Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia Face Off in Unique Opening Race of 2025

"Before the alarm even went off, I knew I was going to be defeated in the race!"

Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia have already faced off in their inaugural race of the season.

The latest addition to the Ducati racing team competed directly with their teammate on the ski slopes in Italy.

🎿 A key 2025 race for the #DucatiLenovoTeam stands out 😂#ChampionsOnTrack #Ducati #GoDucati #madonnadicampiglio pic.twitter.com/ujQxYUVOpC— Ducati Racing (@ducaticorse) January 21, 2025

🎿 A pivotal 2025 competition for the #DucatiLenovoTeam is highlighted 😂#TrackChampions #Ducati #PowerToDucati #madonnadicampiglio pic.twitter.com/ujQxYUVOpC

Bagnaia grinned during a shared interview in the mountainous area, stating, "We had a great time skiing."

Marquez mentioned, "Before the alarm went off, I knew I was going to lose the race!"

Typically, skiing isn't something I do! I've hit the slopes around 10 times throughout my life.

"I began learning to ski at a relatively older age, around 23 or 24, purely as a pastime."

Marquez humorously revealed details about his latest agreement with Ducati Lenovo.

"In fact," he pointed out, "the agreement explicitly prohibits skiing!"

"However, everyone is okay, so feel free to speak up!"

"We had a great time participating in a sort of race, which we found immensely enjoyable. As it went on, we noticed we were improving significantly."

At the unveiling of the 2025 motorcycle in Italy, the atmosphere was light-hearted between Ducati's leading rider Bagnaia and the much-anticipated new addition, Marquez.

Attention will focus on if the atmosphere in the workshop remains as agreeable.

Bagnaia and Marquez are anticipated to compete for the 2025 championship title, each having access to comparable equipment.

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

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Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez share the backstory of a notable photo

They first encountered each other in 2010

Francesco Bagnaia has shared the backstory of a widely circulated photo featuring himself and Ducati MotoGP colleague Marc Marquez, taken during their initial meeting in 2010.

Two-time MotoGP winner Bagnaia will team up with Marquez at Ducati's official team in 2025, where they introduced the team's new livery in Italy this week.

Discover further: The unavoidable discord within Ducati's MotoGP powerhouse in 2025

Check out this Instagram post:

See this post on Instagram from Crash MotoGP (@crashmotogp_)

In their initial joint media appearance, the two racers maintained a friendly demeanor, despite having previously encountered on-track disputes during the 2024 season, including a contentious incident at the Portuguese Grand Prix and a direct competition for the win at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Held at the Madonna di Campiglio and led by TNT Sport commentator Gavin Emmett, Marquez and Bagnaia discussed various subjects.

One of the highlighted moments involved a popular photo of the duo from 2010, during a time when Marquez was competing in the 125cc category and Bagnaia had not yet entered into the realm of grand prix racing.

"Bagnaia recalled, "That day remains vivid in my memory."

"The period marked his inaugural championship victory. That day is etched in my memory. At that point, we had attended perhaps the second or third trial of the season alongside the Monlau Competicion squad in Barcelona, and Marc was present, engaged in his supermoto training exercises."

"He simply dropped by to greet. That year, I was using the garage alongside Lorenzo Baldassarri."

"I simply requested a photo because he was an emerging Spanish rider who had performed exceptionally well with KTM the previous year. My crew chief had mentioned that we should keep an eye on him this season, believing that he would succeed. And indeed, he did."

Discover more: The impact of Lewis Hamilton and Marc Marquez on motorsport's popularity in 2025 will be significant.

In his third year competing in the 125cc category, Marquez clinched the championship riding a Derbi, achieving this feat with 10 wins under his belt. Following this success, he ascended to the Moto2 class in 2011.

In response to inquiries about the photograph, Marquez stated, “I couldn’t recall the specific day in question, but I am aware that he was competing under Monlau, and I shared a close bond with Monlau Competicion.

"I couldn't recall the specific day."

Marquez attended the event to back his younger sibling, Alex Marquez, who was participating in trials with the Monlau Competicion squad.

