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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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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Valentino Rossi Shares His MotoGP Aspirations for 2025

Valentino Rossi unveils his plans for increased MotoGP involvement in the coming year

Valentino Rossi intends to participate in additional MotoGP events in the upcoming year.

Three years after hanging up his motorcycle leathers, the renowned MotoGP star has made a transition to car racing.

However, he intends to adjust his priorities for the upcoming season.

"Rossi expressed to Motorsport his remorse over not being as involved in the races [in 2024] and having reduced opportunities to engage with the Academy's riders."

"By 2025, my goal is to increase my participation in MotoGP events, which means I'll be reducing the number of car racing competitions I enter accordingly."

The report mentions that Rossi's increased appearances can be attributed to Liberty Media acquiring MotoGP.

Rossi maintains a clear connection with today's leading figures in MotoGP.

Pecco Bagnaia, a product of the VR46 Academy, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first among Rossi's mentees to clinch the MotoGP championship two years ago.

This year, Bagnaia will share the factory Ducati garage with Marc Marquez, who was once Rossi's adversary.

Last year, Rossi reignited the controversy with Marquez regarding the events of 2015, accusing the Spanish rider of being responsible for his loss of the championship following multiple disputes.

Seeing Rossi's apprentice join forces with Rossi's rival, both competing on top-tier motorcycles, promises to be a thrilling spectacle this season.

Significant transformations are taking place within the Doctor's VR46 squad.

Following Pramac's departure as a satellite team for Ducati, VR46 is set to receive enhanced support and benefits.

Fabio di Giannantonio will be provided with a single factory-spec motorcycle, ensuring he competes on equal terms with Bagnaia and Marquez in terms of equipment.

Franco Morbidelli, who also emerged from the VR46 Academy, will team up with Di Giannantonio.

Marco Bezzecchi is set to depart from VR46 to team up with Aprilia, stepping into the role of a factory rider for the initial time.

Luca Marini, Rossi's sibling, embarks on his sophomore year riding for the Honda factory team.

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Yamaha is expected to rejuvenate Jack Miller's career

"Anticipation is high. Progress is being made with the motorcycle."

The switch to Pramac Yamaha could breathe new life into Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira's careers.

The latest addition to the MotoGP lineup will transition from using Ducati equipment to Yamaha gear in 2025.

Yamaha is set to benefit significantly from the inclusion of two seasoned racers, Miller and Oliveira, as this move not only brings their expertise on board but also doubles the number of their motorcycles (and consequently, the amount of data) present on the race track.

"Jack's prior experience means he's aware the team dynamics will be positive," stated Neil Hodgson from TNT Sports.

"There's much anticipation ahead. The bicycle progresses onward."

"They will receive the identical specifications as the factory team. Thus, they won't be significantly trailing behind; that scenario is not expected."

The two competitors find themselves at comparable stages in their professional journeys, facing the twilight of their MotoGP careers. While it might seem a bit blunt, it's a reflection of their ages and current standings.

"It will offer them a fresh opportunity, something to immerse themselves in with enthusiasm."

Miller was on the verge of seeing his MotoGP career come to an end when KTM decided to drop him from their roster for the 2025 season.

He also lost the opportunity to join KTM's Tech3 team before his choices ran out – until Pramac Yamaha stepped in to save him.

After two unremarkable seasons with KTM, Miller is making a comeback, bringing along his valuable experience with both Honda and Ducati to his new team.

Meanwhile, Oliveira, who competed on an Aprilia this season, brings a wealth of insight into the development strategies of their competitors to the Pramac Yamaha team.

Yamaha's official racing squad will continue with riders Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins for the upcoming season.

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Schedule for the 2025 MotoGP Season: A Guide to All 22 Races

Comprehensive Schedule and Locations for the 2025 World MotoGP Championship.

The 2025 MotoGP World Championship will kick off in Buriram, Thailand, during the weekend spanning February 28 to March 2.

In 2025, MotoGP will expand into South America, marking Argentina as the inaugural destination among three fresh or revived venues, which also include Brno and Balaton Park.

