Francesco Bagnaia has mentioned he can already discover a “enormous” distinction between Ducati’s new MotoGP prototype and the outgoing GP24 bike with which he took 11 grand prix wins this 12 months.
The 2-time MotoGP champion received his first alternative to pattern an early model of the GP25 that he can be racing in 2025 when he took to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Tuesday for the official post-season operating.
Finishing a complete of 56 laps over the course of the one-day take a look at, cut up between the GP25, the GP24 and a hybrid model of the 2 bikes, Bagnaia ended up a robust third on the timesheets with a lap that was 0.595s down on pacesetter Alex Marquez of the Gresini workforce.
Whereas the GP25 bike he examined in Barcelona remains to be in growth, Bagnaia was already impressed with the potential of the bike and the work Ducati has put in to take care of its hegemony in MotoGP.
“We’ve got to say that we examined many issues in the present day and the GP25 [we have] is an efficient base to begin growing and bettering [upon],” he mentioned.
“Our engineers and the workforce will work loads this winter as a result of we have to enhance the bottom we examined. Fortunately me and Marc [Marquez] had the identical feeling concerning the bike and this is essential to go in the identical route on the event. That is nice.
“Already the distinction between ’24 and ’25 is kind of enormous and I believe we is not going to have a giant step for Malaysia [test in February] as a result of the step [forward] was already right here, however we have to prepare it a bit [in terms of getting everything right].
“Additionally, we have to adapt the set-up of the brand new bike a bit.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Crew
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
Bagnaia admitted that there have been nonetheless some areas the place the GP25 is the truth is weaker than Ducati’s 2024 contender, however he places it all the way down to the truth that the GP24 was fairly refined by the top of the season after a full 12 months of operating.
“When it comes to dealing with, the GP24 remains to be higher on the braking,” he defined. “I improved loads this 12 months with the ’24 [bike] when it comes to braking. We should search to go in the identical route [with the GP25].
“However the ’25 has an excellent stability when it comes to quick corners and I prefer it, and likewise with used tyres. That is good. And the engine could be very sturdy and quick.
“Usually we begin at this [early] level with the brand new bike, we additionally want some work to do. However the beginning base is kind of good and I am blissful about it.”
It will be important for Ducati to begin the 2025 season with a robust bike resulting from a mixture of the brand new engine freeze guidelines and the concession system.
The engine Ducati will homologate firstly of subsequent 12 months should stay in the identical specification till the present guidelines cycle ends after 2026.
