Following five different winners in five consecutive MotoGP races, the championship now moves to Aragon, where Marc Marquez has emerged as the standout performer of the 2024 season. Ducati confronts an unusual challenge heading into this race weekend, facing the possibility of three back-to-back defeats for the first time since early 2021, intensifying the spotlight on Marquez’s dominant form at Aragon.
Ducati in Unfamiliar Territory with Consecutive Defeats
Ducati’s long string of success, highlighted by an unprecedented 22 consecutive wins from the start of 2024 through to 2025, came to an end recently with Johann Zarco’s victory for Honda on a wet Le Mans track. The Italians then suffered further setbacks when Marco Bezzecchi’s Aprilia and Zarco again took victories under dry conditions at Silverstone, where Marquez fought hard to finish third despite crashing during the original start.
Fabio Quartararo’s mechanical failure while leading at Silverstone greatly aided Ducati’s chances of staying on the podium, a scenario uncommon since Sachsenring 2021. At that time, Ducati had last endured a three-race losing streak, coinciding with early-season success for Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and Quartararo. Given these circumstances, Ducati looks primed for a resurgence this weekend, led by championship front-runner Marc Marquez, who delivered a commanding performance on home ground last year with the Gresini team.
Could Aragon Deliver Another Marquez Masterclass?
Podcast host Jordan Moreland believes that Marc Marquez’s skills align perfectly with the characteristics of the Aragon circuit. He asserts,
We said it about COTA. We said it about Jerez. But Aragon is the Marc Marquez circuit for me. Alongside Sachsenring, he just does things completely differently to everyone else.
—Jordan Moreland, Crash.net podcast host
Reflecting on Marquez’s 2024 dominance, Moreland added,
Last year he dominated every practice session. A dirty track obviously helped him; he was getting so much more lean angle compared to everyone else. Pecco Bagnaia couldn’t understand how he was doing it.
—Jordan Moreland, Crash.net podcast host
Despite his strong pace, Marquez’s season has been marked by errors that raise concerns. Moreland noted,
The GP25 can be difficult to ride, but this should be 37 points for Marc – if he stays on the bike,
and continued,
But he was saved by the red flag at Silverstone, and there’s a bit of a trend with lapses in concentration at COTA and Jerez too.
—Jordan Moreland, Crash.net podcast host
MotoGP editor Pete McLaren pointed out a vulnerability on race days,
It’s surprising – after an almost perfect start to the year, when you take a step back and look at the statistics, it’s now three crashes in seven grands prix, something Pecco got quite a lot of criticism for in the past.
—Pete McLaren, Crash.net MotoGP editor
McLaren emphasized that conditions at Aragon could play a crucial role in Marquez’s performance. A slippery, dusty track might allow Marquez to exploit his superior lean angle once again, while a drier, low-grip race could provide opportunities for challengers as was seen at Silverstone.
Challenges Facing Ducati’s Rivals and Internal Hopes
The Silverstone race stirred questions about whether it was a rare event where Ducati faltered, allowing competitors like Maverick Vinales on Aprilia to clinch victories, or if this signals a deeper challenge with tyre management and set-up as several manufacturers aim to optimize their performance relative to Ducati’s strengths.
Ducati riders Pecco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez have both shown promise at Aragon in the past, although Bagnaia currently battles issues with front-end grip, which has impaired his consistency. Alex Marquez remains competitive in Aragon’s flowing sections and nearly won the British GP before an early crash disrupted his race. Reflecting on an incident from last year involving both Ducati riders, Moreland observed,
When Bagnaia and Alex tangled over third-place last year, it put Acosta and KTM onto the Aragon podium. The RC16 should like the long back straight at Aragon, with Tech3’s Maverick Vinales out to forget Silverstone and return to the top five.
—Jordan Moreland, Crash.net podcast host
Moreland expects the battle at the front to be closely contested among several manufacturers but expressed doubts about Yamaha’s past struggles at Aragon, adding,
I think we could see multiple manufacturers up the front. I just worry about Yamaha, because they’ve struggled in the past at Aragon. But what about Zarco continuing his magic on the Honda and fighting for best of the rest?
—Jordan Moreland, Crash.net podcast host
McLaren also raised concerns for Honda’s riders on the long back straight, explaining how the circuit’s slow corner after the straight could impact race dynamics and posing questions about whether Honda can maintain their improved form following Silverstone performances.
Honda’s pre-Silverstone outlook was pessimistic, yet Zarco’s ability to manage brutal track conditions better than teammates Joan Mir and Luca Marini yielded encouraging results. Moreland emphasized Aprilia’s morale boost after Bezzecchi’s maiden RS-GP victory, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the season:
Then there’s Aprilia, who will be on a high after Bezzecchi’s first win on the RS-GP.
—Jordan Moreland, Crash.net podcast host
Summarizing the intense competition ahead, Moreland concluded,
Marc might have dominated the Saturdays up until Silverstone, but we’ve had five different winners in the last five GPs – let’s see if it’s six this weekend.
—Jordan Moreland, Crash.net podcast host
Expectations Build as MotoGP Moves Forward at Aragon
With Marc Marquez poised to assert his dominance once more and Ducati seeking to end an unusual slump, the Aragon round of the 2024 MotoGP season promises intense competition amid fluctuating track conditions and emerging rivalries. How each team adapts to Aragon’s demands will influence the championship momentum heading into the season’s crucial stages.
