Jack Appleyard shares ‘the feeling’ about Ducati in MotoGP paddock after they took GP24 engine gamble

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Ducati have confirmed their bold decision to remain with the GP24 engine for the next two years after the conclusion of MotoGP’s Buriram test.

The Italian manufacturer conducted plenty of running with their new GP25 bikes and, together with Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez have decided to abort their developments.

It hands Ducati’s rivals an opportunity to catch up to them for the first time in a very long while, with the likes of KTM and Aprilia lurking in the wings.

The start of the MotoGP season shouldn’t see them under too much pressure. Their lasting advantage from 2024 is clear, and they are still the benchmark.

Marquez may already be playing mind games with Bagnaia in Buriram ahead of the season-opener – their first races as teammates.

It’s the six-time champion who has set the headline times in testing, but Marquez did leave Ducati engineers flabbergasted at testing after being unable to perform any good practice starts.

Jack Appleyard reveals feeling that Ducati are ‘standing still’ after engine decision

Ducati faced a tricky decision this week after having to decide which engine and aero package to run in the 2025 and 2026 seasons between the GP24 and GP25.

The team have a lot less data on the GP25 and are unaware of how much potential it may have. The concessions system means that they are the other European manufacturers are under an engine freeze for the next two years.

Ducati hinted at a ‘very interesting’ bike decision in Buriram after running the older specification on day one of the Thailand test.

READ MORE: Jack Appleyard shares what Ducati chief Davide Tardozzi has now told him about crunch engine decision

Speaking to Davide Tardozzi after the decision was made, MotoGP’s Jack Appleyard mentioned that it seems the team may be standing still and not moving forward after opting for their older work.

“I think there’s a feeling that Ducati are going to stand still in 2025 potentially, with the decisions that have been made,” he said on the After the Flag show.

He went on to say after the interview, in front of their garage, that their decision may produce some complications.

“As I put to Davide, this is the first time in a very long time that the Bologna factory, who have been the pinnacle of MotoGP for so long now, are standing still and do present an opportunity to their rivals to get closer and to try and make life more difficult for them.”

Francesco Bagnaia’s true feelings about Marc Marquez joining Ducati in 2025

Although the two multiple champions have been rivals in the past, for the sake of their team, they must draw a line under it for 2025 as they pursue further success.

Bagnaia’s true feelings about Marquez joining Ducati are that he is unbothered as long as the team don’t reduce their efforts on his side of the garage.

It may be a step beyond that already, with Ducati facing a ‘secret’ Bagnaia and Marquez problem behind the scenes with their rivalry already simmering.

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

Pre-season testing indicates that the Spaniard may be back to championship-winning form after five years away from the sharp end of the grid.

Bagnaia is likely to be in contention for the title for a fifth consecutive season. He has only come out on top on two occasions (2022 and 2023) and will need to dig even deeper to find a route to silverware this time.