Isle of Man TT celebrities received a warm reception in Tavullia as Valentino Rossi's event kicks off

Practice sessions offered today prior to Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions

Motorcycles have already hit the course at Valentino Rossi's ranch for his yearly gathering.

Once more, the Doctor has gathered a distinguished group of motorcycle racing stars in Tavullia, featuring some fresh participants.

Davey Todd and Michael Dunlop, who have both clinched victories in the Isle of Man TT races, were among the familiar faces gathering in Valentino Rossi's hometown.

Todd expressed his amazement on social media about receiving an invitation to Rossi's home.

The Champions' 100km event is set to kick off on Friday, January 10, and will extend into Saturday.

However, by Thursday, participants reached the ranch, and the initial group of motorcycles set off for a trial ride.

On Thursday evening, Rossi announced that they had completed their initial day at the ranch.

"The event was highly enjoyable, with all the drivers having a great time."

"We conducted complimentary tests. All participants are prepared and quick."

The yearly Americana race is set to take place on Friday evening. In the previous year's event, Luca Marini emerged as the winner.

On this occasion, Marini and Rossi are accompanied by the regulars, Pecco Bagnaia, Marco Bezzecchi, and Franco Morbidelli.

Pedro Acosta continues to be a major draw, and Ryan Vickers is another significant participant.

Complete list of participants: Valentino Rossi, Pedro Acosta, Dominique Aegerter, Xavier Artigas, Francesco Bagnaia, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Elia Bartolini, Enea Bastianini, James Douglas Beach, Marco Belli, Matteo Bertelle, Marco Bezzecchi, Nicolo Bulega, Federico Caricasulo, Mattia Casadei, Thomas Chareyre, Davey Todd, Michael Dunlop, Filippo Fuligini, Federico Fuligni, Matteo Gabarrini, Manu Gonzalez, Sammy Halbert, Kurvinen Lasse, Andrea Locatelli, Luca Lunetta, Andrea Mantovani, Luca Marini, Andrea Migno, Franco Morbidelli, Diogo Moreira, Stefano Nepa, Miguel Oliveira, Luca Ottaviani, Mattia Pasini, Matteo Patacca, Gautier Paulin, Tito Rabat, Jose Antonio Rueda, Alberto Surra, Tatsuki Suzuki, Tim Neave, Ryan Vickers.

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Francesco Bagnaia proposes a change to MotoGP's points system: is it feasible?

The two-time MotoGP world champion believes the series should explore the idea of awarding bonus points.

Francesco Bagnaia from Ducati thinks that MotoGP should consider revising the points system to incorporate bonuses within the existing sprint and grand prix structure.

Since the beginning of the four-stroke era, MotoGP's scoring system has stayed unchanged. A win in a grand prix earns a rider 25 points, with points decreasing incrementally to 1 point for those finishing in the top 15 spots.

In 2023, the introduction of sprint races increased the total possible points a driver could earn during a grand prix weekend by 12. Winning the sprint race grants 12 points, finishing second earns nine points, and third place receives seven points, with the points decreasing incrementally down to one point for the ninth-place finisher.

As there are now 37 points up for grabs each weekend, maintaining a steady performance is more crucial than ever for a rider aiming to secure the championship title.

In 2024, Bagnaia secured victory in 11 grand prix races. However, he failed to score points in eight events, which ultimately led to a 10-point deficit behind Jorge Martin. Martin, racing for Pramac, only clinched three Sunday race wins. Nonetheless, his steady performance was crucial, as he managed to finish on the podium in all but three sprint races.

Bagnaia expressed that adapting to existing rules is necessary, especially since the current system enabled him to remain in contention for the championship until the final stages, despite having eight non-scoring races. These remarks were made at Ducati's Campioni in Pista event last year.

"Nonetheless, sprint races have an impact on various aspects, adding an extra dimension. They have definitely altered the method of earning points over the course of a weekend."

"You need to adapt to it. With sprint races now in play, they might want to think about adding some incentives, like rewards for winning both races or for achieving the fastest lap."

In the 2024 season, Bagnaia achieved five sprint and grand prix victories in the same weekend. If he earned an extra point for each of these feats, it would bring him five points nearer to Martin in the championship standings. Additionally, Bagnaia secured the fastest lap in six grand prix races, adding another six points to his score. Nonetheless, Martin would still clinch the championship, thanks to his two fastest lap points throughout the season or by achieving just one sprint and grand prix double.

Since 2019, Formula 1 has implemented a system where drivers can earn points for recording the fastest laps, but this is only applicable to those finishing within the top 10 positions. The purpose of this rule was to add an extra layer of excitement to the races and motivate drivers who are not leading to strive for an additional potentially crucial point.

However, it rarely produced the intended outcome, as the fastest lap point frequently went to a driver who had such a significant lead and buffer behind them. This allowed them to make a secure pit stop on the second-to-last lap for new soft tires and aim for the fastest lap.

This regulation will be eliminated for the 2025 season.