India's inclusion has been postponed to 2026, although it has been granted a backup option for 2025, as MotoGP appears to have abandoned plans for a race at the Sokol International Racetrack in Kazakhstan following multiple unsuccessful efforts.

A summer recess scheduled later in the season will stretch from mid-July in Brno to mid-August at the Red Bull Ring.

The updated end-of-season 'flyaway' calendar pairs Indonesia with Japan and Australia with Malaysia, featuring a one-week interval between each set.

Portimao is set to be the venue for the second-to-last race, leading up to the customary final round in Valencia, scheduled for mid-November

Fortunately, there are no plans for any triple headers.

Should the season unfold with all 22 races taking place, it will mark the largest season ever in MotoGP history, surpassing the previous three years where the schedule consisted of 20 races each.

Nevertheless, the inclusion of Brno and Portimao in the schedule depends on contractual agreements, whereas the approval of Balaton Park is contingent upon its certification.

Below, you can find the complete schedule of tentative dates and locations, along with the entire winter testing itinerary…

2025 MotoGP schedule:

*pending agreement **awaiting official approval

EVENT BOOKING: India – Buddh International Raceway

2025 MotoGP preseason testing calendar:

Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix Testing: November 19, 2024

Initial Testing in Sepang: January 31 to February 2, 2025

MotoGP Testing in Sepang: Scheduled for February 5th to 7th

Buriram Motorcycle Grand Prix Testing: February 12th to 13th, 2025

The Sepang Shakedown event is designated for test riders, newcomers (Ai Ogura, Somkiat Chantra, Fermin Aldeguer), and competing racers from manufacturers classified in concession Rank D (as of now, Yamaha and Honda).

Winter testing timetable for Moto2 & Moto3 in 2025:

Moto3 Testing in Valencia: Scheduled for February 7th and 8th, 2025

Moto2 Testing in Valencia: Scheduled for February 9th and 10th,

Jerez Motorcycle Racing Test for Moto2 & Moto3 Categories: Scheduled for February 18-20,

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2025 MotoGP Schedule: Complete Dates and Venues for All 22 Races

Here is the preliminary schedule outlining the dates and locations for each event in the 2025 MotoGP World Championship series.

The first event of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship will take place in Buriram, Thailand, from February 28 to March 2.

MotoGP is set to make a move to South America, with Argentina being the first of three events either making a comeback or debuting in 2025, joining Brno and Balaton Park.

India's MotoGP event has been postponed to 2026, although it has been granted reserve status for the 2025 season. Meanwhile, it appears that MotoGP has abandoned efforts to hold a race in Kazakhstan following numerous unsuccessful attempts to organize an event at the Sokol International Racetrack.

A summer hiatus scheduled for later in the season will take place, beginning in mid-July at Brno and concluding in mid-August at the Red Bull Ring.

The updated late-season 'flyaway' itinerary features a sequence where races in Indonesia and Japan are followed by events in Australia and Malaysia, with a one-week interval between the two sets of races.

In mid-November, Portimao is set to hold the second-to-last event, just ahead of the customary final round in Valencia.

Many are relieved to hear that there are no plans for triple headers.

Should all 22 rounds proceed as planned, this will mark the most extensive season in MotoGP's history, surpassing the 20-round schedule that has been in place for the last three years.

Brno and Portimao need contract agreements, and Balaton Park requires homologation approval.

Below, you will find the complete schedule of tentative dates and locations, along with the entire winter testing itinerary.

2025 MotoGP Schedule:

*pending agreement **pending approval

Backup Event: India – Buddh International Circuit

Schedule for the 2025 MotoGP winter testing:

Valencia MotoGP Test is set for November 19, 2024.

Sepang Preliminary Testing Session: January 31 to February 2, 2025

MotoGP Testing in Sepang: Scheduled for February 5-7, 2025

MotoGP Testing in Buriram Scheduled for February 12-13, 2025

The Sepang Shakedown event is designated for test riders, newcomers such as Ai Ogura, Somkiat Chantra, and Fermin Aldeguer, as well as race riders from manufacturers currently holding a concession Rank D, which includes Yamaha and Honda.

