history. Therefore, it's improbable that the GP25 has regressed in any meaningful way.

Despite potential internal conflicts between Bagnaia and Marquez, Ducati's primary objective for 2025 should be to completely dominate its rivals, given its exceptionally strong team.

KTM and Tech3 – Staying Afloat

It might be a slight stretch to consider KTM and Tech3 together, but their futures are currently linked due to the financial turmoil affecting the Austrian company.

As KTM continues its restructuring efforts, which appear to be on track for the company's survival, creditors are advocating for the termination of the MotoGP initiative. Although plans are set to proceed in 2025, the future of the brand in 2026 seems uncertain and may mark its conclusion.

As KTM searches for financial backing to support its grand prix project, its racing teams in 2025 must maintain adequate performance and deliver compelling results to attract investors willing to contribute funds.

According to recent tests, the brand's 2025 motorcycle appears to represent a significant advancement. However, it is still uncertain whether the speculation about halting development due to financial difficulties is accurate.

Pedro Acosta amazed everyone during his first season by pushing the RC16 to unexpected limits, and as he gains more experience, people anticipate even greater performances. Meanwhile, his teammate Brad Binder will continue to be a dependable force for KTM in 2024, although he must elevate his performance this year, facing strong competition within the team.

At Tech3, Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales contribute their proven race-winning abilities to the squad. KTM relies on their performance to have all four RC16 motorcycles consistently finish within the top 10 positions in each race.

Aprilia Factory Racing – Backed up its intentions with substantial investment

The Italian brand made a significant financial move to secure Jorge Martin for the 2025 season. This came after Martin decided to leave the Ducati camp, having been denied the factory position he sought and arguably merited.

This came after it failed to outmaneuver Yamaha in securing a deal with the 2021 world champion, Fabio Quartararo. However, this situation has turned out quite favorably for Aprilia, as it has now acquired the top spot with Martin.

However, it dropped in rankings during the latter part of 2024 and is now undergoing a restructuring. This involves bringing in an almost completely fresh roster for its two teams and appointing Fabiano Sterlacchini as the new head of technical operations.

Anticipating a bid for the championship in 2025 might be somewhat unreasonable, but Aprilia must now demonstrate that it is truly an attractive option for leading talents to view as a serious career opportunity, rather than just a fallback for those who feel disillusioned.

Honda Factory/LCR – Maintain Consistent Development

Expectations are low for Honda to rapidly advance its RC213V model by 2025. After experiencing its third season without a victory in five years—and the first season in the modern era without even a podium finish—Honda has reached its lowest point.

The silver lining is that conditions are unlikely to deteriorate further. As 2024 drew to a close, there were indications of progress. The introduction of a new aerodynamics package enhanced maneuverability, leading Johann Zarco, representing LCR, to achieve the brand’s top performance in Thailand.

Reaching a total of 100 points in the constructors' standings is a realistic goal for Honda. With experienced riders like Joan Mir, Luca Marini, and Johann Zarco, the team is well-equipped to keep pushing the bike's performance forward.

Romano Albesiano, the newly appointed technical director, is introducing concepts that enhanced a European brand, Aprilia. Meanwhile, Honda has benefited by acquiring Aleix Espargaro, an outstanding test rider.

Based on the available evidence, it seems likely that Honda will conclude 2025 with plenty of reasons for optimism, provided the company can regularly secure a spot for at least one motorcycle in the top 10 each weekend throughout the season.

Yamaha Factory/Pramac – Back on the Podium

Currently, Yamaha finds itself in a situation much like Honda's. However, there are more encouraging indications of progress for the brand based in Iwata in 2024.

A strong finish in the top six at the Malaysian Grand Prix showcased Fabio Quartararo's performance and highlighted the promising progress Yamaha is making. By consistently making the most of his motorcycle, Quartararo demonstrates that every minor improvement to the M1 will bring significant benefits to Yamaha.

Max Bartolini's expertise in technology has already lifted the spirits at Yamaha. The anticipation of the brand competing with a V4 engine for the first time next year is a thrilling sign of its ambitious efforts.

Securing a partnership with Pramac, the top independent team in the grid, and having two seasoned riders, Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller, leading the charge, is likely the boost Yamaha has been seeking.

Concluding the season within the top six positions is a reasonable goal for Yamaha as it heads into the beginning of 2025. However, given the evident efforts being put forth, the team should aspire to make a comeback to the podium.

VR46 Racing to Challenge Other Factory Ducatis

The 2025 season marks a significant milestone for Valentino Rossi's team as it becomes the official factory-backed satellite team for Ducati. Fabio Di Giannantonio will be riding a GP25.

This isn't the first occasion where VR46 has had access to a factory Ducati, but it's the initial instance where they've been able to fully capitalize on the chance. In the 2024 season, Di Giannantonio delivered a strong performance with the team on a GP23, consistently ranking as the leading rider on that motorcycle after Marc Marquez.

