Aleix Espargaro once found Marc Marquez unbearable early in their MotoGP careers. A former MotoGP race winner has unveiled significant insights into his past interactions with Marc Marquez.

Aleix Espargaro confessed that during the initial years of his MotoGP career, he found it difficult to tolerate Marc Marquez because of the competitive tension Marquez had with his brother, Pol Espargaro.

In the lower divisions of grand prix racing, Marquez and Pol Espargaro were intense competitors. However, their rivalry became less heated once they moved up to MotoGP.

When Espargaro joined Honda for the 2021 season, there were concerns that conflicts might arise once more.

Nevertheless, Marquez's persistent injury problems and Espargaro's difficulties in performance throughout his two seasons meant that their rivalry was never reignited.

In a DAZN documentary centered on the Espargaro brothers, Aleix described Marquez as the most gifted MotoGP rider of all time, although he confessed that he initially had a strong aversion to him.

"As a child, I looked up to Valentino Rossi as my hero," he stated.

"I'm older than Marc Marquez. Back then, Marc wasn't even around, so getting the chance to compete alongside Valentino was remarkable."

Marc and I swapped helmets, and I mentioned to him that I had endured challenges and chased after him during my entire career.

"I believe no competitor in the championship has displayed as much skill."

"Early in my career, I really couldn't tolerate him, as he was the one who always seemed to be my brother's weakness!"

At the conclusion of the 2023 season, Pol Espargaro decided to withdraw from competitive racing after enduring significant injuries in an accident during the first race of the year. He transitioned into a new position as a test rider for KTM.

At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Aleix Espargaro stepped away from his racing career, having secured three grand prix victories. In 2025, he took on a new role with Honda, serving as a test rider.

Looking back on his time in racing, Espargaro expressed: "What I take pride in is not being a hypocrite."

"I have consistently stayed true to myself and openly displayed both my strengths and weaknesses."

"During my entire time in sports, I've always had a fiery temperament."

"I might be a little more passionate. There are times when stress is hard to control, and it's one of my weaknesses."

I've consistently taken out my anger and frustration on the people I care about the most and with whom I have the closest relationships.

"My reliance on that trust, whether beneficial or detrimental, has caused me to err, and it will be something I constantly regret."

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Title: Trackhouse MotoGP Racer Prioritizes Developments Over Results

Subtitle: Raul Fernandez Anticipates Significant Prospects in 2025

In the world of MotoGP, one rider from Trackhouse emphasizes that results come second in his list of priorities. Raul

Raul Fernandez is gearing up for his fourth season in MotoGP, marking his second year with the Trackhouse Aprilia team. The Spanish rider is set to begin the season equipped with factory equipment.

In 2022, Fernandez started his career with the Tech3 KTM team, but after a challenging season, he moved on to the RNF Aprilia team.

The first year on the RS-GP wasn't particularly notable, with the rider accumulating only 51 points and finishing 20th in the rankings. However, a fifth-place result at the final race in Valencia suggested more promising prospects ahead.

For further details: Discover how the latest team in MotoGP intends to differentiate itself from major factory teams.

Fernandez did not score any points in the initial two races of 2024 as Trackhouse began its MotoGP journey. However, he managed to secure points in Austin and consistently increased his score leading up to the summer break.

The pinnacle of his season occurred in Barcelona. During a tumultuous sprint race, he took the lead but unfortunately crashed. Despite this setback, he maintained his confidence and finished sixth in the grand prix. By the end of the season's first half, he stood 16th in the rankings, surpassing his 2023 total with 66 points.

Starting with the British Grand Prix, Fernandez transitioned to the 2024 RS-GP, which led to a downturn in his season's performance. He failed to earn any points until the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and only managed to accumulate a total of 20 points for the remainder of the year.

On Tuesday, after Trackhouse unveiled its 2025 vehicle design, Fernandez commented, "I was really concentrating on myself." He explained that he put significant effort into improving his physical condition. "In the past two years, I've undergone two surgeries on my arm," he acknowledged, "but somehow, I wasn't in the best shape and made sure to thoroughly assess everything over the winter."