In 2013, the same year Marquez entered the MotoGP class and clinched his first premier class championship, Bagnaia made his entrance into grand prix racing.

It wasn't until 2016 that Bagnaia achieved his first grand prix wins, clinching two victories riding a Mahindra, prior to advancing to Moto2, where he secured the championship title in 2018.

He commenced his MotoGP career in 2019, joining Pramac Ducati, before transitioning to the official Ducati team in 2021, where he clinched the championship in both 2022 and 2023.

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Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez unveil the backstory of THE photo

Their initial encounter occurred in 2010

Francesco Bagnaia has shared the backstory of a widely circulated photo featuring himself and his Ducati MotoGP colleague Marc Marquez, taken during their initial meeting back in 2010.

Two-time MotoGP winner Bagnaia is set to team up with Marquez at the official Ducati team in 2025, as they introduced the team's new livery in Italy this week.

Discover more: The unavoidable consequences within Ducati's elite MotoGP squad in 2025

Check out this Instagram post from Crash MotoGP (@crashmotogp_)

In their initial joint interview, the duo showed a friendly demeanor despite having previously collided on the circuit during a contentious encounter at the Portuguese Grand Prix in 2024, and once more fighting neck and neck for the win at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Held at Madonna di Campiglio, the discussion was moderated by TNT Sport's Gavin Emmett, where Marquez and Bagnaia addressed various subjects.

A photo that went viral of the duo dates back to 2010, during a time when Marquez was competing in the 125cc category, and Bagnaia had not yet entered the realm of grand prix racing.

"Bagnaia recalled the day,"

"That period marked his initial championship victory. The memory of that day is crystal clear in my mind. We had gone for perhaps the second or third trial of the season with the Monlau Competicion squad in Barcelona, and Marc was present as well, since he was practicing with the supermoto."

"He simply stopped by to greet. During that season, [Lorenzo] Baldassarri and I were using the garage together.

"I simply requested a photo since he was an up-and-coming Spanish rider who had performed incredibly well with KTM the previous year, and my crew chief had mentioned that we should keep an eye on him this season as he was likely to excel. And indeed, he succeeded."

Discover more: The immense impact of the Lewis Hamilton/Marc Marquez craze on motorsport by 2025

Marquez secured the 125cc championship riding a Derbi, claiming the title during his third year in the category with a total of 10 race wins, subsequently moving up to Moto2 in 2011.

In response to inquiries regarding the specific photograph, Marquez noted, "The details of that day are a bit hazy to me, but he was competing under Monlau's banner, and my connection with Monlau Competicion was quite close.

"I couldn't recall the specific day."

Marquez was present to back up his sibling, Alex Marquez, as he too was participating in trials with the Monlau Competicion squad.

In 2013, as Marquez embarked on his inaugural MotoGP season and clinched his first premier class title, Bagnaia entered the world of grand prix racing.

Bagnaia clinched his first grand prix victories in 2016, achieving two wins riding a Mahindra, prior to advancing to Moto2. In this category, he secured the championship title in 2018.

He first entered the MotoGP scene in 2019, joining Pramac Ducati, before advancing to Ducati's main team in 2021. He then clinched the championship in both 2022 and 2023.

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Marco Bezzecchi plans to look up to Jorge Martin as a benchmark.

"I intend to emulate everything he excels at more than I do."

Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi, who had been swiftly climbing the ranks in MotoGP, faced an unexpected slowdown in 2023. That year, he secured just one podium finish and fell to twelfth place in the world championship standings.

Bezzecchi, who had won three races and was only outperformed by Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin in the last season, acknowledged that his drive was affected due to difficulties in maintaining competitiveness on the GP23.

Last season at VR46, Bezzecchi expressed difficulties with the initial acceleration, saying the motorcycle failed to turn properly, causing him to lose speed and frequently veer off course.

"Every GP23 Ducati racer has been voicing the same concern. There are certain circuits where I managed to adapt somewhat, while others posed more of a challenge for me."

