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

The MotoGP icons turn their attention to the upcoming season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassarri finished in the podium positions.

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

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

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

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

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

Outcomes from Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions race

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

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

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

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

Pecco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi notably secured the sixth position.

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

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

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

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

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

New speculation on the reason behind Ducati's significant decision

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ducati had to reverse their initial decision to honor Martin.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Jorge Martin is with Aprilia," Chico clarified.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Our windshield was indeed shattered…"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"The focus is consistently on moving forward"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pernat Discusses the Shift in Bastianini’s Representation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Footage emerges of Valentino Rossi's accident at Tavullia's Americana

During the yearly 100km of Champions flat track competition, Valentino Rossi experienced a crash in the Americana race.

Video footage showcasing the moment Valentino Rossi met with an accident during the Americana race at the 100km of Champions flat track competition last weekend has been released.

The video, captured by a camera attached to Rossi's helmet and shared on his Instagram account, depicts Rossi's accident at the last, extremely narrow left-turn hairpin that concludes the 'double-oval' circuit at the VR46 Motor Ranch, the venue for the Americana race.

Check out this Instagram post from Valentino Rossi (@valeyellow46)

After Rossi's fall, HRC MotoGP competitor Luca Marini emerged victorious in the Americana race, which adopts a knockout style, on Friday night.

Marini joined forces with his half-sibling Rossi for the premier 100km event that took place on Saturday afternoon, where they secured a second-place finish.

Lorenzo Baldassarri and Elia Bartolini secured the third position.

Diogo Moreira and the eight-time Supermoto World Champion, Thomas Chareyre, emerged victorious.

The 2025 occurrence marked the tenth installment of the "100km of Champions," an annual flat track competition organized by Rossi at his VR46 Motor Ranch, attracting an elite roster of racers each year.

At this year's event, in addition to Rossi and the previously mentioned participants, attendees included three-time World Champion Francesco Bagnaia, Michael Dunlop, who has claimed victory at the Isle of Man TT 29 times, Davey Todd, the champion of the 2024 Senior TT, Pedro Acosta, a two-time World Champion, Enea Bastianini, Franco Morbidelli, and Augusto Fernandez, all of whom have won the Moto2 World Championship, Lasse Kurvinen, a double Flat Track World Champion, and Sammy Halbert, a former AMA Flat Track Champion.

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MotoGP team leaders scrutinized as a critical underperformer is pinpointed

Analysts forecast which MotoGP team manager will face challenges in 2025

Journalists at Crash.net pinpoint the MotoGP team leader who is set to face significant examination this season…

Alex Whitworth: This year, Aki Ajo faces a bit of scrutiny after stepping in for Francesco Guidotti at Red Bull KTM, who was let go due to poor performance. However, it's truly HRC that must make a significant improvement.

The downturn of the Japanese brand has been evident for the past five seasons, and they have now parted ways with both Repsol and Marc Marquez.

Last year, Johann Zarco stood out for the brand by managing to make it into Q2 on several occasions and securing a few top-10 finishes.

Towards the latter part of 2024, indications of progress began to emerge, yet it is crucial for tangible outcomes to materialize in 2025 for HRC and its leader, Koji Watanabe.

Derry Munikartono: Leading Honda's MotoGP initiative, Alberto Puig faces significant pressure to ensure success.

The past few years have been particularly challenging for what used to be a dominant force in MotoGP, to the extent that they've seen the departure of Marc Marquez and Repsol, their supporter for three decades.

Honda reacted by infusing their technical team with a touch of European sophistication. They enlisted Aleix Espargaro as the test rider, who in turn introduced former Aprilia technical leader Romano Albesiano as the new Technical Director.

Puig is aware that, with the strong team supporting him, it's his responsibility to guide Honda back to their rightful position at the pinnacle of the MotoGP standings.

Lewis Duncan: In 2025, Paolo Pavesio will be assuming a significant role as he succeeds Lin Jarvis as the team manager for the factory Yamaha team, filling some large shoes in the process.

Since his involvement with Yamaha's MotoGP initiative in the late 1990s, Jarvis has played a pivotal role. In his last year, he successfully secured a fresh two-year agreement for Fabio Quartararo, alongside Alex Rins, and established a leading satellite collaboration with Pramac for Yamaha.

He made every effort to steer the manufacturer onto the correct path as he steps down. Considering the advancements Yamaha has achieved with its M1, Pavesio needs to seamlessly take over from where Jarvis concluded and continue guiding the course as it is.