In the world of MotoGP, awarding a point for the fastest lap could function more similarly to how it was originally intended in Formula 1. Due to the shorter race durations in MotoGP, the gap between competitors isn't as wide as in F1. The competitive nature of the machinery in MotoGP ensures that more riders have an opportunity to earn a point based on sheer speed, rather than being influenced by the conditions of the race.

IS A MOTOGP RULE ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE?

In the 2024 season, eight distinct racers achieved the quickest lap times in various grand prix events. Pedro Acosta clocked the fastest lap twice, while Bagnaia accomplished it six times. Martin also achieved this feat twice, Enea Bastianini did it three times, and Maverick Vinales, Aleix Espargaro, and Fabio Di Giannantonio each did it once. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez recorded the fastest lap four times.

Although this wouldn't have drastically changed the championship result, it would have moved Acosta up to tie for sixth place in points with his teammate Brad Binder, with Acosta securing the spot due to having more podium finishes.

One could argue that the mere consideration of earning an additional point can significantly alter the dynamics of any racing scenario. Knowing they could earn two points for finishing in 15th place instead of just one, a racer is more inclined to continue competing after a minor crash. Introducing a point for the fastest lap in sprint races could also generate more interest beyond the usual top positions that score points.

Marc Marquez, who is set to join Ducati and will be partnering with Bagnaia, expressed a different opinion. He stated, "I'm content with the current system. It's well-balanced and keeps the championship competitive until the very end, so I'm satisfied with the way things are."

Marquez's remark holds some truth. The existing setup has led to the championship being decided in the final moments for the last couple of years. However, MotoGP might consider taking a cue from British Superbikes to add excitement by highlighting a rider who dominates all the races in a single weekend.

In the past few years, the BSB organized a Spring Grand Slam event that took place over two rounds, offering a prize of £50,000 to any rider who managed to win all six races. Although this concept might be a bit much for MotoGP, the series could consider experimenting with a comparable concept.

In the event that a rider achieves both a sprint and race victory along with recording the quickest lap in a grand prix, they have the opportunity to earn an extra three points, increasing their possible total for the weekend to 40 points. However, if they are unable to achieve all three, they will receive no additional points.

This increases the motivation for each session, as a competitor whose main rival in the championship is on the verge of completing a hat-trick might exert extra effort to achieve the fastest lap, thereby preventing the rival from securing three vital points.

Traditionalists often oppose any sort of modification, labeling it as unnatural and contrary to the essence of MotoGP. However, the addition of sprint races has largely debunked this belief, demonstrating that significant format changes can be implemented and swiftly become a regular aspect of the event.

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KTM, undeterred by financial challenges, is set to commence the construction of their 2025 MotoGP motorcycles. The company plans to kick off the production of these bikes next week.

KTM's head of technical operations, Wolfgang Felber, has stated that the preparations for the 2025 MotoGP season are proceeding as expected.

The Austrian company is dealing with an unclear future in MotoGP, as it works through a financial crisis that has led to a restructuring effort.

A report from the initial creditors' meeting indicated that KTM is "intending" to exit grand prix racing, but will continue participating in 2025 as usual.

KTM's racing department is implementing a comprehensive 100-step strategy aimed at reducing expenses due to the company's ongoing financial difficulties, which involves decreasing its participation in several racing categories.

In 2025, KTM plans to have four factory bikes competing in MotoGP. These will be divided between its official team and Tech3, with riders Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder, Maverick Vinales, and Enea Bastianini.

In a discussion with the German magazine Speedweek, Felber shared encouraging news about KTM's plans for 2025.

He mentioned that all preparations for the upcoming season are proceeding as usual.

"In the past few years, we have streamlined every procedure to ensure that we complete the construction of the new machines by the third week of the year."

"In 2025, the situation will remain unchanged. We will begin the process of reconstructing all the motorcycles starting next Monday."

"All activities are scheduled in such a way that by the conclusion of the third week, we prepare the boxes for the significant test in Sepang."

"After that point, the bikes will remain on the road for an extended period. They won't return to Munderfing until the European season kicks off in Jerez."

Speculation has emerged suggesting that KTM might halt the development of its 2025 motorcycle because of its current financial difficulties.

Although Felber does not explicitly acknowledge this, he mentions that the 2025 prototype "functioned as anticipated" during tests conducted last year and has been "established" as the foundational model for the bike.

He mentioned that what they're discussing is undeniably an evolutionary model for the year 2025.

Adopting a completely new strategy was not an option. We had already undergone our real trial phase in the tests conducted in 2024.

"The 2025 model functioned as expected, establishing a solid foundation. The current strategy involves constructing all machines using updated components."

"There are variations in the ergonomics tailored to each rider, along with distinct methods for controlling the rear brake."

"We can also utilize some of the current components that have minimal usage. Discarding a handlebar piece that's barely been used for a few kilometers seems impractical."

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Maverick Vinales advised Yamaha to leave the bike unchanged during his unsuccessful championship season. "I advised them not to make any adjustments to the bike," he stated.