Luckily for Bez, Aprilia considered the previous season an anomaly and brought the 26-year-old on board to team up with newly crowned world champion Jorge Martin in its official squad.

At last November's test in Barcelona, Bezzecchi made his first appearance on the RS-GP, finishing in 13th position, only a tenth of a second behind Martin.

Most significantly, considering the difficulties with cornering experienced last year, Bezzecchi instantly felt assured about the front-end performance of the bike.

During the Aprilia team launch event, Bezzecchi shared his thoughts, saying, "My initial day in Montmelo was enjoyable. I quickly felt comfortable on the bike."

"The most notable change was the incredibly stable front end. This is a hallmark of Aprilia bikes, known for their exceptional steadiness. The motorcycle instantly provided me with strong confidence when braking in a straight line."

"The experience was unlike that of riding a Ducati, which has a distinct setup. As a result, the motorcycle responds differently when braking."

"The method of riding the Aprilia is entirely distinct, so I'll have to adjust gradually with each lap. However, that was the most significant difference."

Both Bezzecchi and Martin have dedicated their entire careers in the top class to competing with Ducati.

The Spanish rider received comprehensive factory backing while at Pramac. However, he faced a challenging period, failing to secure any victories in 2022 and missing out on a position with the factory team to Enea Bastianini.

Nevertheless, Martin made a remarkable comeback by competing for the title in 2023 and managed to handle the stress of leading the world championship for the majority of the previous year.

Bezzecchi admits that he has much to gain by observing Martin both during races and in other aspects.

"To begin with, his speed is incredible. He can achieve astonishing speeds in no time," Bezzecchi noted. "Whenever he gets on the bike, he consistently demonstrates impressive swiftness."

"It will be crucial for me to use him as a model, examine his statistics, observe how he performs within the penalty area, and attempt to emulate everything he does better than I do."

"He holds the title of world champion, making him the strongest competitor right now."

Besides his impressive biking abilities, he possesses a strong work ethic. His training regimen is excellent, and he consistently demonstrates high levels of focus and motivation.

"I’m driven as well, but maintaining this drive for every race can be challenging during difficult periods. Last year was particularly challenging for me."

He went through challenging periods before. He was forced to entirely alter his plans. Nevertheless, he maintained a resilient mindset and unwavering determination.

"This serves as a clear example of Jorge's superior strength. I plan to follow his lead and use him as a benchmark to enhance my own abilities."

Bezzecchi and Martin are set to return to the track with the RS-GP25 during the Sepang test scheduled for February 5-7.

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For two decades, Peter has been present in the paddock, witnessing the career of Valentino Rossi from beginning to end. He is now closely following the developments surrounding Suzuki's departure and the challenges Marc Marquez is facing with his injuries.

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Ducati hints at taking chances with GP25's evolution during Sepang trials

Gigi Dall'Igna shares insights on the latest Desmosedici model

Gigi Dall'Igna kept details about the Ducati GP25's technical updates under wraps.

Nonetheless, he disclosed a few of the novel components set to premiere in the forthcoming pre-season trials in Malaysia and Thailand.

This year, the number of factory-standard Desmosedicis participating in MotoGP drops to three, a decrease by one.

Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia of the Ducati Lenovo team, alongside VR46's Fabio di Giannantonio, will gain an advantage by utilizing the top equipment available in MotoGP.

"Our goal for this year isn't to introduce an entirely new motorcycle; rather, it's to improve upon the one we already had," stated Dall’Igna.

"Last year's bicycle brought us immense satisfaction and success. Therefore, we've focused on introducing new improvements and advancements to that model."

"Discussing the upcoming tests scheduled to begin in a fortnight, there's a plethora of innovative components we're excited to experiment with: This includes a fresh swingarm, a novel chassis design. We're also introducing an entirely new fairing, along with various other parts that have been modified and refined."

"Hence, we must test all these components. However, we will be rigorous in choosing only those components that are truly effective, the ones that distinctly stand out."

"Perhaps we'll set aside the aspects we're uncertain about for now and consider revisiting them throughout the season."