"I decided to switch personal trainers, opting for a new one to focus on my fitness. This change was part of my effort to improve my mental approach. I aimed to relieve some of the pressure I tend to place on myself due to my ambitious nature during certain times."

"I put a significant amount of effort into that. Together with Davide Brivio, we'll be entering the season under different circumstances. In MotoGP, I've never begun a season with a factory bike. Additionally, it's the first time we're starting with a well-defined mindset for the team, unlike last year when we began with Trackhouse."

"Trackhouse wasn't fully prepared at the beginning of the season. Davide joined just before the season kicked off. Personally, it was a unique start for me, and I aimed to be mentally ready at my best. I believe this year presents a great chance for me to perform at my peak and demonstrate my capabilities."

Fernandez acknowledges that his high aspirations took over following an impressive start to the 2024 season. Consequently, when a bike change disrupted his momentum, he found it difficult to adjust his expectations accordingly.

He mentioned that one error he made last year involved the initial months leading up to Silverstone. During this period, they were almost breaking into the top 10, holding positions of 11th or 12th in the standings. They achieved some promising outcomes and were competing for strong positions during the qualifying rounds.

At the start of the year, everything was going great. However, once the new bike came in, I began to focus too much on achieving results. This mindset made the rest of the year challenging to handle. By the year's end, I realized that this was a crucial lesson, and I needed to work on this issue for the upcoming year.

In 2025, Fernandez kicks off the season with equipment identical to that of the official Aprilia team. He remains the sole unchanged member of the Italian brand’s lineup, which introduces MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin, Marco Bezzecchi, and Moto2 champion Ai Ogura at Trackhouse.

In the latter half of last year, Aprilia relied more heavily on Fernandez to guide the development of the RS-GP 25. However, he does not see himself as the lead figure for the manufacturer as other riders continue to improve their performance.

"Jorge holds the title of world champion," he stated. "Indeed, he will be racing with the Aprilia for the first time in Thailand. He is currently the benchmark in MotoGP. Having the number one spot makes it very obvious to me."

The speaker expressed their intention to give their utmost effort and concentrate on themselves. They acknowledged that there is a significant amount to learn about others, as Marco and Ogura, both notable figures, are coming in, with Ogura being a world champion. Despite this, the speaker emphasized their commitment to maintaining focus on their own development.

When asked about being the benchmark for Aprilia, I won't dwell on that. I consider myself an equal to the other riders and will strive to perform at my best. My focus will be on improving with each practice session, without putting too much emphasis on the outcome. This year, my priorities are to stay in good shape, remain concentrated, and give my all.

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Exclusive – Jack Miller Describes Bagnaia and Marquez as "Intense Rivals and True Professionals"

"Thankfully, Maverick secured the win in Texas"

Jack Miller entered the MotoGP scene in 2015 and spent his first three years with Honda, a team where Marc Marquez had already secured his status as the leading rider for HRC.

By the time Miller moved to Ducati, the Spaniard had already claimed four titles out of five. Miller, an Australian, went on to spend three seasons as Francesco Bagnaia's teammate, first at Pramac and later at Lenovo.

What is Miller's perspective on the highly awaited competition between Ducati's two-time champion Bagnaia and Honda's six-time champion Marquez?

Miller mentioned to Crash.net that he believes they will motivate each other to the fullest extent.

Many people have been voicing various opinions, but ultimately, those two individuals are consummate professionals who will perform excellently no matter who is on their team.

"I believe it shouldn't pose a significant problem in that regard. Clearly, they will continue to be strong rivals, but they are already quite competitive!"

"You only need to review their last few confrontations to see how intense they've been!"

During last year's Portimao Grand Prix, Bagnaia and Marquez were involved in a confrontation. Later, Bagnaia famously triumphed over Marquez, who is associated with the number 93, after an exciting showdown at the Jerez race.