Maverick Vinales has implied that he could have won the MotoGP world championship in 2017 while riding for Yamaha, had they not altered the 2016 M1 model he first tried out.

After spending slightly more than one season with Suzuki, Vinales committed to a two-year contract to become part of the factory Yamaha team for his third year in the top-tier racing category in 2017.

In 2016, Vinales led the pack in the Valencia test riding that year's M1. He then went on to secure victories in the opening two races of 2017 and clinched another win at the French Grand Prix following a duel with his teammate, Valentino Rossi.

After that moment, the Spanish rider had a 17-point lead in the rankings. However, Vinales did not secure another victory until the Australian Grand Prix in 2018, ultimately finishing third in the 2017 standings.

Vinales stayed with Yamaha until the middle of 2021, at which point his relationship with the company deteriorated beyond repair. As a result, he was swiftly dismissed after it was discovered that he had intentionally pushed the engine of his M1 beyond its limits during the Styrian Grand Prix.

In a DAZN documentary focused on him, Vinales expressed his belief that he had the potential to secure the championship with the M1 bike he tested at the close of 2016. He urged Yamaha to refrain from making any changes to it during the winter.

"When I started at Yamaha, I arrived with a lot of energy and enthusiasm," he mentioned.

"I came with a specific vision and goal, which was the sole request I made to Yamaha: 'I aim to become the world champion.'"

"I have no desire to change who I am; please don't pressure me to be different because I'm content with being myself and have no interest in anything else."

During the test session in Valencia, I immediately took a liking to the Yamaha. I requested that no modifications be made to it because I specifically wanted the same bike that Jorge Lorenzo had used.

"[I said to Yamaha] 'deliver this motorcycle to Qatar, and I'll secure the world championship with it. However, when I arrived at Sepang for the pre-season testing, I was left wondering, 'Where is that motorcycle?'"

"I claimed victory in the initial race, followed by another win in the next, and triumphed at Le Mans. It was among the most memorable days of my life, as I overcame my hero, Valentino Rossi, in a competition."

"However, Barcelona experienced a series of transformations that left me perplexed."

"I advised them against handling the bicycle."

In the closing rounds of 2021, Vinales became part of the Aprilia team and stayed with them through to the conclusion of 2024, during which he secured a victory in one grand prix.

In 2025, he will become a part of the KTM team, collaborating with the Tech3 group. Reflecting on this decision, he remarked, "I've realized there are two options: either you become the contender or you choose the alternative path."

"You have the choice to either join KTM or become part of Ducati."

"Winning at Ducati is a tough challenge. How can one surpass the performance of the factory team?"

"It's quite complex; although the bike is the same, the equipment isn't identical. Therefore, my only choice was to join KTM and become the competitor."

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Father of Jorge Lorenzo provides a fascinating update on their complicated relationship

Chico Lorenzo discusses his son, Jorge Lorenzo

Lorenzo Chico has addressed the current state of his relationship with his son.

Jorge Lorenzo has candidly discussed the challenges in his relationship with his father.

The MotoGP champion, who has won the title twice, gained his initial experience at his father's motorcycle racing school in Majorca.

However, even though the son became a champion, it negatively affected his personal relationship with his father.

However, Chico has provided a glimmer of optimism for improved times ahead.

Moto.it inquired whether their relationship is currently "very good."

"It's not great, but it's adequate," he replied.

"While he attended the EICMA exhibition in Milan, I accompanied him, including during his time in Lugano."

"This holiday season, he is spending time in Majorca."

Chico was questioned about the moment he first noticed his son's abilities.

When I was a child, I built my first motorbike at the age of three, and Jorge was already showing great skill.

"Absolutely, he was always eager to come out on top."

He has consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, time and time again…

"From a young age, he was exceptionally well-prepared, exhibiting a level of professionalism that far surpassed his peers."

Chico expresses his feelings about his son's successful career by saying, "it's satisfaction, satisfaction."

He mentioned his son's grand prix victory as his personal favorite.

"The initial victory I had in Brazil back in 2003 was a significant milestone for me, and later achieving my first win with Ducati at Mugello was also memorable."

In 2003, Jorge Lorenzo secured his inaugural victory in the 125cc category at the Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix.

However, the memory of the championship that his father cherished the most was also the most infamous.

In 2015, Lorenzo claimed victory over Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez to win the top award.

Chico mentioned that he spent the entire year with him and witnessed firsthand the tremendous effort he put into securing victory in that intensely competitive world championship.

"He experienced an excellent year."

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KTM's stock price rises in anticipation of new funding

Progressive moves toward ensuring KTM's sustainability

KTM's prospects of overcoming its financial difficulties have received a lift from a surge in optimism among potential investors regarding the brand's reorganization efforts.

The leading motorcycle producer in Europe, based in Austria, initiated a self-administration process just before Christmas 2024, aiming to avoid insolvency while grappling with confirmed debts amounting to €1.8 billion.

During the initial meeting with creditors on December 20th, there was an optimistic view regarding the company's future prospects. However, the report also mentioned a deliberate exit from MotoGP was on the agenda.