Schedule for the Moto2 and Moto3 winter testing in 2025:

Moto3 testing in Valencia: February 7th and 8th, 2025

Moto2 Testing in Valencia: Scheduled for February 9-10, 2025

Jerez Moto2 & Moto3 Testing Sessions: Scheduled for February 18-20, 2025

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Yamaha is expected to rejuvenate Jack Miller's career. "There's plenty to be excited about, and the motorcycle is making progress."

Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira might find renewed energy and enthusiasm after joining Pramac Yamaha.

In 2025, the most recent addition to the MotoGP lineup will transition from using Ducati bikes to Yamaha equipment.

Yamaha benefits from the inclusion of two seasoned riders, Miller and Oliveira, as they increase their number of bikes on the track, thereby enhancing the amount of data they can collect.

"According to Neil Hodgson from TNT Sports, since Jack has experienced this situation previously, he is confident that the team's dynamics will be positive."

"There are many exciting things ahead. The bicycle is progressing."

"They will receive identical specifications to those used by the factory team. Therefore, they won't find themselves significantly trailing behind; that scenario won’t occur."

The two riders are at comparable stages in their professional journeys. They are nearing the end of their MotoGP careers, which might seem a bit blunt to say, but it's a reflection of their ages and current circumstances.

"It will provide them with a fresh opportunity, something they can fully engage with."

Miller was on the brink of ending his MotoGP career entirely after KTM decided to remove him from their roster for the 2025 season.

He was unable to secure a spot with KTM’s Tech3 team as opportunities dwindled, but was eventually saved by Pramac Yamaha.

After two underwhelming seasons with KTM, Miller is moving forward, bringing with him his experience from riding both Honda and Ducati motorcycles to his new team.

This year, Oliveira was on an Aprilia, which means the Pramac Yamaha team will gain significant insights into how their competitors are progressing.

Yamaha's official team will continue with Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins for the next season.

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Valentino Rossi Expresses Desire to Increase Involvement in MotoGP by 2025

Valentino Rossi Shares His Plans for Greater Participation in MotoGP in the Upcoming Year

Valentino Rossi intends to attend additional MotoGP events in the upcoming year.

The legendary MotoGP rider hung up his helmet three years ago and has now transitioned to competing in car racing.

However, he intends to adjust his priorities in the upcoming season.

In an interview with Motorsport, Rossi expressed his regret about not attending as many races in 2024 and having limited opportunities to collaborate with the riders from their Academy.

"In 2025, I aim to attend more MotoGP races, which means I plan to participate in fewer car races."

According to the report, one factor motivating Rossi to make more appearances is Liberty Media's acquisition of MotoGP.

Rossi maintains a clear connection with the prominent figures in MotoGP currently.

Pecco Bagnaia, a product of the VR46 Academy, made history two years ago by becoming the first of Valentino Rossi's students to clinch the MotoGP championship.

This year, Marc Marquez, once a fierce competitor of Rossi, will team up with Bagnaia in the official Ducati team.

Last year, Rossi reignited the controversy with Marquez over the events of 2015, accusing the Spaniard of thwarting his championship dreams following a string of disputes.

This year promises to be intriguing as Rossi's protege joins forces with Rossi's adversary, both of whom will be racing on the top-performing bikes available.

The VR46 team, associated with The Doctor, is experiencing significant transformation.

Following Pramac's departure from its role as a Ducati satellite team, VR46 is set to gain more favorable support.

Fabio di Giannantonio will be equipped with a factory-spec bike, giving him the same equipment as both Bagnaia and Marquez.

Franco Morbidelli, who also graduated from the VR46 Academy, is set to become Di Giannantonio's teammate on the team.

Marco Bezzecchi is set to depart from VR46 to become a factory rider with Aprilia for the first time.

Luca Marini, the brother of Rossi, is beginning his second year riding for the factory Honda team.

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Emerging MotoGP star discusses 'experience he hopes to avoid in the future' post-2024

Raul Fernandez shares thoughts on mid-year transition to Aprilia specifications

Raul Fernandez expresses his preference to avoid having to switch motorcycles in the middle of a MotoGP season again, after transitioning from the 2023 Aprilia model to the 2024-specification bike.