Competing on a year-old motorcycle with Gresini, Marquez managed to overtake Bagnaia for second place during the final laps at Le Mans, ultimately securing third place in the world championship, finishing behind factory riders Jorge Martin and Bagnaia.

"Expressing gratitude for Maverick's success in Texas, Marquez broke a 1000-day winless streak at Aragon and secured two additional wins, making him one of only five distinct GP winners last season."

Four of them were riding Ducatis: Bagnaia with 11, Martin with 3, Marquez with 3, and Enea Bastianini with 2.

"Pecco hasn't allowed many victories for others!" Miller said with a grin.

The sole triumph not attributed to a Desmosedici was achieved by Aprilia's Maverick Vinales. Last season recorded the fewest variety of winners since before Marquez's arm injury, when he captured his latest championship titles from 2017 to 2019.

"It's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason," Miller remarked. "Obviously, Pecco, Jorge, and Marc are all performing at an exceptionally high level."

"Pecco and Martin are clearly in contention for the championship, while Marc is outstanding when he's at his best. Even on days when he's not, he still pushes himself and the bike to the extreme."

"Having two different manufacturers claim victories adds some excitement to the mix. Thankfully, Maverick managed to secure a win in Texas; otherwise, the numbers would have been quite dull!"

For the past two seasons, Miller has been racing with Red Bull KTM. In 2025, he will switch to his fourth brand of MotoGP bikes by joining the new factory-supported Pramac Yamaha team.

MotoGP has seen a variety of race winners each season, showcasing the competitive nature of the sport. In 2024, there were five different winners: Bagnaia, Martin, M. Marquez, Bastianini, and Vinales. The previous year, 2023, had eight distinct victors: Bagnaia, Martin, Bezzecchi, A. Espargaro, Zarco, di Giannantonio, Bastianini, and Rins. In 2022, the season featured seven winners: Bagnaia, Bastianini, Quartararo, Rins, Oliveira, A. Espargaro, and Miller. The 2021 season also boasted eight winners: Quartararo, Bagnaia, M. Marquez, Miller, Binder, Martin, Vinales, and Oliveira. The 2020 season was notable for having nine different winners: Quartararo, Morbidelli, Mir, Rins, Vinales, Dovizioso, Oliveira, Binder, and Petrucci. In 2019, five riders claimed victory: M. Marquez, Dovizioso, Vinales, Rins, and Petrucci. Similarly, 2018 saw five winners: M. Marquez, Dovizioso, Lorenzo, Vinales, and Crutchlow. The 2017 season featured five winners: M. Marquez, Dovizioso, Vinales, Pedrosa, and Rossi. In 2016, there were nine different winners: M. Marquez, Lorenzo, Rossi, Crutchlow, Vinales, Dovizioso, Pedrosa, Iannone, and Miller.

The 2015 season saw four winners: Lorenzo, M. Marquez, Rossi, and Pedrosa. In 2014, the same number of winners was recorded: M. Marquez, Rossi, Lorenzo, and Pedrosa. The 2013 season also had four winners: Lorenzo, M. Marquez, Pedrosa, and Rossi. In 2012, three riders took victories: Pedrosa, Lorenzo, and Stoner.

During the 800cc era, 2011 had four winners: Stoner, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, and Spies. The 2010 season featured four winners as well: Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Stoner, and Rossi. In 2009, five riders won races: Rossi, Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa, and Dovizioso. The 2008 season saw four winners: Rossi, Stoner, Pedrosa, and Lorenzo. In 2007, five different riders took victories: Stoner, Rossi, Pedrosa, Vermeulen, and Capirossi.

In the 990cc era, the 2006 season had seven different winners: Rossi, Capirossi, Melandri, Hayden, Pedrosa, Elias, and Bayliss. The 2005 season saw five winners: Rossi, Melandri, Capirossi, Hayden, and Barros. In 2004, four riders were victorious: Rossi, Gibernau, Tamada, and Biaggi. The 2003 season also had four winners: Rossi, Gibernau, Biaggi, and Capirossi. Finally, in 2002, four riders claimed victories: Rossi, Biaggi, Barros, and Ukawa.