KTM has announced its commitment to remain in the racing scene until 2025, with an anticipated departure scheduled for 2026. However, it's important to note that these plans are subject to change at this moment.

Several actions have been implemented including a temporary halt in production, the dismissal of more than 700 workers, and the decision to sell its controlling interest in MV Agusta.

Based on information from GPOne, KTM is in search of a €540 million investment ahead of a crucial creditors' vote on its restructuring plan, scheduled for February 25.

Nonetheless, KTM is witnessing a resurgence of optimism as notable investors are starting to show interest, alongside a nearly 70 percent increase in its stock price over the previous month.

According to GPOne, existing stakeholders Bajaj Auto and CFMoto are considering boosting their investment in KTM in an effort to support the brand. Additionally, there is reported interest from FountainVest, a company based in Hong Kong.

Last month, Stefan Pierer, the CEO of KTM, announced his intention to personally finance the brand's restructuring efforts, which will involve the sale of several assets.

However, although the substantial influx of investment has offered a glimmer of hope for KTM, it may also result in Pierer relinquishing a portion of his control over the company he established.

KTM might also need to scale back on several of its additional ventures, including its bike division and the KTM XBow automobile operations.

KTM's racing team has been implementing a strategy based on a 100-point agenda to secure its future, and the head of motorsport, Pit Beirer, disclosed that substantive discussions were conducted with the team representing Lewis Hamilton regarding potential investment opportunities.

In MotoGP, KTM has reduced its participation by withdrawing the GASGAS and Husqvarna brands from the top-tier category, as well as from the Moto2 and Moto3 lineups.

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Jorge Martin expresses a somber outlook on defending his MotoGP championship in 2025, stating, "The challenge is immense."

Current MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin is setting his sights on the 2026 season as a more viable time for him to contend for the championship with Aprilia.

Following Ducati's reversal on advancing him to its top team in preference for Marc Marquez, Martin secured a two-year agreement with Aprilia.

Discover further: Indications of optimism following Jorge Martin's initial trial with the Aprilia

After securing the championship title with the Pramac team for Ducati last season, Martin will embark on his year of defending the title aboard an RS-GP, a bike that fell to third place in the constructors' standings in 2024.

Aprilia recognized that the feedback on the motorcycle from his initial test in Barcelona last November was surprisingly positive. However, Martin has sought to manage anticipations, suggesting it might be too soon to consider him a contender for the championship in 2025.

"Sticking with Ducati, my objective would have remained unchanged – to put in my utmost effort and strive for victory," he shared on the Tengo Un Plan podcast.

"Now, I'm clueless since I'm uncertain about the bike's features."

"The task ahead is daunting, as I transition to a bike barely making the top 10, moving away from one that was among the leading contenders."

"Starting in fifth position and then ending up either winning races or securing a second place would make me extremely proud. However, the key is to keep improving."

"Taking the Aprilia into contention for the championship will be a tough task, so the goal for the upcoming season is not quite that ambitious."

"The chance might arise possibly by 2026, but at the moment, all I can do is strive to perform at my peak."

Martin has become the inaugural world champion to switch manufacturing teams for their title defense since Valentino Rossi in 2004, who made a move from Honda to Yamaha.

Rossi continued his dominance throughout the 2004 season, securing his fourth premier class world championship title.

Aprilia is set to kick off its 2025 campaign on January 16 in Milan, amid widespread anticipation that Martin will announce his decision to race with the number one plate on his RS-GP this season.

Throughout the winter, he has frequently hinted at the possibility on his various social media platforms.

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EXCLUSIVE: Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia have the potential to "compete for a win in each race"

"Undoubtedly, this is the greatest motorcycle ever…"

Defeated in only one of the 20 MotoGP races last year, the team dominated the Sunday podium 14 times, achieved a flawless top-eight finish in the Buriram Sprint, and secured their fifth constructors' championship along with their third consecutive riders' title.

These were a few of the figures from Ducati's history-making 2024 season.

Luca Marini, who has ridden a Ducati during his first three seasons in MotoGP with VR46, told Crash.net that it is undoubtedly the greatest bike ever made, praising the excellent work done.

Although the number of bikes will decrease from eight to six in 2025, and the reigning champion Jorge Martin will be moving to Aprilia, Marini cautioned that the new factory team, consisting of Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, might result in even more dominance by Ducati.

When questioned about whether he believed that Ducati's dominance in MotoGP would reach its height in 2024, Honda's factory rider, Marini, responded:

"I doubt it. If Pecco and Marc are on the same team, they'll motivate one another to get better."

Honda acknowledges that they won't be able to compete with Ducati in the upcoming year. Instead, their goal is to outperform the other manufacturers.

However, if Aprilia and KTM cannot match Ducati's performance, it might result in only Bagnaia and Marquez competing for the win in each race.

"It seems possible that we haven't reached the highest point yet…"

In 2024, Ducati achieved a level of success that surpassed Honda's impressive performance during the 2003 MotoGP season when the RC211V secured victory in 15 out of 16 races, with Valentino Rossi, Marini’s brother, claiming nine of those wins.