The Trackhouse competitor initiated the season on the previous year's Aprilia model and consistently vied for top 10 positions, securing his highest grand prix finish of the year in Barcelona with a sixth place.

Starting with the British Grand Prix, Fernandez transitioned to using the 2024 RS-GP model but faced challenges in adapting to it, achieving a top result of 10th place twice during the latter part of the season.

As the sole racer for Aprilia in 2025, Fernandez was burdened with a significant amount of development duties, leaving him with little to no time to concentrate on his own progress.

Finishing the season ranked 16th in points, Fernandez mentions he "didn't progress" throughout the year and wishes to avoid having to switch motorcycles mid-season in the future.

"In the final moments, he expressed, it was extremely challenging."

"Our performance didn't see any enhancement. It's likely because we experimented with numerous aspects and had limited time for ourselves.

"Therefore, our attention was dedicated to enhancing the project and attempting to grasp numerous aspects."

"I experimented extensively with last year's bike, altering numerous aspects. We made various attempts and needed to gain a deeper understanding of many elements."

"Ultimately, our understanding fell short. It's quite disappointing. True, we grasped many aspects, but ultimately, I found them inapplicable. That's the disheartening aspect."

"I have no intention of repeating this action [switching bikes during a campaign] next year or ever again in my lifetime.

"I prefer to avoid doing this again. It's quite challenging to switch out the entire bicycle mid-season."

"Altering minor aspects is acceptable, but the bicycle is entirely different."

"Thus, there are numerous adjustments you must make to your riding technique. Unfortunately, it wasn't beneficial for us."

Fernandez has extended his stay at Trackhouse for an additional two years, and next season, he will team up with the current Moto2 world champion, Ai Ogura.

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Emerging MotoGP star discusses 'experience he hopes to avoid repeating' post-2024

Raul Fernandez shares thoughts on his mid-year transition to Aprilia specifications

Raul Fernandez expressed his preference to avoid switching motorcycles in the middle of a MotoGP season again, after transitioning from the 2023 Aprilia model to the 2024 specification.

The rider from Trackhouse began the season on the previous year's Aprilia, regularly contending within the top 10 and securing his highest grand prix finish of the year with a sixth place in Barcelona.

Starting from the British Grand Prix, Fernandez transitioned to riding the 2024 RS-GP model, but found it challenging to adapt to, achieving a top result of 10th place twice in the latter part of the season.

Being Aprilia's sole rider for the 2025 season, Fernandez was burdened with a significant amount of development tasks, leaving him with little time to concentrate on his own needs.

Finishing the season in 16th place in the standings, Fernandez expressed that he saw no progress throughout the year and wishes to avoid having to switch motorcycles mid-season in the future.

"In the final moments, it was extremely challenging," he stated.

"We didn't make progress. Perhaps we experimented with numerous aspects and lacked sufficient time for ourselves.

"Thus, our attention was dedicated to enhancing the project and striving to comprehend numerous aspects."

"I experimented extensively with last year's bike. Numerous adjustments were made, and we engaged in a lot of trial and error to gain a deeper understanding of various aspects."

"Ultimately, our comprehension fell short. It's quite vexing. Indeed, we grasped numerous concepts, yet ultimately, I found them inapplicable. That's where the irritation lies."

"I have no desire to switch bikes during a campaign again, either next year or at any point in my future."

"I prefer not to go through this again. It's quite challenging to switch out the entire bike midway through the season.

"Altering minor aspects is acceptable, but the bicycle is entirely different.

"Thus, altering numerous aspects of your riding technique is necessary. Unfortunately, it didn't yield any benefits for us."

Fernandez has extended his stay at Trackhouse for an additional two years, and next season, he will team up with the current Moto2 world champion, Ai Ogura.

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A Ducati satellite team competitor aims to challenge Marc Marquez in the 2025 MotoGP season, viewing it as a fantastic chance.

Fabio Di Giannantonio has expressed his ambition to challenge Ducati's leading MotoGP competitors, Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, in 2025, upon transitioning to the GP25.