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Peter has spent two decades in the paddock, witnessing the rise and fall of Valentino Rossi. He is actively involved in covering Suzuki's departure and the challenges Marc Marquez faces with his injuries.

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2025 Spanish MotoGP Experiences Unprecedented Ticket Sales Due to Marc Marquez Excitement

The Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto has reported promising statistics regarding ticket sales for the 2025 Spanish MotoGP event.

The Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto has released new figures showing that the Spanish MotoGP in 2025 is attracting a significant amount of interest, evident in its impressive ticket sales.

Today, January 14, the circuit that has been the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix annually since 1989 revealed that ticket sales for the 2025 Spanish MotoGP have surged by 50 percent compared to this time last year for the 2024 event. This increase follows a previous 4 percent rise in ticket sales from 2023 to 2024.

According to a statement from the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, ticket sales for the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix have surged by 50 percent compared to the same period for the 2024 event. This increase sets a new record, especially noteworthy given that the 2024 edition already saw a 4 percent rise in ticket sales over 2023.

From a numerical standpoint, a 50 percent increase translates to 13,920 additional tickets sold at this stage in 2025, compared to the same period last year.

Jerez reports that out of 39,307 grandstand seats, only 6,200 remain available for purchase.

While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for the rise, the circuit attributes it to recent efforts by MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports to boost fan engagement during races. These efforts include initiatives like the Hero Walk, the addition of Sprints, and off-track attractions such as live music performances.

The increase in ticket sales can probably be attributed to Jorge Martin's anticipated victory as the 2024 MotoGP World Champion and his transition to a full-factory rider with Aprilia in 2025. Additionally, excitement is building over Marc Marquez joining the Ducati Lenovo Team, where he will team up with Francesco Bagnaia. The two had an unforgettable race at Jerez last year, which was one of the season's highlights, and they are set to race together in 2025.

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Valentino Rossi forecasts an early 2025 outlook involving Marc Marquez

MotoGP icons anticipate the upcoming season

Valentino Rossi has shared his forecast regarding Marc Marquez's performance this season.

Marquez is set to join forces with Pecco Bagnaia, the VR46 mentee, in the Ducati team's primary setup.

Following his championship victories with Ducati in 2022 and 2023, Bagnaia lost his title to Jorge Martin, a fellow Ducati team member who has moved to the factory Aprilia team this year, in the previous season.

Even though Bagnaia clinched 11 grand prix wins compared to Martin's three during the season, eight instances of not scoring caused him to fall short of the championship by 10 points in the concluding round.

Bagnaia will continue to be part of the Ducati factory team through 2025, encountering his most difficult test to date with the arrival of eight-time world champion Marquez as his new teammate.

During the latest 100Km of Champions race held in Tavullia and organized by Rossi, he shared insights with Sky Sports Italy regarding his protégé Bagnaia and his competitor Marquez.

"Rossi mentioned that the Ducati factory team riders are the primary contenders for the championship."

"Bagnaia is thrilled as he seeks redemption from his previous year's loss."

"Thus, we anticipate he will contribute that additional five percent."

Rossi and his team partner, Luca Marini, secured the second position in the previous weekend's 100km of Champions race, with Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre outperforming them to win.

Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassarri secured the podium finishes.

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

Rossi is set to remain with BMW as a factory driver into 2025, though his racing schedule for the upcoming season remains undecided.

In the previous year, Rossi made his debut in the World Endurance Championship and also participated in the GT World Challenge Europe, driving for the BMW-supported WRT team.

Nevertheless, he plans to reduce his participation in racing events by 2025 and boost his attendance at MotoGP competitions.

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Exclusive – Max Bartolini: Losing Half-a-Second in MotoGP is "a catastrophe!"

"Losing half-a-second across 15 corners seems minor. Yet, the competition is at such an elevated level."