In that year, the sole additional victor was Loris Capirossi, who secured Ducati's inaugural MotoGP win at the Catalunya circuit.

Honda achieved an impeccable record in 1997. During the 500cc era, Honda secured victories in every one of the 15 grand prix races held that year.

Could riders such as Bagnaia, Marquez, and the factory-supported Fabio di Giannantonio achieve an undefeated record in 2025?

Last season, the Circuit of the Americas was the only grand prix where the Desmosedicis didn't come out on top. In Texas, it was Maverick Vinales from Aprilia who took the victory, followed by Pedro Acosta from KTM.

Enea Bastianini secured third place riding for Ducati, while Marc Marquez experienced a fall shortly after moving into the lead, which was caused by a problem with his brakes.

In last year's Sprints, Ducati faced defeat on three occasions, once again at the hands of Aprilia, as Vinales secured two victories on Saturdays and Aleix Espargaro clinched one.

Vinales has joined the Tech3 KTM team, while Espargaro has stepped away from racing full-time to take on a role as a test rider for HRC.

Marco Bezzecchi, who previously raced with Marini in the VR46 team and has won three MotoGP races, will be teaming up with Martin in the new Aprilia squad. Meanwhile, Acosta is moving up to the factory KTM team, where he will race alongside Brad Binder.

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Peter has spent two decades in the paddock and witnessed the career of Valentino Rossi from start to finish. He is currently leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure and the injury challenges faced by Marc Marquez.

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Who might be the 2025 MotoGP's fresh talent akin to Pedro Acosta?

Crash's correspondent Lewis Duncan evaluates the three new entrants and their potential impact.

In a notable development for the MotoGP series, the racing grid will introduce three fresh participants – Fermin Aldeguer, Ai Ogura, and Somkiat Chantra – marking their debut since the 2022 season.

MotoGP's pipeline for developing talent has been consistently strong, yet over the past couple of years, only a single newcomer has progressed to the top-tier category. In 2023, Augusto Fernandez, the Moto2 champion at the time, was welcomed into the Tech3 team, and the following year, Pedro Acosta, who took over the Moto2 championship title, made his entry into the premier class in 2024

Naturally, there was a lot of excitement about Acosta's first season, during which he achieved nine podium finishes in both sprint races and grand prix events with the Tech3 GASGAS team.

The enthusiasm surrounding the newcomers of 2025 hasn't fully caught on, yet Ogura enters as the current Moto2 champion, and Aldeguer's impressive performance in Moto2 during 2023 persuaded Ducati that he was prepared for MotoGP at the beginning of the previous year.

Chantra's entry into the MotoGP circuit has caused some surprise considering his track record so far – winning two grand prix out of 106 races. Nevertheless, he makes history as Thailand's inaugural star in the premier class, and his first appearance is set to be met with enthusiastic cheers at the season's kickoff in Buriram.

Naturally, newcomers will be measured against past newcomers who established a new standard. Here, Acosta's achievements in 2024 will be (unjustly) juxtaposed with the performances of Ogura, Aldeguer, and Chantra in the current year.

Instead, Crash has chosen to examine how the three newcomers of 2025 measure up as first-year riders within their teams, considering the standards previously established.

Ai Ogura Joins Trackhouse Racing, Replacing Darryn Binder

The current Moto2 world champion became one of the most surprising acquisitions of the 2024 silly season. However, Trackhouse Racing's deal with the Japanese sensation has proven to be exceptionally beneficial over time.

Ogura has been close to making his debut in MotoGP for a while, but chose not to take a sure opportunity with Honda and LCR in favor of a project that seems to be a better fit for him, especially when considering the present performance of the RC213V in comparison to the RS-GP.

In a discussion set to be published this weekend on Crash.net, Trackhouse team leader Davide Brivio shared that what drew the US-based team to Ogura was not only his quickness on the track but also his racing mindset and toughness.

As the reigning Moto2 champion, Ogura is set to be the standard bearer for this year's newcomers. When it comes to comparing teammates, he faces the most straightforward challenge among them. Darryn Binder was the most recent newcomer to compete for the team under its RNF branding.

The elevation of the South African rider from Moto3 to MotoGP within the former satellite Yamaha team was primarily driven by the monetary support he provided. Throughout his tenure in Moto3, he secured a single race victory and garnered a negative image due to his forceful racing technique.

Eager like most newcomers, he grabbed his opportunity to enter MotoGP. However, in 2022, competing on an outdated Yamaha model, he only managed to earn points three times, achieving his peak performance with a 10th place finish at a rain-soaked Indonesian GP. With RNF's switch from Yamaha to Aprilia in 2023, Binder found himself relegated to Moto2, where he has yet to leave a significant mark.

Overall, Binder accumulated only 12 points during his single year in MotoGP. Despite the era lacking sprint races, Ogura is expected to easily equal or surpass this score in his debut season.

