At the 2025 MotoGP season opener in Buriram, Thailand, the anticipated dominance of Ducati’s Desmosedici bikes did not materialize, surprising fans and competitors alike. Despite strong preseason tests and Ducati’s clean sweep of the top three spots at this venue last year, no Ducati rider reached the podium this time, while Aprilia demonstrated a significant leap in performance.
Marc Marquez, one of the championship favorites, was poised for a top finish but was forced to retire due to a broken rim, eliminating his chance for a podium position. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi expressed his thoughts on the unexpected results during an interview with TNT Sports.
It seems that Aprilia has improved a lot and they were incredibly fast with their four riders, congratulations,
said Tardozzi, recognizing Aprilia’s strong showing.
In the end, there was something strange because this weekend we found the bike completely different from the previous one when we were here for testing. It’s something we still don’t understand.
Ducati Riders Struggle Amid Rising Aprilia Challenge
The weekend proved challenging for many Ducati racers beyond Marquez’s broken rim. Francesco Bagnaia faced difficulties starting from Saturday, while Alex Marquez failed to score any points. Meanwhile, Enea Di Giannantonio was hampered by bad luck during the race. Despite these setbacks, Marc Marquez continued to push hard but ultimately could not overcome the issues that arose.
Tardozzi commented further on Marquez’s mindset following the disappointing race results.
He certainly realizes that it will be more difficult to win the championship this year,
Tardozzi stated.
But he has great confidence in Gigi and his engineers. Obviously, he’s angry about losing out on the podium because he would have definitely finished at least third. He was catching up on Fernandez in particular. In the end, he trusts us and the bike, and I think his right shoulder will improve even more in a few weeks.
Implications for the Season and Championship Battle Ahead
Aprilia’s strong debut performance signals a more competitive and unpredictable championship battle for 2025. Ducati’s unexpected struggles, combined with Marquez’s injury and mechanical setbacks, have made this season one of the most challenging in recent years for the defending champions. How Ducati’s riders and engineers respond in upcoming races will be critical to their chances of reclaiming dominance.
As the season progresses, watch for improvements in Marquez’s physical condition and Ducati’s bike setup, which could determine if they can close the gap on an ascendant Aprilia squad that is currently enjoying a rare moment at the front of the pack.