Despite sitting out the last two rounds because of shoulder surgery, Di Giannantonio managed to outperform his well-regarded teammate Marco Bezzecchi in the rankings. As for his plans for 2025, Di Giannantonio expressed his desire to "challenge" the factory team Ducati riders on the GP25.

This is precisely the position VR46 should aim for: filling the gap left by Pramac as it transitions to Yamaha.

Franco Morbidelli must reignite the form that made him the 2020 title runner-up. His stint with the factory Yamaha team proved unproductive, and his debut year with Ducati in 2024 was marred by a concussion before the season began, resulting in only a single podium finish in a sprint race.

Staying on the same bike he ended the 2024 season with, but now featuring VR46 colors, the team aims to return Morbidelli to the position where regularly competing for podium finishes is expected, not unexpected.

Trackhouse Racing – Leave a Bigger Impression

It's great to see that MotoGP includes a team owned by Americans, especially one committed to broadening the series' reach within the United States and around the world.

This is evident in their 2025 roster, with Raul Fernandez remaining on the team, and Moto2 world champion Ai Ogura being chosen instead of the American rider Joe Roberts.

In its debut season in the top-tier competition, Trackhouse Racing didn't make a significant impact. Even though they secured a podium finish in a sprint race in Germany and finished sixth twice in Barcelona and Germany, Trackhouse was unable to challenge for top-five positions in the main Sunday races.

Fernandez's development was hindered by switching bikes midway through the season, and Oliveira's momentum was halted by an injury towards the end of the season.

By 2025, Fernandez needs to be placed in a role where he can start proving why he deserves his current position in what has been a lackluster MotoGP career. Meanwhile, it's crucial to provide Ogura, a promising young talent, with the environment he needs to thrive.

Gresini Racing has left a significant mark with Marc Marquez in its ranks. During the 2024 season, this relatively small team captured widespread attention and transformed into a top contender for fan interaction.

With three grand prix wins and regular appearances on the podium, including a remarkable all-Marquez event in Germany, the celebrations were ongoing in the Gresini team.

The departure of the eight-time world champion means that Gresini must now redirect its focus. Although replicating the results of 2024 may be challenging, Alex Marquez has demonstrated in the last two seasons that he can effectively position his year-old Ducati in competitive spots.

Fermin Aldeguer is feeling significant pressure as a newcomer, with his performance in Moto2 in 2024 suggesting that his advancement may have been premature. However, teaming up with Frankie Carchedi is the smartest move the team could make.

Gresini faces a difficult task in competing to be the leading independent team this season. However, this goal is within reach if they swiftly transition from the year dominated by Marc Marquez and concentrate on regularly securing top-six positions by 2025.

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Aston Martin issues a cautionary note to Adrian Newey: "Success isn't assured by just one person."

Can Adrian Newey achieve success with Aston Martin?

Ex-McLaren Formula 1 mechanic, Marc Priestley, has cautioned Aston Martin that bringing Adrian Newey on board might not automatically fix their present performance issues.

In September 2024, Aston Martin revealed that Newey would take on the role of Managing Technical Partner.

Newey is set to take charge of Aston Martin's design team and will formally step into the position later this year.

Nonetheless, Priestley has cautioned that Newey by himself will not ensure Aston Martin's future achievements.

In an interview with Casino Uden Rofus, Priestley remarked that while Adrian Newey is an exceptional engineer with an outstanding intellect, the success of designing a new F1 car is not ensured by one person alone.

"I'm not denying that Aston Martin has a talented team, but there are clear signs that they have struggled to create an effective car and improve it over the course of the season."

Newey is becoming part of a team that hasn't achieved much success, yet Aston Martin has recently acquired cutting-edge facilities, and the team is expanding quickly.

Mixed Outcomes for Aston Martin

Following Lawrence Stroll's purchase of the team headquartered in Silverstone, they have seen a range of successes.

Back in 2020, when they were known as Racing Point, the team achieved fourth place in the Formula 1 constructors' championship and celebrated a victory at the Sakhir Grand Prix.

In 2023, Fernando Alonso joined Aston Martin, marking their most successful season so far. The team began the year as the second quickest, trailing only Red Bull, and Alonso achieved six podium finishes in the first eight races.

Alonso came close to securing a victory in Monaco, but Aston Martin's strategic decisions in the shifting weather conditions cost them the win.

Over the past couple of years, Aston Martin has encountered a recurring challenge, as they have consistently faced difficulties in successfully advancing their car's development during the racing season.

Considering the struggles Aston Martin has faced in their development, Alonso attributed the issues to the Mercedes wind tunnel.

The Spaniard expressed to the BBC's Chequered Flag podcast that the situation is complex and lacks a straightforward answer; otherwise, they might have already opted for an easier path than the one they have encountered.