In the opening race of the 2024 MotoGP championship, Fabio Quartararo of Monster Yamaha ended up in eleventh position, trailing Francesco Bagnaia by 17.701 seconds in Qatar, which translates to an average lag of 0.84 seconds for each lap.

The racer from France ended the season ranked eleventh at the Barcelona Grand Prix in November, trailing Bagnaia by 10.756 seconds across 24 laps, which averages out to a loss of 0.45 seconds per lap.

The figures largely indicate Yamaha's advancement throughout the 20 races, even though they didn't achieve a podium finish for the first time in the MotoGP era, while also highlighting the remarkable tightness of the competition.

"Currently, the skill set of all the MotoGP competitors is at a peak," Yamaha's technical chief Max Bartolini conveyed to Crash.net.

"Every weekend sees the setting of new lap records, and the competition is incredibly close: Oh no! Being 4-5 tenths of a second slower is a catastrophe!"

"However, a margin of half-a-second across 15 turns is minimal. Everyone is performing at such an elevated level."

Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia stood out as the top performers in the 2024 MotoGP season, two racers with whom Bartolini has a deep familiarity from his twenty years at Ducati.

Regarding statistics, how does the present Yamaha pair, consisting of 2021 world champion Quartararo and Alex Rins, who has secured six race victories, stack up against Bagnaia and Martin?

"Bartolini responded by stating that due to the variance in the package, comparing is challenging as the [Yamaha] motorcycle necessitates an alternative riding approach."

"Undoubtedly, Fabio and Alex possess exceptional talent as demonstrated by their victories in MotoGP races, with Fabio also achieving the distinction of being a world champion."

Generally, Fabio excels in braking and maintaining speed through corners, whereas Alex has a knack for handling the exit of corners more effectively. However, both are highly skilled.

"Currently, we're experiencing overall performance issues with the bike, leading to attempts at compensating for these shortcomings, which often proves to be challenging."

"That's among the toughest challenges; making an effort not to overstep. Yet, they're handling it well."

Before Bagnaia's crucial error in the Sepang sprint that gave Martin the advantage he needed to clinch his inaugural MotoGP championship, Bartolini commented on the championship fight:

"Truly, each of them has earned the right to claim victory. For the previous two years, their speed has been unmatched. Ultimately, the victor will likely be the one who commits fewer errors.

"It's a genuine competition between two highly skilled riders… They have the potential to be victorious for many years to come. It's an exciting contest, but truthfully, I can't predict who will come out on top!"

Check out this Instagram update from Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse)

An update shared by Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse)

"I'm looking forward to potentially being in that position and sharing the experience with you!"

Throughout the unpredictable journey of the 2024 world championship, television broadcasts frequently shifted focus to the Ducati team's garage. Here, Gigi Dall'Igna's tranquility stood in stark contrast to the passionate reactions of team manager Davide Tardozzi.

Does Bartolini observe a MotoGP race more in the manner of Tardozzi or akin to Dall’Igna?

"I'm usually pretty relaxed. Though, in the final 2-3 laps, if there's something significant at stake, that's when I might get tense," he mentioned.

"At Yamaha, the focus is primarily on improvement these days. Thus, when observing a race, it's about noting, ‘We made some progress in that aspect…’. This approach makes it simpler to remain composed."

"Bartolini flashed a smile as he said, 'Davide [Tardozzi] is always on the opposite side, it's just how he is!'"

Having collaborated with Davide for two decades, he's become much more than just a friend to me. And as for Gigi, he's exceptionally serene. Well, he certainly seems that way, at least!

"Davide truly reflects what's on everyone's mind during those critical final two laps when you're battling for something significant."

"I'm optimistic that in the coming years, I'll find myself in that position and will share my experience with you!"

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Jorge Martin speaks out on concerns about conflicts with his new teammate, Marco Bezzecchi. Jorge Martin admits, "He hasn't been my closest friend."

