Marquez brothers show most impressive long-run pac...

MotoGP 2025

Sepang Check – Deal with Ducati

Whereas Yamaha made a significant step at Sepang this week, and Honda made some progress, there’s merely little doubt that Ducati continues to be very a lot the highest canine in MotoGP.

Whereas Fabio Di Giannantonio had an early exit after breaking his collarbone on the opening day of the take a look at, the opposite 4 common Ducati riders crammed 4 out of the highest 5 locations. Rookie Fermin Aldeguer completed eleventh outright.

When it got here to longer-run tempo the distinction is much more clear. Alex Marquez did ten laps in a row between 1m57.368 and 1m58.376 on the GP24. 5 laps in succession have been within the 57s.

Alex’s quickest lap, which put him on the prime of the standings outright, got here earlier within the day with a 1m56.493.

That lap might have been solely seven-thousandths faster than Pecco Bagnaia, who had a a lot busier testing schedule, however Alex’s long-run tempo was additionally not solely faster than Pecco, but in addition eclipsed his brother Marc.

Marc’s future tempo was higher than Pecco’s, however on the finish of the day it was nonetheless his youthful brother with the bragging rights of not solely the quickest lap, but in addition the perfect long-run tempo.

Franco Morbidelli was truly barely faster than Marc over one lap, however the Italian’s future tempo was approach off what we had seen from Alex, Pecco and Marc. Nevertheless, his future was just a few laps longer than that aforementioned trio, and if he was on the more durable choice tyre Franco’s run would have been critically spectacular. I suppose we’ll discover the reply to that when the season will get underway.

Fermin Aldeguer put in a greater than respectable future and appears to have already got discovered the tempo to be an everyday prime ten contender in what will likely be his first 12 months in MotoGP.

Ducati collected a mountain of knowledge and labored via a large schedule of element testing with the first deal with inspecting the most recent GP25 engine specification. As soon as the 2025 engine specification is finalised, Ducati will likely be required to make use of it not just for this season but in addition all through 2026, as a result of an engine freeze ahead of the transition to 850 cc engines in 2027.

Suggestions indicated that riders favoured the smoother energy supply of the most recent engine however that the engine braking traits weren’t fairly as pleasant because the GP24.

Most of that engine braking performance would usually be improved through digital methods, and Ducati engineers will likely be trawling via the info gathered to provide you with a plan for the two-day take a look at in Thailand subsequent week to try to match the engine braking afforded by the GP24.

If they’ll’t make that leap ahead in engine braking, and it’s as an alternative extra of a mechanical difficulty that may’t be managed through the throttle butterflies and different methods, then Ducati might certainly stick to the very nicely confirmed GP24 energy unit. Already the benchmark in MotoGP, that will hardly be seen as backward step.

On the Sepang Test last year Pecco topped a Ducati 1-2-3-4 with a 1m56.682, in qualifying last year he lowered the all-time Sepang lap record to 1m56.337. The quickest time achieved throughout the three-day take a look at this 12 months was a 1m56.493 by Alex Marquez on the GP24 Ducati, seven-thousandths of a second forward of Bagnaia, and simply over two-tenths faster than Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo.

Alex Marquez

“The bike is de facto good, and we’re very happy with these three days of testing, particularly this final day. It’s only a take a look at, however we’ve fine-tuned all the pieces, and we head to Thailand with nice emotions. Right this moment, we additionally tried a dash race and have been very quick, so it’s not nearly the perfect lap time. That stated, Sepang is a observe that fits my using fashion nicely, so now we merely transfer on to the subsequent take a look at to maintain working. It’s a unique circuit, however I prefer it.”

Francesco Bagnaia

“Three constructive days, we had the chance and time to attempt all the pieces we scheduled and to repair some features. I believe Marc (Márquez) and I did an amazing job, we tried various things and we at all times gave very related feedbacks. I’m completely happy that we’ll proceed to do the job at Buriram in just a few days as a result of right here in Malaysia there are specific tarmac circumstances, with a whole lot of grip, whereas in Thailand it will likely be completely different. Our 2024 bundle was already excellent, so the alternatives have to be cautious. I might have preferred to work extra on the time assault, however the precedence in today was resolve which course to take for the long run”.

Franco Morbidelli

“We bought the purpose of those three days of testing, which was attending to know one another and perceive some extra issues of the bike that I couldn’t discover final 12 months. Really, I felt higher than 2024 and I might enhance my lap time in comparison with final 12 months’s qualifying. My feeling is de facto good even when is simply the third day with this new workforce. There are constructive issues about having the 2024 bundle, one in all them is for certain having the deal with your self and what it is advisable do with out making an attempt too many issues in phrases in growth. The potential of this bike could be very excessive, I do know I can win some races”.

Marc Márquez

“I might say that the stability is constructive, we did all of the job scheduled. Through the three days we examined and re-tested the 2025 bundle. We noticed attention-grabbing issues, we’ve to analyse all the info from the 2 bikes and perceive what might be the perfect course to comply with for the take a look at at Buriram. Pecco and I principally are agreed on 90 per cent of the technical stuff, we had the identical feeling on the engine and aerodynamics. We begin from an excellent base, the GP24 has gained many races final season, it isn’t simple to make one other step ahead, we have to handle each element”.

Fermin Aldeguer

“Six days on this circuit, and I really feel mentally drained. We needed to take one other step ahead at present, however we didn’t fairly handle it. We shaved off one other two-tenths, however the others pushed more durable, and I ended up eleventh. Anyway, my feeling on the bike is healthier than my lap instances, and each night time I’ve gone to sleep satisfied I might enhance—tonight will likely be no completely different. We’ve labored nicely, however there’s nonetheless quite a bit for me to find, beginning with the electronics. In Thailand, we’ll hold working and purpose to be in fine condition for the primary race of the season.”

Davide Tardozzi – Ducati Lenovo Crew Supervisor

“We’re actually happy as a result of we managed to finish a really demanding work schelude. Within the first two days we did a whole lot of take a look at with each the 2024 and 2025 materials and at present the course was a lot clearer. Presently we expect that the bike will most likely be a little bit be extra conservative as a result of we all know that the bottom we’ve is already good. The objective in Buriram will likely be to proceed testing different components and collect extra info to reach on the first race ready. Essentially the most constructive factor is that each riders gave us related feedbacks and this undoubtedly makes the trail for the engineers simpler. Each are completely happy, they labored naturally collectively they usually know completely the course they wish to comply with on this pre-season”.

Pablo Nieto – Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Crew Supervisor

“We should be completely happy for Franco, however we’re additionally a bit sorry for Fabio. Franco bought alongside very nicely with the workforce, we labored very well. It’s true that he already is aware of the bike, however that was our first time collectively on observe since Barcelona checks. I believe we’re on the appropriate approach, and that is very constructive. Sadly, Diggia injured himself within the first day of testing. We all know that his surgical procedure takes 15 or 20 days to recuperate, however it’s a pity to overlook winter checks. In Day 1 he was very quick, he’ll recuperate and we hope to be prepared as quickly as potential for the primary race”.

Fabio Di Giannantonio is in Italy about to bear surgical procedure on his left collarbone after a wheelie gong flawed on Wednesday. An embarrassing and vastly pricey mistake for the 26-year-old who, is one in all solely three riders with the holy grail of bikes at his disposal this season, a GP25 Ducati.

The MotoGP paddock is now packed up and on its approach north to Bangkok for a two-day take a look at subsequent week, forward of the season opener at Chang Worldwide Circuit on the weekend of March 2.

Sepang Check Occasions
Day Three

Sepan Check Mixed Occasions
Day 1-2-3