"There seems to be a challenge in grasping some of the internal mechanics of the car, which resembles the wind tunnel issues Mercedes encountered last year while working on their car development. Our ability to utilize the wind tunnel is somewhat restricted because we are using the Mercedes facility."

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MotoGP newcomer Ai Ogura acknowledges he isn't the quickest or exceptionally gifted. He explains that this is why he isn't aiming to become a "five-time MotoGP World Champion," for instance.

In 2025, Ai Ogura will advance to the MotoGP category after winning the Moto2 World Championship and achieving six Grand Prix wins. Despite these accomplishments, he remains modest about his inherent abilities.

Alongside his six victories in the Moto2 category, Ogura has achieved 27 podium finishes in Grand Prix events, with 19 of those in Moto2 and eight in Moto3. He has also secured six pole positions, five in Moto2 and one in Moto3. Although Ogura is currently signed with Aprilia's satellite team, Trackhouse Racing, Honda has played a significant role in developing his career on the Road to MotoGP.

Considering Ogura's achievements, one might assume it would be simple for him to develop a heightened sense of self-importance. After all, by securing the 2024 Moto2 championship, he became the first Japanese racer to claim a Grand Prix title since his former team leader at Honda Team Asia, Hiroshi Aoyama, triumphed in the 2009 250cc World Championship.

During the press conference for World Champions after the Thai Grand Prix last October, Ogura remarked, "I am aware of my own nature."

"I'm not among the quickest, and I don't think I possess exceptional talent. However, I believe that with hard work, I can achieve this goal or whatever it may be. I understand that if it happens, it would be great, but the chances are quite slim."

"I always dreamed of being 'number one in the world.' Even if it's just for a single year, achieving this title has been my goal throughout my entire career."

Ogura confessed that his drive to clinch the championship in 2024 grew stronger after narrowly missing the Moto3 title in the last race of 2020 and falling short in the 2022 Moto2 season to Augusto Fernandez.

He stated that his main goal in his racing career was to achieve a World Championship title, regardless of whether it was in Moto3, Moto2, or MotoGP.

"After losing two championships—one in the Moto3 category in 2020 and another in Moto2 in 2022—I was solely focused on winning this title."

Ogura commented that his performance at the beginning of the season wasn't strong, noting that [Sergio] Garcia had accumulated significantly more points. Despite this, he wasn't overly concerned about the championship standings. He believed that even if he finished in sixth or seventh place, he and his team were aware of their ability to win races and consistently secure podium finishes, provided they approached their work correctly.

"This began to happen when I clinched a victory in Catalunya, and things were progressing smoothly. However, I suffered a fracture in Austria, and afterward, I believe the second race in Misano, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, was very significant for me."

"Despite experiencing pain, I managed to win the race and further inspire the team. Towards the end of the season, we frequently finished on the podium, effectively managing the championship."

"Although the year wasn't flawless, it was a really great season."

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Flavio Briatore sparks rumors about Jack Doohan: "We'll find out as the season progresses"

Speculation about Jack Doohan's prospects in Formula 1 remains widespread.

Flavio Briatore, who serves as an executive advisor for Alpine F1, has further stirred rumors concerning Jack Doohan's potential with the team.

Even though Doohan made his Formula 1 debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, there has been a lot of speculation about what lies ahead for his career.

With Franco Colapinto's impressive performance catching attention, there were hints that Briatore and Alpine might be considering bringing the Argentine talent on board.

Nevertheless, the substantial financial requirements needed to release Colapinto from his contract with Williams, along with his disappointing performance towards the end of the season, made it unfeasible to pursue a move for him.

Doohan is scheduled to compete with Pierre Gasly for Alpine in the 2025 racing season.

Although Doohan is confirmed to begin the season, his prospects for the future remain uncertain.

In an interview with the French newspaper Le Parisien, Briatore did not express a firm position.

Briatore stated, "Death is the only thing we can be sure of." He confirmed that the year would begin with Pierre and Jack, but mentioned that future decisions would depend on how the season progresses.

"I need to assist the team in getting to a point where it can be successful."

The driver is responsible for completing the tasks initiated by nearly a thousand individuals supporting him.

"All employees essentially answer to a couple of individuals. If a driver isn't performing well or showing improvement, they'll be replaced."

Alpine concluded the 2024 F1 season as the leading team among the midfield competitors.

The team achieved two podium finishes at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which boosted them to sixth place in the constructors' championship.

A major update introduced during the United States Grand Prix dramatically improved their performance, especially with Gasly driving.

Gasly earned points in four out of the last five races, but did not finish the race in Las Vegas.

Alpine has chosen to switch to using Mercedes engines in 2026, discontinuing their own engine development project.

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Eddie Jordan criticizes Ferrari's decision to choose Lewis Hamilton over Carlos Sainz, calling it "self-destructive." He stated, "Letting go of Carlos was a complete mistake."

