Marco Bezzecchi
Preparation for the 2025 MotoGP season is well underway with just one month to go until the start of the campaign.
The Thailand Grand Prix will host the opening race of the season for the first time, having previously held a spot towards the back end of the calendar.
Teams like Ducati aren’t too worried about their preparation for the race, but more so about pre-season testing at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.
The official test takes place between February 5 and 7, where there are expected to be searing temperatures for the riders to contend with.
To prepare for the ordeal, Ducati have arranged for some extra running at the Mandalika circuit in Indonesia, to mimic the conditions they are expected to face in Malaysia.
Two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia is among those who will be using the extra laps to get used to the stuffy conditions, which could hand him and his VR46 counterparts an advantage over their rivals.
Why some Ducati riders ‘declined’ extra testing offer over safety fears
Ducati dominated the championship in 2024, winning 90% (36/40) of the races on offer and having four of their bikes occupy the top four positions in the title race.
They may have levelled up even further heading into the new campaign, after signing six-time champion Marc Marquez to their ranks.
Bagnaia thinks Marquez’s arrival is beautiful for Ducati but his stance on their partnership may change as the title battle develops.
Marquez isn’t expected to participate in the extra running at Mandalika and will instead focus on preparing for Sepang.
According to Motorsport-Total.com, Ducati offered their riders the opportunity for extra testing at Portugal’s Portimao circuit too.
Some rejected the idea over safety fears, with the track an even bigger challenge for them in the colder winter temperatures.
Why Ducati have a huge responsibility to deliver with Marc Marquez in 2025
Ducati realises they have a huge responsibility with Marquez in 2025 to give him a bike which is capable of challenging for a title.
The Spaniard has waited six years since the last of his triumphs with Honda in 2019 to be in this position again.
Marquez tried quite hard not to say he’s a title contender at their bike launch, but the reality is that he will be Bagnaia’s closest competitor.
The 31-year-old won three races last season on one-year-old machinery. With the support of a factory team and world-champion teammate, there are improvements to come.
Some of Ducati’s management were always against signing Marquez over fears that he would upset the balance within the team, but it’s up to them to manage the relationship between their riders in 2025.
They showed positive signs during the team’s bike launch week and appear to have no issues with each other so far, kicking off the partnership on a strong note.
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