Jorge Martin has addressed worries regarding his connection with Marco Bezzecchi.

This year, Martin and Bezzecchi will make up the new factory rider team for Aprilia.

However, their history is complicated, particularly because Bezzecchi's good friend, Pecco Bagnaia, fiercely competed with Martin for the championship last season.

Martin expressed to Motorsport that his relationship with Bezzecchi hasn't been particularly friendly in recent years.

"Ever since our time competing in Moto3, we've experienced numerous clashes."

In any case, the important thing for me is that my partner has a competitive nature.

"If he can provide guidance to enhance the bike, it will benefit me as well. The same goes the other way around."

Martin secured the Moto3 title, finishing 46 points ahead of Bezzecchi.

Since then, their encounters have sometimes been marked by anger. Bezzecchi has expressed dissatisfaction with the stewards' inaction against Martin, whom he blames for triggering a crash during the 2023 Austria sprint.

However, both riders have departed from Ducati to pursue positions with a factory team, and they will reunite at Aprilia.

Naturally, Martin might show up proudly displaying the #1 plate, following his victory in last year's MotoGP championship.

"I may not be Aleix Espargaro, but as the world champion, I now have a leadership position and need to guide the Aprilia project," Martin emphasized.

"This refers to maintaining a positive connection with my significant other."

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

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2026 MotoGP roster: Current standings

A comprehensive overview of the contract status for each MotoGP competitor for the 2026 season, marking the final year of utilizing 1000cc engines.

Contracts for at least four MotoGP racers are set to conclude in 2025…

Ducati has officially announced its powerhouse factory Lenovo team, featuring Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, for the MotoGP seasons of 2025 and 2026.

Similarly, the Gresini Ducati team, featuring Alex Marquez and newcomer Fermin Aldeguer set to debut in 2025, is slated for a two-year duration.

Fabio di Giannantonio from VR46 will commence a fresh factory agreement spanning two years in 2025. Meanwhile, there could be a Desmosedici slot open for 2026, as his team-mate Franco Morbidelli is presently engaged in a contract lasting one year.

Despite recent economic challenges, the four RC16 racers – Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta with the official KTM squad, alongside Tech3's latest additions Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini – are expected to remain with their teams through the conclusion of 2026.

Jorge Martin, a world champion, alongside his new colleague Marco Bezzecchi, have both signed agreements to join Aprilia's official racing team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Trackhouse racers Raul Fernandez and newcomer for the 2025 season, Ai Ogura, have both embarked on contracts spanning two years.

The official Monster Yamaha squad, featuring riders Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins, is set to continue without changes through to the year 2027 at least.

In 2026, there might be an opportunity to join the M1 lineup since Jack Miller is currently tied to the fresh Prima Pramac Yamaha squad with a one-year agreement. Meanwhile, his colleague Miguel Oliveira has secured a two-year contract with the Yamaha manufacturer.

Honda

For the 2026 season, Honda might experience the highest number of changes among its riders, as LCR team members Johann Zarco—who was Honda's top performer in 2024—Luca Marini, along with possible newcomer Somkiat Chantra, are all set to become free agents when 2025 concludes.

This confirms 2020 world champion Joan Mir from Suzuki as the sole Honda competitor officially announced for the 2026 MotoGP lineup.

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Valentino Rossi announces plans to compete in the 2025 racing season

The iconic MotoGP racer has decided to participate in the LMGT3 category within the World Endurance Championship, after initially being uncertain about his commitments

The WRT BMW squad has revealed that the iconic MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi will participate in the LMGT3 category of the World Endurance Championship once more in 2025.

Rossi embarked on his initial journey in the WEC the previous year, following the launch of his career in GT racing post-MotoGP in 2022, participating in the GT World Challenge Europe.

The experienced Italian racer, behind the wheel of car number 46, secured two podium finishes – placing second at Imola and third at Fuji, in addition to achieving top five finishes in both Qatar and Brazil.