Former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan has criticized Ferrari's choice to swap Carlos Sainz for Lewis Hamilton, calling it "completely self-destructive."

The year 2025 has arrived, and with it comes the news that Hamilton is now driving for Ferrari in Formula 1, while Sainz has started his journey with the Williams team.

Nonetheless, Jordan has raised doubts about Hamilton's surprising move to Maranello for the next season.

Prior to the 2024 season, the choice was made to bring Hamilton on board, a season that many consider to be the seven-time world champion's most underwhelming performance so far.

In contrast, Sainz had an impressive last season with Ferrari, coming very close to clinching the constructors' championship, but ultimately ended up 13 points short of McLaren.

During an episode of the Formula for Success podcast, Jordan and his co-host David Coulthard highlighted what they called their "FFS moment" for the year.

Coulthard remarked, "It's the moment of the year that makes you say, 'for f**k's sake.'"

"In my opinion, the most surprising moment of the year was when Lewis joined Ferrari. I really didn't expect that to happen. What was your most unexpected moment of the year?"

Jordan concurred with Coulthard, yet offered a harsher critique regarding Ferrari's choice.

The 76-year-old expressed his agreement by stating, "I completely align with this, as my reaction to John Elkann, the chairman of that organization, is to question what on earth he was contemplating when he decided to let Carlos go. At the time, the team was content, cooperative, and well-organized, with drivers who had a good relationship."

Fred Vasseur had a genuine chance to lead this team to significant success. Now, he needs to focus on fostering unity and finding ways to integrate a new team member, while managing egos and all the dynamics involved.

"Lewis is a genuinely pleasant individual. I doubt there are many kinder people in the racing circuit than Lewis Hamilton, so I believe he won't face any issues in that regard."

"Nonetheless, my biggest criticism is directed at John Elkann of Ferrari for approving and finalizing that agreement. Letting Carlos go was a completely self-destructive decision."

Hamilton takes on the challenge of breaking Ferrari's winless streak.

As the year 2025 begins, Hamilton has begun his journey with Ferrari.

The individual, aged 39, has been given the responsibility of breaking Ferrari's championship dry spell that has persisted since 2008.

Ferrari has not experienced a championship victory since winning the constructors' title in 2008.

The last time they won a drivers' championship was in 2007, with Kimi Raikkonen.

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Jorge Martin claims he won't ever have the same leadership role with Aprilia in MotoGP as Espargaro did. He stated, "I sense the duty to guide this initiative."

MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin has acknowledged that he "will never be able to take on the role of Captain" for Aprilia in the same way that Aleix Espargaro did. However, he is willing to "accept the responsibility" of guiding the team.

During the last eight years of his MotoGP career, Espargaro played a crucial role in transforming Aprilia from a team that typically finished in the middle of the pack to one that achieved race victories.

During the Catalan Grand Prix, he declared that he would be stepping away from racing and is set to take on the role of a test rider for Honda in the coming year.

A little more than a week after declaring his retirement, Martin secured a multi-year contract with the factory Aprilia team. This came after Ducati decided not to follow its initial plan to elevate him to its official team for 2025.

During his tenure with Aprilia, Espargaro earned the nickname ‘the Captain’ due to his leadership qualities.

Martin believes it will be challenging for him to reach those same heights.

He expressed to AS that he believes he could never assume the role of 'Captain' in the same way Aleix did, as Aleix dedicated nine years to Aprilia, transforming the team from its beginnings to achieving race victories and contending for the world championship.

"I am willing to take on the responsibility and feel it is my duty to lead this project. I am committed to doing everything within my capability to elevate this bike to the top level."

Martin is of the opinion that if Espargaro had made up his mind sooner about joining the Italian team, he would have remained with Aprilia for at least an additional year.

He mentioned, "Had I made the decision earlier to join this brand, Aleix would have likely extended his contract for at least one more year."

"Life consists of various situations and moments."

Espargaro and Martin share an exceptionally tight bond, with Espargaro often calling the current world champion his son.

In addition to his responsibilities as a Honda test rider, Espargaro has also agreed to serve as a representative for the Lidl-Trek cycling team starting next year.

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Former Yamaha MotoGP team manager shares his unachieved career aspiration

"My ambition was to reach a total of 10 titles."

Lin Jarvis, the departing head of Yamaha's MotoGP team, expressed that he had envisioned securing a total of ten premier class championships, with aspirations that the last two would have been achieved by Fabio Quartararo.

At the end of last year, Jarvis concluded his lifelong tenure with Yamaha, where he had been involved in its grand prix project since 1998.

During his tenure, he managed the era when Valentino Rossi was dominant for the Japanese manufacturer, witnessed Jorge Lorenzo's ascent and the competition between the two, and eventually saw Quartararo's triumph in the championship.