Fermin Aldeguer, stepping in for Fabio Di Giannantonio at Gresini Racing, stands out as the most captivating newcomer in the 2025 lineup. His journey to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing deviates from the norm. Despite this, he showcased his prowess by clinching titles in the CEV Stock600 series in 2020 and CEV Moto2 in 2021.

Before joining Moto2 on a permanent basis in 2022, he had participated in MotoE during the 2021 season. In the subsequent year, riding a Boscoscuro frame, he secured victories in five grand prix events, notably clinching the final four races of the season, which propelled him to a third-place finish in the overall rankings. This impressive performance significantly boosted his prospects of landing a MotoGP ride for the 2025 season.

Ducati finalized a deal with him before the start of the 2024 season, a move that proved timely given Aldeguer's erratic performance. Despite achieving three wins, he finished the season in fifth place, competing on the same model that Ogura rode to championship victory.

Aldeguer experienced some doubts regarding his career path. Initially, it seemed he would join Pramac after securing a contract with Ducati. However, following the unexpected signing of Marc Marquez by the factory, Pramac decided to partner with Yamaha starting in 2025. This change of plans led Ducati to place Aldeguer with Gresini, though he would be riding a bike from the previous season.

For Aldeguer, a newcomer at Gresini, his standard of comparison is Fabio Di Giannantonio, who embarked on his MotoGP journey with the squad in 2022.

Di Giannantonio faced challenges in his debut season, with his first points only coming in the season's seventh round in France, along with a single top-10 finish where he secured eighth place in Germany. However, 2023 marked a turning point for Di Giannantonio after teaming up with crew chief Frankie Carchedi, leading to his inaugural race victory in Qatar that year.

The Italian racer will be riding a factory Ducati under the VR46 team banner for the 2025

Di Giannantonio amassed a total of 24 points in the year 2022. Over recent years, the Gresini team has established itself as having a genuine family-like environment, demonstrating a willingness to explore every possible avenue to support their riders in enhancing their performance.

Di Giannantonio's experience could also play a crucial role in alleviating stress for Aldeguer should he face challenges during the initial season of his two-year contract.

Somkiat Chantra Steps into LCR Honda, Replacing Takaaki Nakagami

The move of Ogura to Trackhouse for the 2025 season was widely seen as a measure that would secure Takaaki Nakagami's position at LCR for an additional season.

However, LCR and Honda had a different plan in mind, choosing Chantra for the role. Given that the Idemitsu-sponsored section of the LCR team was specially created for an Asian rider, Chantra's recruitment is supported by the enthusiastic MotoGP fanbase in Thailand.

Buriram has been chosen to kick off the season for the upcoming two years, and an official inauguration event for the championship will be held in Bangkok on February 9. In a market as profitable as Thailand, having Chantra's nationality certainly played in his favor.

However, he is also among the pair of ex-Asia Talent Cup competitors set to race in 2025, with Chantra having clinched the series title in 2016, surpassing Ogura. Chantra's resume boasts a pair of grand prix victories in Moto2, countering any claims that his selection was solely for diversity purposes.

In 2025, Chantra is confronted with the most challenging assignment among the three newcomers. He will be riding the grid's least competitive motorcycle, succeeding Nakagami, who had a reasonably successful stint as a rookie with LCR.

In his inaugural year of 2018, the rider from Japan frequently finished races within the scoring positions, closing the season with 33 points and achieving his highest placement of sixth during the chaotic and rainy Valencia GP final. Naturally, Nakagami would later prove to be a significant asset to Honda, especially in the area of motorcycle development.

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Honda remained inactive in terms of developing its MotoGP motorcycle while Marc Marquez was sidelined due to an injury in 2020.

The head of the LCR team reveals the impact of Marquez's injury on Honda's progress.

LCR MotoGP team leader Lucio Cecchinnello claims Honda made no progress in development during Marc Marquez's absence due to injury in the 2020 season.

Throughout the 2010s, Marquez and Honda were a formidable force, clinching the world championship titles in the years 2013 to 2014 and again from 2016 to 2019, amassing a

In 2019, Marquez showcased an unparalleled performance, securing victory in 12 races and taking the runner-up position in all but one other event. This remarkable achievement led him to clinch his sixth top-tier championship, finishing a staggering 151 points ahead of Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso.

However, by that time, the RC213V had become challenging for the other Honda riders, with Cal Crutchlow being the only one besides Marquez to achieve a podium finish in 2019.

In the initial race of the 2020 season, which was impacted by the COVID pandemic, Marquez suffered a severe fracture to his right arm. This incident led to Honda experiencing its first season without a victory in the top tier since it made a full-time comeback in 1982.

Facing ongoing injury challenges with Marquez in 2021 and 2022, Honda shifted its motorcycle development direction to better accommodate its entire team.

Yet, as we approach the end of 2024, Honda has not secured a victory in three of the last five seasons.

During a conversation with GPOne, Cecchinello, who has been managing Honda motorcycles in MotoGP since 2006, shared insights into the significant impact Marquez's absence due to injury had on HRC.