The rider from VR46 has secured the sole additional factory Ducati set to compete in 2025, apart from the main factory team, but has not had the chance to test the motorcycle due to ending the previous season prematurely for shoulder surgery.

Throughout the majority of the season, Di Giannantonio consistently ranked as the top runner-up GP23 competitor, trailing only behind Marquez, and managed to finish in front of the well-regarded VR46 teammate Marco Bezzecchi, even though he was absent for the last two races.

Di Giannantonio has mentioned that he hasn't set particular goals for 2025, highlighting that the minimal pressure on VR46 allows him to truly enjoy the experience.

"Di Giannantonio described it as a wonderful chance during his conversation with GPOne."

"This season on the GP25 presents a wonderful chance to enhance one's riding skills even further."

"Taking on this role is a duty I've been seeking my entire life, yet despite this, we aren't in the 'red' zone at the moment, which means we still have the opportunity to 'engage'."

"Being part of an official team comes with a unique kind of pressure since winning is a necessity. I believe Pecco and Marc will particularly sense this kind of obligation."

"We have the chance to enjoy ourselves, aim to be the nonconformists, we can attempt to irritate them, and this will also present me with the chance to gain a significant amount of knowledge from them by operating at their level.

"Thus, I perceive no drawbacks, only significant potential."

"I regret not securing any podium finishes this year for the team; I genuinely wanted to perform well to witness their celebrations."

"As I frequently mention, I prefer not to dwell on the outcomes at this stage; our focus should be on development and savoring the journey. Embrace the GP25, accelerate, relish the present for which we've worked hard, cherish our special bond with Ducati, and ultimately, we'll assess our performance."

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Bezzecchi anticipates his fortunate move to Aprilia in 2025

Marco Bezzecchi describes his move to the factory Aprilia team, where he'll be partnering with the newly crowned MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin, as a "big luck" for him.

Bezzecchi is set to join an official team for the first time, moving to Aprilia after spending three seasons at VR46 Ducati, where he secured three grand prix victories.

Bezzecchi is set to team up with Martin, who edged out Francesco Bagnaia by a margin of 10 points in a fiercely contested season that culminated in a thrilling finale in Barcelona.

The departing VR46 racer commended both, yet emphasized that Martin “earned it more” and views teaming up with him as “a chance for learning” in 2025.

"He mentioned that Jorge had an incredible season the previous year."

This year, he showed improvement, maintaining a consistent pace, speed, and competitiveness in every race weekend throughout the year.

"He may not have secured as many victories as Pecco, yet ultimately, he emerged as the superior competitor, proving that speed alone doesn't guarantee championship success."

"I truly feel bad for Pecco, and I hold no ill will towards Jorge, as we are friends."

"Clearly, my connection is stronger with Pecco, and I've provided more support to Pecco."

"Jorge truly excelled and rightfully earned the championship title. Pecco also had a strong claim, yet ultimately, Jorge proved to be the more deserving winner."

"I'm confident that Pecco will make a comeback; today will be a day he'll never forget, and he'll return with great strength."

"Having Jorge as a colleague next season is a great fortune because he's the top performer."

"Thus, it presents a chance to gain knowledge, a chance to acquire insights from the premier cyclist globally."

Throughout the 2024 season, Bezzecchi faced difficulties while competing on the GP23, managing to secure only a single podium finish. Despite his efforts, he concluded the year trailing behind his teammate, Fabio Di Giannantonio, in the overall rankings. Notably, Di Giannantonio was absent for the final two races of the season due to undergoing a shoulder

"He remarked that it had been a challenging season."

"I didn't anticipate facing such difficulties. However, from the initial trial, I experienced a challenging feeling with the motorcycle.

"Reflecting on my emotions regarding the bike from the Sepang trials to the present, the change is significant."

"However, the outcome of the performance didn't meet my expectations, naturally."

"Indeed, it was a challenging year. I'll make an effort to explain everything in detail, to make sense of it all."

"I'm confident that I've experienced significant growth over the year, not only on a personal level but also in my skills as a rider. This is because I consistently faced challenges with feeling comfortable on the bike throughout the season, requiring me to continually adjust."

"Undoubtedly, I had higher expectations and aimed to achieve greater success."

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