Over the past two years, Yamaha has faced significant challenges, transitioning from a championship-winning team in 2021 to failing to secure any podium finishes by 2024.

Jarvis successfully secured new two-year contracts for both Quartararo and Alex Rins. He also arranged for the reintroduction of a satellite team, Pramac, set for 2025, and made important staff appointments to strengthen Yamaha's resurgence plans.

In 2025, Paolo Pavesio will take over Jarvis's position.

In a conversation with the Greek magazine MotoGP World, Jarvis acknowledges that not securing additional championships with Quartararo is a goal that remains unattained. However, he concludes his career with the sentiment that he has "finished the task."

Jarvis reflected, "I must admit, after securing the championship title in 2021, I never anticipated that we would face such significant challenges in the subsequent years."

"I had hoped that before my career eventually concluded, I would secure at least two additional championships with Yamaha, with Fabio's help."

"My ambition was to reach 10 titles. However, by the middle of 2022, it became evident that Ducati was advancing rapidly, and their pace of development and enhancement outstripped ours."

"By 2022, we were already facing challenges. In 2023, we joined forces with Luca Marmorini, a former head of engines in Formula 1, to provide us with expertise, particularly in the engine sector."

"From that point forward, we began our reconstruction efforts as we noticed that Ducati, along with other European brands such as KTM and Aprilia, were experiencing swift growth."

"We continued to progress in that manner, whereas Honda stayed the same. Consequently, we had to invest heavily to bridge the gap."

"In 2023, we initiated a fresh start and implemented numerous modifications. I'm truly pleased to be departing with my existing position by the end of this year."

"If I had departed at the conclusion of last year, I would have felt that my work was far from finished. Previously, there was no groundwork laid for what was to come."

"However, we've accomplished much more this year."

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Honda's MotoGP leader discloses the "sole aspect" HRC "has always retained"

"This is the determination that compels you to persevere, despite being evidently trailing…"

In the 2024 MotoGP season, Honda did not manage to secure any wins or podium finishes in either the Sprint races or the main Grands Prix events. However, there were indications of progress during the latter part of the year.

The indicators were mainly emphasized by Johann Zarco from the satellite LCR team. He managed to advance the RC213V to Q2 several times and secured two top 10 finishes in Grand Prix races, first in Indonesia and then in Thailand.

By the conclusion of the 2024 season, Zarco had accumulated a total of 55 points, placing him 17th in the championship rankings. Despite this position, he managed to score 20 points more than the entire factory Honda team. Their riders, Joan Mir and Luca Marini, ended up in 21st and 22nd place, respectively, out of the 22 full-time MotoGP competitors from the previous year.

"It's definitely been challenging," acknowledged HRC team manager Alberto Puig during an interview with MotoGP.com.

"The outcomes are not what we desire."

Throughout the past year, during the initial months of the season, we experimented with various strategies. As the year progressed into the latter half, we managed to gain a clearer understanding of which approaches were effective and which were not.

"We've made a few enhancements, although not to the extent we had hoped. Nonetheless, we've achieved some progress and are continually exploring ways to develop next year's model."

"Although we haven't achieved the desired outcomes yet, the engineering team is increasingly gaining clarity on the steps to take, the direction to pursue, and the methods to employ, which is crucial."

It might take a while to actually document this, yet our determination to return never wavered. This determination is what motivates us to persevere, even when it's obvious that we're trailing, and that's undeniable.

The HRC factory team will no longer have Repsol as a sponsor in 2025, ending a partnership that lasted three decades. Despite this change, the team will continue to have the same riders, with Mir and Marini continuing for another year.

Puig remarked about Mir, noting, "He has already achieved the status of World Champion in MotoGP, which makes his current circumstances less than ideal, as the motorcycle isn't competitive enough."

"He's putting in the effort, but he ends up failing, which is understandable because champions strive for success. However, sometimes things don't go as planned, and we hope he can stay motivated even when facing challenges."

"[Marini] has a very analytical mind," Puig mentioned. "He could work around the clock because he genuinely loves what he does. He's committed to sharing all his knowledge, focusing on work-related aspects."

"On a personal level, he is a genuinely pleasant individual, […] he is extremely courteous and considerate."

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KTM's leader shares thoughts on the fluctuating 2024 MotoGP season.

"We're the second-leading manufacturer, which is fantastic…"

KTM is facing financial difficulties which have cast doubt on its MotoGP project. Despite these challenges, the Austrian company managed to finish the 2024 season in second place in the constructors' championship.

In the 2024 season, Ducati outperformed all other teams by securing victory in every Grand Prix except one, surpassing even KTM in terms of achievements.

The manufacturer based in Mattighofen failed to secure a Grand Prix victory for the third consecutive season, and its streak without a win, including Sprint races, goes back to the Spanish Sprint in 2023.

