Ducati told they can afford one key ‘luxury’ over KTM and Aprilia with their 2025 MotoGP engine

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Ducati faces a big decision regarding which MotoGP engine they are going to pick to compete with over the next two seasons.

They haven’t had much time to gather information on their new GP25 engine, which was run by Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez at the Sepang test.

Ducati is aware that it’s a big decision, with the two-year engine freeze forcing them to homologate and stick with whichever engine they pick before the season-opener in Thailand.

The GP24 is the older variant, but it has received a lot more fine-tuning than the GP25 and is probably more race-ready.

Alex Marquez has accused Ducati’s factory riders of lying about how much they were pushing in the time attack at the Sepang test.

Bagnaia’s true feelings on Marquez’s arrival at Ducati from Gresini is that he trusts his team not to take away from his efforts in a bid for a third title. The teammates appear to be working well together so far.

Ducati have a ‘luxury’ with 2025 engine decision over KTM and Aprilia

As part of MotoGP’s concessions system, both Honda and Yamaha are exempt from the engine freeze in 2026.

Ducati are the only manufacturer who have a choice to make over which engine to pick, while KTM and Aprilia’s route is already set.

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

There’s one more test in Thailand before the season-opener, but Lewis Duncan believes that Ducati’s position is a luxury compared to their rivals’ options.

“The GP24 engine, at the moment, you would have to say it’s certainly a really really good option for the factory bike. But Buriram will be a really important one there,” he said.

“I don’t think Ducati are hitting the panic button. The fact that they’re in this position and they don’t quite know the direction to go in is a luxury.

“Everyone else for the most part, apart from Honda and Yamaha obviously because they’re concession teams, will pretty much have to settle on the engine today. They don’t have enough time to drag that process out I don’t think.”

Why Ducati are facing a ‘secret’ problem with Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez

The idea of bringing two of the best riders on the grid together is exciting for the fans but poses many challenges from a management standpoint at Ducati.

Ducati are already facing a ‘secret’ Bagnaia and Marquez problem with their rivalry simmering behind the scenes, which could offer them a headache.

READ MORE: Uccio Salucci issues ‘brave’ verdict on Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez battle at Ducati

Their six-time champion replaces Enea Bastianini for 2025, which should offer Bagnaia a sterner challenge than he has faced in recent times.

However, Bastianini has warned Ducati of complications with Bagnaia and Marquez as both pursue the title. They are expected to battle plenty of times on the track.

They won’t want to waste any advantage they have and open the door for their rivals. Working together to build a gap in the championship earlier in the season could pay dividends for them and allow them to fight with each other later on in the year.