"We have numerous factors to consider and review, especially in light of our rivals' potential actions."

"I enjoy embracing [technical] challenges. Throughout my life, I've consistently engaged in risky behaviors, but it's crucial to be wise about the risks you take. It's important to seize the opportunity for risk at the right time…"

The testing sessions in Sepang kick off with the Shakedown phase from January 31 to February 2, during which Ducati's representation on the circuit is limited to test rider Michele Pirro and newcomer Fermin Aldeguer.

Ducati's remaining MotoGP team members, along with their third factory-spec competitor, Fabio di Giannantonio from VR46, are set to participate in the official testing session scheduled for February 5-7.

Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia, who are gearing up for the introduction of 850cc motorcycles by 2027, will have their engine designs locked in from the start of the Thailand race season until the conclusion of 2026.

Teams will still be permitted to make one aerodynamic body modification during the season, while there will be no limitations on the advancement of the chassis.

Yamaha and Honda currently enjoy an exemption from the engine design lock due to their low-ranking D concessions status.

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MotoGP Riders Intensify Winter Test Training with Sessions at Aspar Circuit

This week, the Aspar Circuit hosted prominent MotoGP competitors, including the Marquez brothers, Quartararo, and Mir, as they engaged in winter

As MotoGP winter testing approaches, several prominent riders, such as Marc Marquez, have been participating in training sessions on their bikes at the Aspar Circuit in Spain.

Following the unveiling of Ducati's factory team for the 2025 season at Madonna di Campiglio, eight-time world champion Marquez immediately returns to his training routine at Valencia's Aspar Circuit.

This month, Marquez visited the location twice to ride a Ducati Panigale V2. A few weeks ago, he tested the most recent version of the bike, and according to the brand's CEO, Claudio Domenicali, the Spanish racer equaled the track's lap record during his run.

On a practice day at the Aspar circuit, Casey O’Gorman guided Marc Marquez around the track. Afterwards, Marc filmed a birthday message for French superbike star Justine Pedermonte. pic.twitter.com/J3H3hmzYnB— Ian Martin (@IanTeamBike) January 23, 2025

On Wednesday, Marquez got on his V2 Panigale once more at the racetrack to continue his training in preparation for the pre-season testing scheduled to start in Malaysia from February 5th to 7th.

Accompanying him were his younger sibling, Alex Marquez, along with Fermin Aldeguer, who will be his teammate with the Gresini team in 2025.

The Aspar circuit has turned into a popular winter destination for MotoGP athletes, with current world champion Jorge Martin recently taking to the track.

In recent days, Fabio Quartararo, who clinched the world championship in 2021, and Joan Mir, the 2020 titleholder, have been racing on the track

Quartararo, Mir, and Aldeguer are set to travel to Southeast Asia ahead of schedule as they work on their preparations for the upcoming season.

Three groups will participate in the Sepang shakedown from January 31 to February 2. This event is specifically for new riders, riders from manufacturers with concessions, and test riders.

The official Yamaha team, along with its new satellite team partner Pramac, is set to kick off the 2025 season with a launch event taking place on January 31 in Kuala Lumpur.

The Honda team's official presentation is scheduled for the next day in Jakarta.

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Jorge Martin described his standalone title as "remarkable, yet achievable once more." Last season, independent racers secured two of the top three positions in the MotoGP World Championship.

The principal of the Trackhouse team, Davide Brivio, believes that the chances of Jorge Martin securing another Independent MotoGP title are increasingly likely in the coming years.

Martin achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first racer since the 500cc era, when Valentino Rossi did it, to clinch the premier-class championship while not being part of an official factory team.

Similar to Rossi's situation in 2001, Martin was equipped with full factory-spec equipment at Pramac. Utilizing this advantage, he managed to surpass Francesco Bagnaia, the official Ducati rider and current champion, by a margin of ten points.

According to Brivio, who has previously secured MotoGP championships while leading factory teams at Yamaha and Suzuki, the pivotal element in the transformation of independent teams from mere participants to title contenders is the advanced equipment they now receive.