In a candid admission, KTM motorsport director Pit Beirer shared with MotoGP.com that the team had set somewhat lofty expectations, particularly for riders Brad Binder and Jack Miller. Despite experiencing a challenging summer with fluctuating performances, Beirer noted that they were able to steady the ship and achieve some respectable outcomes.

Reflecting on our performance, we've secured six podium finishes in Sprint races on Saturdays and another six podium finishes in Grand Prix races on Sundays. This achievement makes us the second-leading manufacturer, which is fantastic.

"Naturally, we anticipated being more competitive with the Ducati team, who have excelled once again this year. We must commend them for their outstanding performance, but we remain determined to compete, push forward, and continue learning."

"We believe we're closing in once more and have recently gotten positive insights from Brad and Pedro Acosta. Our goal for the last round is to lock in fifth and sixth places, as well as secure second position for the manufacturer."

"However, I prefer to maintain an optimistic outlook, seeing the glass as half full rather than half empty. From a sports standpoint, I believe we're well-positioned for the upcoming season, especially with the addition of new riders. Recently, we've gained significant insights into our bike, which is crucial."

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

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Jacques Villeneuve admits he hoped not to be validated in his critique of Daniel Ricciardo.

Jacques Villeneuve looks back on his remarks about Daniel Ricciardo.

Jacques Villeneuve, who won the F1 world championship in 1997, felt no sense of satisfaction after his critiques of Daniel Ricciardo were validated when Ricciardo was let go.

After another challenging weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix, Ricciardo was released by Red Bull.

The choice to part ways with him halfway through the season essentially concluded Ricciardo's career in F1, as he has since stated that he is not interested in making a comeback with Cadillac.

During the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, Villeneuve openly expressed his criticism of Ricciardo.

While serving as an analyst for Sky Sports F1 in Montreal, Villeneuve expressed doubts about why Ricciardo remained active in the sport.

The ex-Williams driver questioned, "What is the reason he's still racing in F1? Why?"

"For the past four or five years, the same message has been repeated: 'We need to improve the car for him.' Frankly, after five years of hearing this, it's time to acknowledge that this is Formula 1."

"Perhaps you go the extra mile for Lewis Hamilton, given his numerous championship victories. However, you don't extend such effort for a driver who isn't up to par."

"If you're unable to meet the standards, then it's time to leave, as there is always another person ready to step into your role. This has always been the reality in racing, which represents the highest level of the sport."

"There’s no point in continuing to make excuses. People often mention those initial one or two seasons—he was outperforming a Vettel who was exhausted and experimenting with the car in an attempt to win, ultimately causing chaos during his race weekends."

"At one point, for half a season, he was outperforming Verstappen, who was only 18 and just beginning his career. After that period, he didn't surpass anyone else."

Later in the weekend, Ricciardo responded to the Canadian's remarks, expressing his dissatisfaction with the criticism. He pointed out that he expected more understanding from Villeneuve, given his own successful career as a Formula 1 driver.

Despite Ricciardo's lack of progress, Liam Lawson ended up replacing him to partner with Yuki Tsunoda for the rest of the season.

Villeneuve considers his past criticism of Ricciardo

As Ricciardo's time in Formula 1 has concluded, Villeneuve's earlier critiques seem to have been validated.

Nonetheless, Villeneuve does not see Ricciardo's departure from F1 as proof that his earlier remarks were justified.

He mentioned to Sportscasting that he never intended to be vindicated. The statement received significant responses, both negative and positive.

The topic prompted widespread public discussion. The intention wasn't to ruin anyone, but rather to face the facts. People seemed to understand that Jacques had a valid argument, which led to a thorough dialogue. That's what pleases me.

"My emotions wouldn't change if Daniel Ricciardo remained with Red Bull. I'm not expressing joy over his departure from F1. Instead, I'm just pleased to have highlighted the reality of the situation."

"Daniel maintains a strong reputation and successful career; this situation hasn't harmed him. It was merely a discussion concerning the racing industry, which has somewhat lost focus on the key issues. It was about expressing what many people were already contemplating. My intention wasn't to feel justified about his absence from F1."

"When you're working as a commentator, the goal is to discuss relevant issues. This doesn’t guarantee accuracy, and maintaining impartiality can be challenging despite your best efforts. Personal emotions inevitably surface. The aim is to provide enough insight and content to spark meaningful conversations. That's the part I find fulfilling."

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The challenges Marc Marquez will encounter at Ducati in MotoGP 2025

As an eight-time world champion, Marquez's transition to the factory team will present unique obstacles.

Marc Marquez is set to become a part of the factory Ducati MotoGP team for the 2025 season, with hopes running high as he advances in his efforts to revitalize his career.

It's been five years since Marquez last claimed the world championship title, concluding his most commanding season in the top tier back in 2019.

After experiencing a significant career obstacle due to a severe arm injury sustained during the crash at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix, he also faced Honda's performance deteriorating quickly.