"He mentioned that Marc managed well with the Honda's unique front end and opted for a harder tire compared to his competitors."

At the start of the 2020 season, a notable incident occurred during a race in Jerez where he managed to surpass all competitors, only to later lose control at the front. Despite this setback, he remounted his bike and impressively fought his way back through the field.

Subsequently, Honda advised to pause until Marc's recovery, yet as we've seen, there were unforeseen issues.

While Marc was away, our progress in development remained stagnant, as opposed to our peers who advanced their projects.

"In 2021, as the focus shifted increasingly toward aerodynamics, Marc participated in several competitions and subsequently shared updates on the advancements made by his peers."

Marquez parted ways with Honda after the 2023 season due to the motorcycle's lack of progress, opting to sign with the Gresini Ducati team for the 2024 season.

In the previous season, he secured victories in three Grand Prix events, marking his first wins since 2021, and inked a contract with Ducati to join their factory team in 2025

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During Marc Marquez's absence in 2020 due to injury, Honda made no advancements with its MotoGP motorcycle. The head of the LCR team has revealed how Marquez's injury negatively impacted Honda's progress.

Lucio Cecchinello, the head of the LCR MotoGP team, has stated that Honda "made no progress in development" during the 2020 season when Marc Marquez was absent due to an injury.

Marc Marquez, an eight-time world champion, along with Honda, led the racing world throughout much of the 2010s. Together, they clinched the championship titles for the years 2013-2014 and

In 2019, Marquez had an incredibly dominant season, securing victory in 12 races and earning second place in every race except one. This performance led him to claim his sixth premier class title, finishing 151 points ahead of Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso.

By this time, the RC213V was posing challenges for the rest of the Honda team, with Cal Crutchlow being the sole rider apart from Marquez to reach the podium in the 2019 season.

During the first race of the COVID-impacted 2020 season, Marquez suffered a severe fracture in his right arm, leading to Honda experiencing its first season without a victory in the top category since it resumed full-time participation in 1982.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, Marquez faced ongoing injury challenges, prompting Honda to adjust its bike development strategy in an effort to accommodate all its riders more effectively.

During the period that extends to the conclusion of 2024, Honda has experienced three seasons without a victory out of the last five.

Speaking with GPOne, Cecchinello, who has been managing Honda motorcycles in MotoGP since 2006, discussed the significant impact Marquez's absence due to injury had on HRC.

"The motorcycle worked well for Marc, as he managed to handle Honda's unique front design and opted for a harder tire compared to his competitors," he stated.

One instance is the race that kicked off the 2020 season. In Jerez, he managed to pass all his competitors, but then he lost control of the front. After remounting his bike, he made an impressive recovery.

"Honda then suggested delaying until Marc had recuperated; however, as we are aware, unexpected issues arose."

While Marc was away, we made no progress on development, whereas the others kept advancing their projects.

"The focus shifted increasingly towards aerodynamics, and when Marc participated in some races in 2021, he provided feedback on the advancements achieved by others."

In 2023, Marquez decided to part ways with Honda due to the bike's lack of progress. He will be riding for the Gresini Ducati team in 2024.

In the previous racing season, he secured victories in three grand prix events, marking his first wins since 2021, and he also inked a contract with Ducati's factory team for the year

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Who among the 2025 MotoGP newcomers might emerge as the next Pedro Acosta? Lewis Duncan from Crash evaluates the three new riders and discusses potential expectations.

After the 2022 season, MotoGP is set to introduce three newcomers to its lineup: Fermin Aldeguer, Ai Ogura, and Somkiat Chantra.

For many years, MotoGP has been known for consistently developing new talent. However, in the past two years, only one fresh face has entered the top tier of the sport. In 2023, Augusto Fernandez made his debut with Tech3 after claiming the Moto2 championship title. The following year, in 2024, the new Moto2 champion, Pedro Acosta, joined the premier class.

It was no surprise that there was a lot of excitement about Acosta's first year, during which he achieved nine podium finishes in both sprint races and grand prix events while riding for the Tech3 GASGAS team.

The anticipation hasn't fully extended to the rookies of 2025, but Ogura arrives as the current Moto2 champion. Meanwhile, Aldeguer's impressive performance in the 2023 Moto2 season was sufficient to persuade Ducati that he was prepared for MotoGP at the beginning of the previous year.

Chantra's entry into the MotoGP lineup has surprised some, considering his career record of just two grand prix victories in 106 races. However, he makes history as Thailand's first representative in the top tier of the sport, and his first appearance is expected to receive resounding cheers at the season opener in Buriram.

It's common for newcomers to be measured against past first-timers who established new standards. In this scenario, the performance of Acosta in 2024 will be (unjustly) compared to the achievements of Ogura, Aldeguer, and Chantra this year.

Instead, Crash has chosen to consider who the three new riders of 2025 will replace as rookies within their teams and the standards established by those predecessors.