Following the Trackhouse team unveiling, Crash.net interviewed Brivio regarding the importance of Martin's championship win and the chances of seeing another Independent MotoGP champion.

Brivio started by saying, "Looking ahead, I believe it's increasingly feasible, as MotoGP is evolving in this regard."

"In previous years, the top factory teams were equipped with superior gear and had the most skilled riders."

"However, the situation is now leveling out considerably. In the past two or three years, nearly all Independent teams have been equipped with factory bikes, identical to those used by their corresponding factory teams."

"At Aprilia, we use the same motorcycle model as our factory team. Ducati has adopted this approach for several years, and now Yamaha and Honda have joined in as well. It seems that this strategy is becoming a trend across the board."

"Initially, the gear hasn't changed, and this situation wasn't occurring several years back. This is why Independent teams now have better opportunities."

This season, 19 out of the 22 racers will be using the most current factory-spec motorcycles.

However, riders like Franco Morbidelli, Alex Marquez, and Fermin Aldeguer still find solace in the fact that they are equipped with the championship-winning Ducati GP24 from the previous year.

Marc Marquez, who was racing on a year-old Desmosedici for the Gresini team, secured a position among the top three in the world championship last year, making it two Independent riders in those top spots.

In the ultimate top ten rankings, independent riders took the majority, with six satellite team members (Martin, M. Marquez, Acosta, A. Marquez, Morbidelli, di Giannantonio) compared to only four riders from factory teams (Bagnaia, Bastianini, Binder, Vinales).

Brivio explained: "It's also about identifying the right racer, possibly signing a skilled young competitor before they join a major factory team!"

"This is our challenge too, isn't it? For instance, Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura are exceptionally skilled riders. Over the next two years, we'll aim to provide them with top-notch equipment, and hopefully, we'll achieve the desired results."

The factory team, in our situation, includes Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, who are both formidable riders. However, we have the capability to compete against them.

Overall, I believe that it's possible for another Independent champion to emerge in the future.

"When observing other teams, you notice that for Honda, Zarco performed better than the official factory riders at the conclusion of last season."

"What occurred with Martin and Pramac is quite remarkable. However, I believe it could happen once more."

"This creates a new opportunity. Everyone now has access to the same gear, so the focus shifts to recruiting skilled riders, effectively managing them, and ensuring the team operates smoothly."

"I understand that it could occur once more. Perhaps our task is to ensure it does."

As Martin and Marquez transition to factory teams, Enea Bastianini, who finished fourth for Ducati Lenovo last season, is now the top-ranked rider for an Independent team in 2025, representing Tech3 KTM.

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Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia in Another Collision? "Crashes are Unwanted, but…"

Despite becoming factory Ducati teammates, Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez's strategies remain unchanged.

Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, the new teammates on Ducati's MotoGP factory team, have cautioned that similar incidents to last year's crash in Portimao could happen again in 2025.

In the final laps of the race, Marquez overtook Bagnaia at the entrance to the Turn 5 hairpin as they battled for fifth position.

As the Gresini racer veered a bit off course at the turn's peak, the Italian attempted to maneuver underneath. However, their paths intersected as they exited, causing both to crash.

Bagnaia had to withdraw immediately, and Marquez finished in 16th place, ending the race without earning any points.

In a YouTube interview titled 'Pecco & Marc Face to Face' by Ducati, the duo was questioned about whether becoming teammates would alter the way they compete against one another in scenarios such as the one in Portimao.

Bagnaia replied, "It varies, but for me, the answer is no."

"I agree," Marquez stated.

The eight-time world champion mentioned that situations like these are inevitable when competing at the highest level of racing.

"No one intends to crash or cause an accident. However, when we're pushing the boundaries, there's often a misunderstanding where you expect one action from the other person, and they expect something different from you. It's a case of differing expectations," Marquez explained.

"Neither of us earned any points, so it wasn't a positive experience!"

Following Maverick Vinales' withdrawal from second place, Bagnaia would have secured fifth position regardless of whether he overtook Marquez again.