In 2024, Marquez chose to ride a Ducati from the previous year with Gresini Racing to test his competitiveness. His decision was quickly validated, as Ducati soon decided to move him up to their factory team for the 2025 season.

Marquez's strategic maneuvering to achieve his goals has left Ducati in a less advantageous position. As a result, the 2024 world champion, Jorge Martin, has moved to Aprilia. Additionally, Pramac has switched allegiance to Yamaha, and both Marco Bezzecchi and Enea Bastianini have left Ducati to join Aprilia and KTM, respectively.

There are also internal team conflicts to take into account. So far, Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia have maintained a polite relationship, but reports indicate that the VR46 group was displeased with Ducati's sudden change of plans last summer.

As the year 2025 unfolds, Crash examines the top five challenges Marquez will encounter with the factory Ducati team this season.

Francesco Bagnaia at His Peak

Martin referred to Bagnaia as being at his "best version" following the conclusion of the 2024 season. This praise was well-deserved. As a two-time world champion, Bagnaia claimed victory in 11 grand prix events and narrowly missed the championship title by a mere 10 points, even though he failed to score in eight races.

In the modern era, only Valentino Rossi, Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo, and Casey Stoner have achieved a similar number of grand prix victories in one season.

Bagnaia admits to the errors he committed and understands their significant impact. If he manages to correct them by 2025, his speed will certainly not be an issue. Up to now, Marquez and Bagnaia have only faced off in one serious contest for a win as teammates at Ducati.

During last year's Spanish Grand Prix, Bagnaia emerged victorious. The two racers have already had a collision during the second round in Portugal. Hence, it's reasonable to predict that their competition will be intense in 2025.

Considering his accomplishments with the older GP23 model, numerous individuals, such as ex-crew chief Frankie Carchedi during a discussion on the Crash MotoGP Podcast, anticipate that Marquez will dominate the scene in 2025.

The difficulty presented by Bagnaia might be considered the toughest Marquez has faced from a teammate.

Anticipation is high for an event not witnessed since 2019. Marc Marquez consistently draws significant attention with his actions. During the post-season testing in 2023, when he rode the Gresini Ducati, many anticipated that he would immediately return to his winning ways.

Marquez wisely managed the expectations, and his caution proved justified. By the time of the Spanish Grand Prix, he believed he had successfully transitioned from riding the Honda to the Desmosedici. However, an unforeseen factor for 2024 emerged in the form of Michelin's new rear tire, the effects of which were unpredictable.

In 2025, this won't pose an issue, as the factory Ducati managed to adjust swiftly to the rear tire.

This demonstrates that there remain many uncertainties each year. Marquez has not secured a championship victory since 2019. When confronted with this challenge once more, can he manage the pressure as effectively as Bagnaia, who has experienced it more recently?

While Marquez isn't considered aged, his professional journey is more near its conclusion than its start. The year 2020 showed that certainty is elusive. With every new season, his chances to secure additional championships grow slimmer—an unfamiliar challenge for Marquez.

For the third consecutive year, Marquez is teaming up with a new crew chief. After departing from Santi Hernandez at Honda, Marquez has transitioned to Ducati and partnered with Frankie Carchedi, who previously worked with Joan Mir.

This partnership turned out to be successful and appeared to come together swiftly from an outsider's perspective, as both the rider and the crew chief consistently overcame every challenge they faced during a race weekend.

Ducati evidently believes this decision is beneficial, yet it raises some queries about why Carchedi wasn't brought in with Marquez.

This doesn't imply that Marco Rigamonti is a lesser choice. In the past, Rigamonti has collaborated with Enea Bastianini, Johann Zarco, and Andrea Iannone.

The dynamics between a rider and their crew chief can be complex. It's not just about the engineer's skill level. Marquez will need to adjust to this new setup, as well as reacquaint himself with the support of a complete factory team.

The competitor he surpassed for the position

This situation may appear obvious to some. However, Marquez was promoted over Jorge Martin for the official team spot, and he will need to put in a lot of effort to prove himself worthy of this opportunity.

Ducati has been open about its belief that Martin had the potential to become world champion by 2024 when planning for 2025. However, seeing him potentially start the season on an Aprilia bike, likely with the number one plate, will still be a tough pill to swallow.

Many believe that Martin will not pose a challenge for Marquez this season. The Aprilia team noticeably lost its competitive edge during the latter part of the season. Looking ahead to 2025, the team is preparing for significant changes, including a nearly entirely new roster of riders and a new technical leader.

If Aprilia starts strong in 2025 and Martin adjusts rapidly, the responsibility will increasingly fall on Marquez to justify Ducati's choice.

In the 2024 season, Martin and Bagnaia distinguished themselves on the factory Ducati, particularly as the season progressed. If Martin finds himself in the right circumstances, he could become a significant challenge, which would increase the pressure on Marquez.