Jordan Moreland: Considering the significant position, my pick would be Aki Ajo with KTM.

Considering his successful history in the junior categories, KTM likely views him as the key element to propel the brand into a Championship contention, a milestone they have yet to achieve in their MotoGP endeavor.

Peter McLaren: According to Martin Brundle, in F1, you're either applying pressure or feeling it; there's no middle ground. This concept also holds true in MotoGP.

Ducati's supremacy is exerting strain on the remaining four manufacturers.

Aprilia faces the challenge of leveraging their acquisition of newly crowned world champion, Jorge Martin, to its fullest potential.

KTM, despite facing economic challenges, is feeling the heat to break their winless streak and seriously contend for a championship title.

Yamaha and Honda face significant pressure to demonstrate tangible improvements and aim for top-three finishes by 2025.

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Jorge Martin's potential for victory with Aprilia in MotoGP is endorsed by competitor lacking comparable skill

"I've consistently held the view that battling for a championship with Aprilia is within our reach"

Aleix Espargaro is of the opinion that Jorge Martin has the potential to achieve success with Aprilia in MotoGP, attributing this to Martin's victory on the bike, despite not possessing even a fraction of the talent that elite riders such as Espargaro himself hold.

Current MotoGP world champion Martin transitions to the official Aprilia team for the next season after missing out on a promotion to the Ducati factory team.

Martin, who secured the 2024 championship over Francesco Bagnaia riding a Pramac-operated GP24, has decided against aiming for the title again in 2025 during his inaugural year with the RS-GP.

However, having secured three grand prix victories with Aprilia before hanging up his helmet in late 2024, Espargaro is convinced that his ability to perform well on the RS-GP undeniably showcases Martin's talent.

"Espargaro has always held the conviction that competing for the world championship with Aprilia is within reach, expressing this belief with absolute honesty," he remarked during a DAZN documentary, while also being slated to join Honda as a test rider in 2025.

"I lack even a fraction of the skill that title contenders demonstrate, yet I've managed to secure victories on this motorcycle, achieved pole positions, and broken records at numerous circuits."

"I'm not guaranteeing Jorge can accomplish it this year, but he'll definitely get a chance to express himself."

In November, Martin had his initial trial with the RS-GP in Barcelona, during which Aprilia's CEO, Massimo Rivola, observed that the feedback from the Spanish rider was surprisingly positive.

In 2025, Marco Bezzecchi will team up with him, as Fabiano Sterlacchini takes over the role of technical director from Romano Albesiano, who is moving to Honda.

Espargaro cautioned that by 2025, Pedro Acosta is expected to pose a significant challenge at the leading edge of the race, despite Ducati's present dominance over its competitors.

"My previous squad is performing admirably, yet KTM has the privilege of having an extraordinary talent like Pedro on their side.

"Certainly, he stands as a strong contender for the title, even though the Desmosedici currently outperforms the competition significantly."

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Could the dread of not succeeding motivate Honda to make a comeback before the MotoGP regulations are altered? In the most recent episode of the Crash MotoGP Podcast, the panel delves into Honda's prospects for 2025.

Heading into the 2025 MotoGP season, Honda is looking to rebound from one of its most challenging years in the top division, where it secured only 75 points and failed to achieve any podium finishes.

The previous season represented the third time in five years that the underperforming Japanese brand failed to secure a win, following the departure of Marc Marquez from the company at the close of 2023.

Throughout 2024, Honda experienced modest advancements, with Johann Zarco, its leading rider, ranking 17th in the standings and achieving his highest race finish of eighth place during the rain-affected Thailand Grand Prix.

Get the MotoGP Podcast by downloading it here.

HRC aims to capitalize on the progress achieved with its RC213V towards the end of the 2025 season. However, with a significant change in regulations expected in 2027, the question arises: when will the team consider the upcoming two seasons as a period of transition?

In the most recent episode of the Crash MotoGP Podcast, Lewis Duncan, the Senior Journalist for Crash.net, mentioned that Honda will eventually need to accept the challenges of 2025 and 2026 and concentrate their efforts on 2027.

"Additionally, reflecting on the previous significant overhaul of regulations, they didn't adeptly transition into the era of 1000cc."

Casey Stoner really disliked that motorcycle because it vibrated excessively. This issue was partly attributed to the Bridgestone tires in use then. Additionally, Honda faced a challenging period during 2012.

The situation appeared more promising than it actually was when you consider the competitive environment back then, which suggested that if you were riding a factory Yamaha or Honda, victory was almost guaranteed. This is no longer true today.