The vehicle failed to reach the end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Rossi previously mentioned his uncertainty regarding his 2025 plans, expressing a desire to reduce his participation in racing now that he has welcomed his second child.

WRT has officially announced that he will remain in the WEC series, teaming up once more with Ahmad Al Harthy. Additionally, Kelvin van der Linde, who has won the Nurburgring 24 Hours twice, will be joining their squad.

Rossi expressed his delight in extending his journey in the FIA WEC, noting that his rookie season was notably successful.

"We experienced several successful competitions, securing two top-three finishes, and our goal is to enhance our performance and speed."

"We are committed to collaborating closely with BMW to enhance our performance and increase our competitiveness in each race."

"Le Mans holds the highest significance for us; despite our misfortune last year, we are determined to compete for a top-three finish in 2025."

Van der Linde commended Rossi for being a versatile GT driver and expressed optimism about the potential of the #46 team.

"I'm truly thrilled to be teaming up with the #46 squad, alongside Vale and Ahmad, a pair of racers whose performances I've closely followed in the FIA WEC over the past year," he remarked.

"Vale has developed into a versatile GT driver. Having collaborated with him before, I'm familiar with his dedication and his approach to data-driven work."

"Ahmad stands out as a top-tier Bronze-level driver in the competition, and it's an honor to have him as part of our team."

The trio among us has the potential to form an excellent team.

"Each one of us has gone through our inaugural season in the LMGT3 series within the WEC. By pooling our collective experiences, we aim for significant achievements, with our sights particularly set on triumphing at Le Mans, the most coveted victory among us. I'm truly thrilled and eager to get going."

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Ducati's chief executive discloses that Marc Marquez set a new lap record at Aspar on the latest Panigale V2

The eight-time global champion tested the new motorcycle at Aspar Circuit the previous week

Ducati's leader, Claudio Domenicali, asserts that Marc Marquez, a six-time MotoGP world champion, equaled the "unofficial lap record" at the Aspar Circuit riding the new Panigale V2 in its standard configuration.

Last week, Marquez undertook a winter training exercise at Spain's Aspar circuit, where he piloted a 2024 model Panigale V2 built for racing. This track day event was also graced by the presence of Jorge Martin, the 2024 MotoGP World Champion.

In a post on LinkedIn, Domenicali mentioned that he reached out to several contacts to arrange for Marquez to test the 2025 version of the V2, previously utilized in advertising campaigns.

It is reported that Marquez completed a circuit in 1 minute and 12.2 seconds using the 2025 model, and remarkably recorded the identical time while riding the 2024 race-spec V2.

"Right before the Christmas holidays, I was catching up with Marc over the phone to exchange seasonal greetings, and during our conversation, I learned that he had organized a training session at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia," Domenicali shared.

He intended to ride a 2024 Panigale V2 for the session, as he was informed that our completely new 2025 version wasn't ready for racing yet.

Eager to know his thoughts on our latest infant track bicycle, I utilized my skiing vacation in the mountains as an opportunity to make several calls. My goal was to organize a session where he could take the bike, previously featured in our launch video and photo, for a spin around the track a couple of times.

Unexpectedly, Marc rang me up as the day was drawing to a close.

He shared with me his admiration for the bike, praising its agile maneuverability, exceptionally comfortable posture while riding, and the "electric" nature of its power output. Additionally, he mentioned that he achieved a lap time of 1 minute and 12.2 seconds.

"My group let me know this ties with the unrecorded fastest lap for the Supersport category.

Marc took the 2024 Panigale V2 out on the track in its complete racing setup, managing to clock an identical lap time. On the other hand, the 2025 Panigale V2 was equipped for regular street use, featuring a legal catalytic converter exhaust, headlight, taillight, and a side stand.

We're eagerly looking forward to evaluating the 2025 Panigale decked out in complete racing configuration alongside Marc and Pecco [Bagnaia]. This model is expected to boast 126 HP, an increase from the current 120 HP, and will be nearly 10kg lighter due to the elimination of all street-legal components.