The revival of a longstanding rivalry is underway as Marquez joins the factory Ducati team, bringing him back into close competition with his former adversary, Valentino Rossi. The MotoGP icon has been quite vocal following Ducati's recent move.

In an interview with L’Equipe in 2024, Rossi expressed his confusion over Ducati's choice. Additionally, he revisited his conspiracy theories about his 2015 title loss during a discussion on Andrea Migno’s podcast.

Marquez handled the situation with ease, whereas Bagnaia admirably managed to avoid getting involved in it.

Rossi has announced that he plans to reduce his involvement in car racing activities starting in 2025. He has renewed his contract as an official BMW driver, but the specifics of his schedule have not been finalized yet. He mentioned that one of the motivations for cutting back on car racing is to allow himself more opportunities to attend MotoGP events.

He mentions his desire to increase his involvement with his Academy riders. Interestingly, this happens to coincide with the moment his main rival enters his territory.

Marquez will probably need to deal with some mental tactics from Rossi's team, particularly if there are any issues on the track between him and Bagnaia in 2025.

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Title: Five Key Challenges Lewis Hamilton Needs to Address at Ferrari

What obstacles will Lewis Hamilton encounter as he joins Ferrari's Formula 1 team in 2025?

The year 2025 has begun, marking a significant milestone in Lewis Hamilton's distinguished Formula 1 career as he takes on the role of a Ferrari driver. With only 71 days remaining until the first race of the season in Melbourne, Hamilton is in a flurry of activity as he gears up to settle into his new environment at Maranello.

As Hamilton begins this new chapter, these are the main obstacles he must tackle:

Adjusting to Ferrari's way of life

Prior to thinking about any racing activities, Hamilton needs to fully engage with Ferrari's distinctive atmosphere. Similar to starting any new position, understanding the setting and creating strong relationships with team members is crucial for achieving success.

Hamilton demonstrated his skill in making unexpected career moves when he joined Mercedes in 2013. However, the situation with Ferrari is a unique challenge. The Italian team is deeply rooted in passion and emotion, which is a distinct difference from the environment at his previous teams.

Although many people in Maranello speak English, having a fundamental understanding of Italian would certainly aid Hamilton's transition and enhance interactions with the team.

Brand New Vehicle

In his initial weeks at Ferrari, Hamilton will encounter the task of getting used to a whole new vehicle, along with a different setup for the steering wheel. After spending more than ten years behind the wheel of a Mercedes, the car had become second nature to him.

With the numerous buttons and controls accessible to a driver via the steering wheel, Lewis Hamilton needs to learn and comprehend them before pre-season testing to perform at his best. Undoubtedly, he will dedicate several days to working in the team's simulator to get acquainted with his new car.

Hamilton Set to Race Without Bono

For the first time in more than ten years, Hamilton will compete without the support of Peter "Bono" Bonnington.

During their tenure at Mercedes, Hamilton and Bonnington became well-known as a driver and race engineer duo. Nonetheless, Bonnington will stay in Brackley following his advancement to the position of Head of Race Engineering.

Hamilton's race engineer at Ferrari will be Riccardo Adami. He has prior experience working with Sebastian Vettel and most recently with Carlos Sainz.

In Formula 1, the bond between a driver and their engineer is vital for achieving success. The race engineer is essential in making adjustments to the car's setup, deciding on strategic moves, and offering encouragement during the race.

Rivaling Leclerc

Hamilton has a history of going up against strong teammates, having raced alongside Fernando Alonso during his debut year and teamed up with Jenson Button at McLaren.

Although Leclerc has not reached that landmark yet, it's clear that the driver from Monaco possesses the talent needed to accomplish it. At the age of 27, Leclerc is nearing the height of his career, following an impressive 2024 season where he secured third place in the drivers' championship.

The positive aspect for Hamilton is that despite Leclerc's impressive speed, he has a much more agreeable personality. In principle, although their competition on the track may be fierce, Hamilton is likely to experience less tension away from the races than he did during his time with teammates like Nico Rosberg or Alonso.

Yet, overcoming Leclerc when one is 40 years old continues to be a formidable task.

Facing the Challenges of 2024

Hamilton has one final issue to address: overcoming the challenges of 2024.

During his last season with Mercedes, he managed to secure two wins, but it ended up being the least successful season of his career. In nearly all aspects, Hamilton was thoroughly outperformed by George Russell.

A major worry during Hamilton's season was how he performed in qualifying sessions. Out of the 24 races, he succeeded in qualifying ahead of Russell on just five occasions.

Considering Leclerc's reputation as the quickest driver for single-lap performances in F1, Hamilton needs to enhance his skills in this aspect. Additionally, with predictions of a very close contest involving four teams at the front, Hamilton must avoid beginning the race from the sixth or seventh position on the starting grid.

He must move past his underwhelming performance in 2024 and view it as just a minor setback in his otherwise remarkable career.

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