The Italian pointed out that the points that slipped away in Portugal could have closed the ten-point gap to Jorge Martin in the ultimate world championship rankings.

"Consider this race; I came in fifth position, earning eleven points. That was sufficient for me to claim the championship!" exclaimed Bagnaia.

Last season saw more intense competition between Bagnaia and Marquez, with Portimao being just one instance. The two multi-champions clashed again, yet managed to stay upright, during an exhilarating race in Jerez where Bagnaia ultimately claimed victory.

According to some forecasts, Bagnaia and Marquez might compete fiercely for wins in each race this season, making more confrontations likely.

Keeping the team in a state of 'harmony'—a term chosen by Mauro Grassilli, the sporting director at Ducati, during the unveiling—might thus present a significant challenge.

Marquez emphasized that the laid-back environment of the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort offered an ideal opportunity for the new team members to build a connection.

Marquez explained that this approach promotes team cohesion, highlighting that at the racetrack, each rider is typically situated on opposite sides with their respective teams.

"It's the most effective method to foster a positive environment and maintain the excellence of the bike, which Ducati already exemplifies, but we must ensure it remains at that standard. This approach also helps in understanding one another and strengthening team cohesion."

Marquez and Bagnaia are set to ride their initial MotoGP laps of the season during the Sepang test, scheduled for February 5th through 7th.

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Sean Dylan Kelly, who recently suffered an injury, shares news following a significant head scan. The MotoAmerica competitor shares a vital update after his accident.

Sean Dylan Kelly announced that the head scan results showed no issues.

A MotoAmerica racer was taken to the hospital following a frightening crash during practice.

Following a significant and unusual crash on his supermoto, he ended up with a neck brace and was hospitalized over the weekend.

Kelly has announced that the results of the head scan showed no issues.

"I’m grateful that all the medical examinations have turned out positively. I plan to rest for a few additional days, and then I will return to my usual activities."

"I am incredibly grateful to everyone for their overwhelming love and support. It truly means the world to me."

Last season, Kelly secured a fourth-place finish in the MotoAmerica Superbike category while riding for the TopPro BMW team.

He made a return after a challenging 2023 season plagued by injuries as a Moto2 competitor. Due to these injuries, he was dropped by American Racing halfway through the season.

Kelly is now able to anticipate getting back into action in the United States, even after his concerning accident during preseason training.

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For ten years, James worked as a sports reporter at Sky Sports, where he covered a wide range of events including American sports, football, and Formula 1.

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EXCLUSIVE – Brad Binder examines the unique way Pedro Acosta rides

"It's exciting to have him join as a teammate. He has a few skills that he does exceptionally well."

For his sixth season in MotoGP, Brad Binder will welcome a new teammate. Pedro Acosta, who was a standout rookie last year, is moving up to the factory Red Bull KTM squad, taking over the spot previously held by Jack Miller.

Acosta will join his fourth different MotoGP teammate in Binder, following previous partnerships with Pol Espargaro, Miguel Oliveira, and Miller. However, Binder is the first teammate with a notable age gap, as Binder is 29 and Acosta is 20.

In earlier racing classes, I've worked with teammates who were younger than me, but moving into MotoGP, this will be the first experience of its kind, Binder mentioned to Crash.net. "Pol was a few years my senior, while Jack and Miguel are roughly my age."

"In any case, I'm eagerly anticipating it."

"Without a doubt, Jack has been a fantastic colleague, and I've really enjoyed working with him over the past few seasons. However, I believe Pedro offers a fresh dynamic to the team."

"His unique way of riding is impressive, and his methods are exceptionally precise. It's going to be exciting to have him on the team."

Binder achieved a milestone by securing KTM’s inaugural MotoGP victory in just his third race. This triumph occurred a year before Acosta made a sensational entry into the grand prix circuit, clinching the Moto3 championship as a rookie in 2021.

Last season, they encountered each other on the racing circuit when Acosta's advancement to the main KTM team for 2025 became almost inevitable, thanks to his achievement of five podium finishes and four Sprint podiums while with Tech3.

