Satellite Ducati Riders Navigate Evolution from GP22’s Triumph to GP23’s Trials: A Season’s Shift in Specs and Success

The GP22 was configured for Valencia, while the GP23 was designed for Portimao.

"I'm hopeful that we can receive the enhancements made to the bike by the end of 2023."

In the previous MotoGP season, riders from Ducati's satellite teams secured four victories, with Marco Bezzecchi clinching three wins and Fabio di Giannantonio taking one, all on the Desmosedici GP22 bikes from the prior year. Additionally, there were three Sprint race wins, with Alex Marquez winning two and Bezzecchi adding another to his tally.

Up to this point in the current season, riders from VR46 and Gresini, who are now competing with the GP23, have yet to secure a victory, either in Grand Prix or Sprint races. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez has equaled Bezzecchi's achievement by placing third in the previous year's world championship standings.

Alex Marquez, who recently secured his season's first podium right after Marc at the Sachsenring, has highlighted the differences in the satellite specifications between the GP22 and GP23, noting a significant shift in how the bikes handle corners.

"Last year stood out for me as I ended up using the motorcycle they concluded the season with at Valencia in 2022. This year, however, we kicked off with the motorcycle they initiated the season with in 2023 at Portimao."

To put it another way, from the start of the current season, the GP23s satellite bikes were effectively entering their second year, in contrast to the Valencia-spec GP22s, which were only four months into their lifecycle.

"Alex Marquez expressed his wish that for the remainder of the season, they could utilize the bike updates that were completed in '23."

The most noticeable modification to the GP23, which clinched the championship last season, came with the fairing upgrade midway through the season. Some components of this update surfaced at VR46 and Gresini shortly before the summer hiatus.

Addressing the media from his podium position at Sachsenring, the rider with the #73 acknowledged that at present, only Marc is truly exploiting the full potential of the GP23 setup.

"Alex mentioned, "I haven't reached the full potential of the GP23. Indeed, as I've been saying since the start of the season, my riding style doesn't quite gel with this model. I find the GP22 more compatible with how I ride.

"However, we haven't reached the maximum potential yet. Currently, Marc is really testing the boundaries of what this motorcycle can do, particularly when it comes to maintaining speed during a race. That's the area where I'm facing difficulties."

Next year, Marc is set to receive the newest GP25 model at Ducati Lenovo, whereas Alex, having renewed his contract with Gresini, is anticipated to continue using a machine from the previous year.

The query revolves around whether the forthcoming year's GP24 satellite models will conform to the 'Qatar 2024 specifications' or the 'Valencia 2024 standards'?

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