"When we transitioned from 990cc to 800cc engines, Honda missed the mark. The initial two to three years turned out to be quite challenging."

"Honda has a track record of struggling to adapt quickly to new regulations. They face a challenging decision on how much effort and resources to invest in improving their current standing while determining the right time to shift their focus entirely towards preparations for 2027."

MotoGP Editor Peter McLaren is contemplating whether the apprehension of not succeeding in the present age of advanced aerodynamics and ride height mechanisms might actually motivate Honda to make a swift comeback before the year 2027.

"Reflecting on Honda's historical challenges, he mentioned that it seems they prefer to emerge victorious following a specific set of guidelines."

The closure of the 500cc period and the conclusion of the 990s era marks a pivotal moment. The position of MotoGP within the grand scheme of things, given its substantial corporate stature, remains somewhat uncertain. After enduring years of setbacks and reaching a nadir, the introduction of new regulations presents a unique challenge. Historically, such moments have spurred an engineering-driven resurgence, motivated by a desire to demonstrate mastery over the technical regulations before they undergo significant alterations.

"It's fascinating to observe that when rules have been altered, the initial phase hasn't typically been favorable for them. Rather, they've found their peak performance towards the latter part of the rule cycle. Following this peak, they've had to regroup and rebuild from scratch."

"The clock is ticking, yet it's possible that the departure of Repsol could be the push that the higher-ups at Honda need to really step things up."

"They take great pride in their history of engineering excellence. Therefore, it will be fascinating to observe their response. With Repsol's departure marking the conclusion of this period governed by technical regulations, it's possible they'll aim to demonstrate their prowess to the globe, proving they can effectively implement ride height mechanisms and aerodynamics. It remains to be seen whether this provokes a significant reaction from them."

Jordan Moreland, the Social Media Manager for Crash, notes, "Absolutely, as Honda is inherently proud. Their essence is deeply rooted in racing. The ethos and organizational framework of HRC are designed with a singular focus – to triumph in all competitions."

"However, it's challenging for me to confirm whether they possess what's necessary, given their history of having capable riders."

"The attraction of Honda to numerous racers, such as successfully bringing on board Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez, and retaining Dani Pedrosa for an extended period, was crucial to their success."

"Reflecting on the past, the departure of Rossi also delivered a significant blow to the team. They had been under the impression that the motorcycle alone was sufficient to secure victories. However, Rossi's exit highlighted the essential role of the rider in achieving success."

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Sergio Perez determines a timeline for his Formula 1 career choice following his departure from Red Bull, having recently spoken out.

For the first time since it was confirmed that he would be leaving Red Bull, Sergio Perez has broken his silence. He disclosed that he will decide on his potential comeback to Formula 1 within the next half-year.

Following a challenging 2024 Formula 1 season, Red Bull opted to terminate his contract prematurely, bringing in Liam Lawson as his replacement for the next season.

The scheduling of the decision means Perez will be out of the running for 2025, allowing him a period to recuperate after a challenging recent few years with Red Bull.

In his last season with the squad, Perez didn't secure a single victory, falling to the eighth spot in the drivers' standings.

His contributions were a key factor in Red Bull securing a third-place finish in the constructors' standings, marking their lowest position since 2019.

Perez has finally spoken out, promising to take pleasure in the moment before making a decision about his future plans later in the year.

He expressed to ESPN Deportes, emphasizing that his main focus is to find joy, explore new activities, and spend quality time with his family.

"Within the coming half year, I plan to determine my future career direction."

"I'm not yet prepared to say if I plan on making a comeback to F1."

"The conclusion of the previous season unfolded rapidly, and my departure from the squad took me by surprise."

Is a 2026 F1 Comeback Possible for Perez?

Perez may believe he still has goals to achieve in F1.

Nonetheless, the schedule of Red Bull's decision doesn't favor him when it comes to the driver market.

Several of the racers are signed for several more seasons, as teams are choosing stability from 2025 to 2026, aligning with the introduction of new regulations.

However, a potential opportunity might present itself with Cadillac.

Cadillac is anticipated to join Formula 1 as the eleventh team by 2026 and is currently searching for a seasoned driver.

Perez's skill in Formula 1's mid-tier competition, along with his financial support, positions him as a compelling choice for a newly established team.

The question is if Perez feels inspired to compete at the rear of the pack once more.

Furthermore, in the race for the Cadillac seat, he will encounter tough opponents, including Valtteri Bottas who is also targeting that position.

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