P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Just days after winning the world championship at the Japanese Grand Prix, Marc Marquez’s reign has gotten off to a terrible start. In fact Ducati at large is facing an uphill battle to get back to the front as most of its stable struggled. But one of its riders did shine, and he could be the key to a turnaround…
The popularity of MotoGP has increased, reaching more fans globally, leading to a packed race calendar with 22 rounds planned for 2025. The condensed schedule necessitates double-header weekends, affecting teams like Ducati who had little time to celebrate in Japan before heading to Lombok for the 18th race of the season. The recent days have been a reality check for Ducati and for Marc Marquez, who faced crashes and fell into Q1 for the first time in 2025.
Pecco Bagnaia’s breakthrough in Motegi was linked to a GP24 test at Misano by VR46, but struggles have resurfaced. The revelations of the test have caused PR issues for Ducati’s team manager Davide Tardozzi, with Gigi Dall’Igna also facing challenges after title celebrations. Japan now seems like a distant memory for Ducati, but Mandalika offers a promising setting for the brand, despite facing difficulties.
Aprilia and Honda have shown strength in the Indonesian Grand Prix, but Ducati remains competitive, with the Gresini duo advancing to Q2. The rookie Fermin Aldeguer seems to hold the key to Ducati’s performance improvement as the weekend progresses. World champion Marc Marquez faces challenges, with Mandalika and Portimao remaining unconquered territories for him. Only time will tell if Ducati can overcome the hurdles and continue to compete at the highest level in MotoGP.