Ai Ogura – Trackhouse Racing (Replaces Darryn Binder)

The current Moto2 world champion surprised many by joining Trackhouse Racing during the 2024 silly season. However, the decision to bring the Japanese talent on board has proven to be a very wise move over time.

Ogura has been close to making his MotoGP debut for a while. However, he decided not to take a sure opportunity with Honda and LCR, opting instead for a new venture that seems more promising, considering the current performance of the RC213V compared to the RS-GP.

In a conversation with Crash.net, scheduled to be published this weekend, Trackhouse team leader Davide Brivio shared that the US-based team was drawn to Ogura not only because of his racing speed but also due to his mindset and determination as a competitor.

As the Moto2 titleholder, Ogura will serve as the standard against which this year's newcomers will be measured. Within his own team, he faces the simplest comparison. Darryn Binder was the most recent rookie to compete for that squad when it was known as RNF.

The South African rider's move from Moto3 to MotoGP with the Yamaha satellite team was primarily driven by the financial support he provided. During his Moto3 career, he secured only one victory and developed a negative image due to his aggressive approach on the track.

Like any aspiring racer, he jumped at the opportunity to join MotoGP. However, in 2022, riding an outdated Yamaha setup, he managed to earn points only three times, achieving his highest finish with a 10th place in a rainy Indonesian Grand Prix. When RNF switched from Yamaha to Aprilia for the 2023 season, Binder was relegated back to Moto2, where he has also struggled to stand out.

Overall, Binder managed to earn only 12 points during his only year in MotoGP. Even though this was before the introduction of sprint races, Ogura is expected to easily achieve this score in his debut year.

Fermin Aldeguer – Gresini Racing (Replaces Fabio Di Giannantonio)

Aldeguer stands out as potentially the most fascinating newcomer in the 2025 lineup. His journey to grand prix racing was not typical, but he showcased his dominance in the CEV Stock600 series in 2020 and the CEV Moto2 series in 2021.

In 2021, he participated in the MotoE series before transitioning to a full-time role in Moto2 in 2022. The subsequent year, riding on a Boscoscuro chassis, he claimed victory in five grand prix races, including the last four of the season. This impressive performance secured him third place in the overall rankings and positioned him as a strong candidate for a MotoGP spot in 2025.

Before the start of the 2024 season, Ducati locked in his contract, and it turned out to be a smart move given Aldeguer's unpredictable performance. Despite achieving three wins, he concluded the season in fifth place, using the same chassis that Ogura had used to claim the championship.

Aldeguer encountered some doubts about what lay ahead for him. Initially, it seemed that he would join Pramac with a factory Ducati contract. However, the situation changed when Marc Marquez secured a factory deal, prompting Pramac to transition to Yamaha for the 2025 season. Ultimately, Ducati arranged for Aldeguer to ride for Gresini, although he would be using a motorcycle that was a year behind in terms of model.

For Aldeguer, the standard for newcomers at Gresini is set by Fabio Di Giannantonio, who began his MotoGP career with the team in 2022.

Di Giannantonio faced challenges during his debut season. It wasn't until the seventh race in France that he managed to earn any points, and he only achieved a top 10 finish once, placing eighth in Germany. However, everything changed for Di Giannantonio in 2023 when he teamed up with crew chief Frankie Carchedi, leading to his first victory in Qatar that year.

In 2025, the Italian will have a Ducati produced by the VR46 team.

In 2022, Di Giannantonio managed to secure a total of 24 points. The Gresini team, however, has shown that it functions like a close-knit family in recent years, willing to explore all possible options to enhance a rider's performance.

Di Giannantonio's situation could serve as a means to alleviate some of the stress for Aldeguer if he faces challenges during the initial year of his two-year contract.

Somkiat Chantra joins LCR Honda, taking over from Takaaki Nakagami. Many believed that when Ogura secured a deal with Trackhouse for the 2025 season, it ensured Nakagami would remain with LCR for an additional year.

LCR and Honda had different plans, choosing Chantra for the spot. The Idemitsu-sponsored section of the LCR team, designed for an Asian racer, welcomes Chantra with the enthusiastic support of Thailand, a country passionate about MotoGP.

For the upcoming two years, Buriram is set to hold the opening event of the season. Meanwhile, the championship plans to officially kick things off with an event in Bangkok on February 9. Given the profitable nature of the Thai market, Chantra's nationality certainly played in his favor.

In 2025, he stands as one of two former competitors from the Asia Talent Cup participating on the racetrack. Chantra claimed the championship title in the 2016 series, surpassing Ogura. To counter claims that he was selected merely for representation purposes, Chantra boasts two Moto2 grand prix victories.

Chantra is confronted with the most challenging situation among the three new riders in 2025. He is joining the team with the least competitive motorcycle and is succeeding Nakagami, who was a relatively strong newcomer for LCR.

In his debut season in 2018, the Japanese motorcyclist regularly earned points, concluding the year with a total of 33 points and achieving his top performance with a sixth-place finish in the chaotic and rainy final race at the Valencia Grand Prix. Nakagami subsequently became an important asset for Honda, particularly in the area of motorcycle development.

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