Davide Tardozzi names 74-race rider as Ducati’s ‘most dangerous’ rival in 2025 MotoGP season

Add as preferred source on Google

Ducati aren’t buying what their MotoGP rivals are saying ahead of the 2025 season. They don’t expect to walk to the title.

Last year, Ducati won all but one Grand Prix, with Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales denying them a clean sweep in Austin. They also took victory in 17 out of 20 Sprints, including the last 14 in succession.

The top three teams in the championship, and four of the top five, rode Ducati bikes. They averaged 612 points, while the two Aprilia teams averaged just 247.

With no major regulation change until 2027, Ducati should theoretically remain dominant. Equally, though, their rivals have had a year to adapt to Michelin’s troublesome new rear tyre.

What’s more, Ducati will be closer to the ceiling of their concept. The great engineering minds elsewhere have had a chance to study their bike and will inevitably attempt to copy their aerodynamic and technical tricks.

“It would be a mistake to start the season thinking that we are already champions,” Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi told Motosan. “I know that some of our rivals have already made statements in this sense, but I know very well that they do not think like that.”

Davide Tardozzi says Jorge Martin is the biggest threat to Ducati’s 2025 MotoGP title bid

Tardozzi was also asked to name the rider who will present the greatest challenge to Ducati in 2025. He went with the reigning world champion Jorge Martin.

After losing out on a factory ride alongside Francesco Bagnaia – Marc Marquez got the nod instead – Martin decided not to remain with a Ducati satellite team. He switched to the Aprilia squad that showed promise at the start of last season before dropping back.

Martin has already ruled out a 2025 title bid given the current deficit. He’ll know a great deal more about his prospects after testing this week.

Tardozzi is also wary of KTM, who have promoted young sensation Pedro Acosta to their factory team. He then namechecked Martin’s Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi as a potential surprise package.

“Jorge Martin,” Tardozzi replied when asked to name the ‘most dangerous’ competitor. “If I have to name just one name, it would be this one.

“Then we have to look at KTM, although we know that their situation is complicated, they have four very good riders this year. Bezzecchi could also be a surprise.”

Jorge Martin will be extra motivated after seeing one video at Ducati launch

Martin views Bezzecchi as his biggest rival in 2025. That indicates that he’s not expecting to challenge Bagnaia or Marquez.

It may be that he’s trying to play down expectations. But rather unhelpfully, Ducati are talking up his chances as they present an image of humility in the media.

Martin barely featured in a Ducati celebration video as they launched their 2025 bike. They want to bring an end to the questions over their rider decision.

But the Spaniard will surely draw motivation from that snub. He was, after all, the most successful rider on a Demosedici bike last season.