Binder achieved his only podium finishes during the initial round in Qatar. However, he managed to surpass Acosta, securing his position as KTM’s leading racer by finishing fifth in the overall world championship standings.

When asked to clarify what he meant by Acosta's unique way of riding, Binder elaborated:

"There are specific skills he excels at, especially when it comes to braking. He consistently knows just how far to push the limits without exceeding them and manages to bring the bike to a stop at precisely the same spot every time!"

"One remarkable aspect of his riding technique is how effectively he can maneuver the bike."

"I'll meet up with Jack outside of the racing environment."

Binder's aggressive and uncompromising approach during races is quite different from his relaxed and friendly demeanor when he's not on the track.

Similar to numerous other racers, the athlete from South Africa resides in Andorra throughout the European racing season, with Miller being one of his nearby residents.

Binder commented on the Australian's move to Pramac Yamaha, noting, "I might not see Jack as often at the MotoGP circuit, but I am confident that our relationship off the track will remain the same."

"When we're away, especially in Andorra, we often spend a lot of time together. Our homes are just about 300 to 400 meters apart, making it very convenient. I believe it will be exciting for him as well, offering a fresh experience and a new endeavor."

Beyond the allure of a MotoGP event, a rider's existence is largely governed by an unyielding schedule of training.

According to Binder, the simplest activity to engage in while in Andorra is cycling. "There's a small café nearby, and nearly every day, a group of four or five people is eager to go for a ride," he remarked.

A message simply appears in the group chat asking, "8 or 9 o'clock?" That's essentially the usual routine. The trail includes some incredibly steep ascents, which are awe-inspiring. It takes about an hour and a half to climb up, but only 20 minutes to return home!

"Competing in races involves a very narrow margin. It's a situation where you're either fully involved or not at all." Binder, who started competing on the world stage in his early teenage years, mentioned that he has never considered any alternative career paths outside of being a professional motorcycle racer.

"I'm almost certain, about 95%, that I'd be working in engineering alongside my father," he mentioned.

As kids, we always handled the maintenance of our bikes ourselves, and even now, I continue to do the basic tasks at home, such as replacing tires, brake pads, oil, and other similar things.

"It's the most significant activity I love doing outside of racing."

"Definitely, at some point in my professional journey, after my racing days have concluded, that will be my next focus."

In a similar vein, what is Binder's opinion on what sets apart riders who succeed in reaching MotoGP from other skilled young riders who do not make it?

"Indeed, it's quite a delicate balance," he responded.

Throughout the years, it's common to witness some young athletes dominate their competition when they first start. However, after a while, they seem to lose their way for a few seasons, and that's the end of their momentum.

"Motorsport is an all-or-nothing endeavor. There is no middle ground. You either succeed, or you need to look for a different career."

"It's crucial to ensure that any 'rough patches' you encounter—since everyone experiences them—are kept brief."

"If they continue for an extended period, the outcome is unpredictable."

Binder, who clinched the Moto3 World Championship title in 2016 and finished as the second-place competitor in the Moto2 category in 2019, is gearing up to begin his 14th year in grand prix racing, set to commence in Thailand

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For two decades, Peter has been present in the racing scene, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is now closely following the developments surrounding Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's injury challenges.

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Francesco Bagnaia dedicated significant time to reviewing his errors and less successful races. He noted that he still struggles a bit with left-hand turns.

Eleven Grand Prix victories. Eight races without scoring any points. A total of ten points.

In Francesco Bagnaia's 2024 MotoGP season, the Italian rider secured more Grand Prix victories than the rest of the field together. However, he ultimately fell short by ten points, losing the championship to Jorge Martin.

At the Ducati Lenovo team's launch event this week, two-time champion Bagnaia admitted that he has dedicated a significant amount of time to studying and revisiting his errors and least successful races from the previous year.

Bagnaia concluded that he needed to be more patient in certain situations, even though the reasons for his lack of scores differed.