I'm highly satisfied with how a motorcycle, engineered to balance track lap speeds and enjoyment on winding mountain routes, performs.

"Appreciation goes to Marc, along with high praise for the Ducati team responsible for crafting this motorcycle. A warm greeting to the latest member, the Panigale V2. The choice of keeping the weight down continues to lead us to victory."

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Francesco Bagnaia reflects on 2024 MotoGP errors: 'It occupied my thoughts during my honeymoon'

Two-time MotoGP world champion anticipates a challenging 2025 season

Ducati MotoGP competitor Francesco Bagnaia admitted that he spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on the mistakes that led to his loss of the 2024 championship, even while on his honeymoon.

Last season, Bagnaia missed securing his third consecutive MotoGP championship, falling short by 10 points to Pramac Ducati competitor Jorge Martin in the final race held in Barcelona.

Despite Bagnaia's 11 Grand Prix victories in contrast to Martin's three, eight instances of failing to score throughout the season ultimately prevented the official Ducati rider from securing another title.

Bagnaia has consistently acknowledged his mistakes, and in a conversation with Sky Sports Italy, he shared that he even pondered over those errors while on his honeymoon.

"2025 promises to be an exciting yet challenging year for all due to the numerous races and the increasingly competitive field," Bagnaia remarked at Valentino Rossi's 100Km of Champions event.

April, alongside Martin and [Marco] Bezzecchi, has the potential for speed, while KTM, even after a challenging winter, boasts impressive riders. Additionally, both Yamaha and Honda are expected to improve, with the former likely seeing significant progress.

"It's important for us to reflect on our mistakes from this year and aim for improvement."

"Previous year's successes? Achievable again, but we must continually strive for improvement.

"I often reflect on my own thoughts and actions, and even while I was on my honeymoon, I found myself pondering over it frequently."

Bagnaia is set to encounter his most formidable obstacle in MotoGP when he teams up with Marc Marquez, an eight-time world champion, at the factory team in 2025.

The pair is set to unveil Ducati's 2025 season to the public during a ceremony in Italy, scheduled for January 20.

Bagnaia and Bezzecchi teamed up for Rossi's 100Km of Champions race the previous weekend, securing a sixth-place finish.

Rossi secured the runner-up position alongside his teammate Luca Marini, whereas Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre emerged as the winners of the competition.

In a one-on-one discussion with Crash.net during the off-season, Honda's official racer Marini expressed his opinion that Marquez and Bagnaia have the potential to "compete for the win in each race" throughout the 2025 season.

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Video Emerges of Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions Kicking Off in Le Mans Fashion

Marco Bezzecchi Provides a Fresh Look at the 100km of Champions Event

Video showing the tumultuous beginning of Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions race has emerged.

Marco Bezzecchi has revealed the origins of the past Saturday's event in Tavullia.

.@Marco12_B offers a sneak peek at @ValeYellow46's hometown event, #La100kmDeiCampioni race 👀 pic.twitter.com/klPvABEcmj— Monster Energy (@MonsterEnergy) January 13, 2025

The race spanning 50 laps at Rossi's ranch kicks off with a starting grid reminiscent of the 'Le Mans style'.

This implies participants begin the race on foot, quickly move towards their bicycles, mount them, and then proceed to ride away.

This approach gained renown through the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

The video captures Bezzecchi as he dashes over to a motorcycle, held upright by his teammate Francesco Bagnaia, then leaps aboard and kicks off the race.

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

Rossi has also offered new insights into the off-air competition held in his native town on Saturday afternoon, during the yearly gathering he organizes.

Aerial video captured the thrilling grid formation reminiscent of Le Mans just as the motorcycles took to the off-road circuit.

The cameras capture incredible shots of The Doctor expertly maneuvering through the curves.

Additionally, the footage includes a view from Rossi's perspective, along with an iconic shot of the MotoGP star performing a wheelie as he crosses the finish line.

Rossi and Luca Marini secured second place in the Champions' 100km race.

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

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