He expressed a desire to consistently be at the forefront. However, he acknowledged that there are times when exercising patience is advantageous, given the lengthy nature of the championship.

"Indeed, it's possible to earn or lose a significant number of points each weekend. Additionally, not all of those instances were due to my mistakes."

"Had I been more patient in several instances and avoided accidents, perhaps securing 13 points would have sufficed to clinch the title."

In instances like the confrontations with the Marquez brothers in Portimao with Marc and in Aragon with Alex, exercising patience might have been beneficial. However, there were also times when Bagnaia crashed independently while maintaining a composed riding style.

"It's often challenging to foresee outcomes, as I've experienced losing control at the front even when I was composed. Instances like the final lap in Barcelona's Sprint and in Malaysia highlight this complexity. It's puzzling, but I'll keep trying to make sense of it."

The situation isn't about the team needing to get better individually; rather, we must find ways to enhance our performance collectively in certain scenarios.

"It should happen naturally, simply performing our duties without feeling stressed at times, just going about our tasks as usual and everything will become smoother."

Bagnaia pointed out that he experienced just nine spills throughout the season, placing him 17th on the list for the most falls during the previous year.

The issue highlighted by the title is that seven of the incidents occurred during competitions, with one retirement due to a technical problem in the Le Mans Sprint.

He clarified that the goal isn't to alter the overall strategy, but rather to make adjustments during the races.

"If we consider the statistics, I had fewer crashes than many other riders last year. However, seven out of my nine crashes occurred during races, which is an area I need to work on improving."

"In terms of racing, Bagnaia was frequently unbeatable last season, achieving commanding back-to-back wins at Assen, Austria, and Barcelona."

Nonetheless, the Italian admitted there is still a specific aspect where he could enhance his skills.

Altering one's riding style is a challenging and lengthy endeavor. However, he expressed a desire to enhance his performance from the initial test by striving to be as competitive on left turns as he is on right turns.

"This is already positive because I feel extremely confident on the right turns. However, I lack something on the left turns, so I will work on improving in that area."

This is entirely different from his new teammate, Marc Marquez, who is well-known for his exceptional skills in left-hand turns and on tracks that run counterclockwise, including COTA, Sachsenring, Aragon, and Phillip Island.

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Peter has spent two decades in the paddock and has witnessed the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is deeply involved in the narrative surrounding Suzuki's departure and the injury challenges faced by Marc Marquez.

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VIEW: Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia participate in their inaugural interview as colleagues on the Ducati MotoGP team. The duo comes together for an initial discussion as team-mates under the Ducati banner.

Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia have conducted their inaugural joint interview as teammates for the factory Ducati MotoGP team. You can view the interview below.

On Monday, January 20th, the Ducati factory team kicked off its 2025 season at a presentation held in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy.

Explore further: Why Ducati's MotoGP superteam is bound to face challenges

This event was notable as it was the debut of eight-time world champion Marc Marquez wearing the complete factory Ducati colors. Alongside his teammate Bagnaia, they unveiled the brand's 2025 livery.

On Tuesday, the two athletes participated in their inaugural race together as teammates in a downhill skiing event. Following the competition, they sat down for an interview with TNT Sports' Gavin Emmett.

View it underneath.

Last summer, Ducati initially intended to elevate Jorge Martin to its official team to join forces with two-time premier class world champion Bagnaia.

When Marquez openly declined the offer to ride a factory Ducati with the Pramac team, it led the management of the Italian brand to reverse their decision.

As a result, Martin, who later became the 2024 world champion, also secured a contract with the factory Aprilia team.

Pramac has ended its collaboration with Ducati and will team up with Yamaha for the 2025 season.

Due to recent changes, Ducati's presence in the lineup has decreased from eight riders to six. This season, only three GP25 motorcycles are being raced by Bagnaia, Marquez, and VR46 team member Fabio Di Giannantonio.

In the previous year, Ducati achieved unprecedented success in MotoGP by securing victories in 19 out of 20 grand prix races, which resulted in a commanding 395-point advantage in the constructors' championship standings.

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