Ducati’s MotoGP world champion Pecco Bagnaia insists its latest bike, the GP24, is not a wholesale improve on final 12 months’s model. So why hasn’t the struggle been nearer?
Bagnaia and predominant adversary Jorge Martin, who at the moment leads the standings, have monopolised this 12 months’s MotoGP battle, with Marc Marquez’s title problem on a 2023-spec bike successfully over after a Mandalika failure – however already an extended shot nicely earlier than that given his bike has seemed to be constantly outperformed by the newer model.
There’s cheap proof that even a year-old Ducati stays higher than something the manufacturing facility’s rivals have mustered up however, not like final 12 months the place the GP22s had been a reputable menace to the GP23s as a rule, this 12 months issues have been decidedly extra one-sided.
Treating these bikes as two separate producers’ entries would provide you with a producers’ title classification as follows:
- Ducati GP24 – 517 factors
- Ducati GP23 – 337 factors
- KTM – 263 factors
- Aprilia – 247 factors
- Yamaha – 93 factors
- Honda – 51 factors
And this will likely nicely undersell the change that is occurred, given the lion’s share of the GP23 factors belongs to Marquez, who was not with Ducati final 12 months.
“It is determined by the [track] format,” mentioned Marquez’s brother Alex when requested concerning the GP24/23 hole this 12 months.
“The ’24 seems to be prefer it has actually robust factors, it is determined by the format, if they will use them kind of. Quick tracks like Silverstone – Misano additionally however Silverstone particularly – they had been one step ahead clearly, no? However then it additionally relies upon quite a bit on the grip stage on the observe.
“As a result of for instance Aragon is basically quick, the aerodynamic facet is basically necessary [so the GP24s should be ahead] however they weren’t capable of make the distinction there as a result of the grip stage was actually low.
“It is determined by many issues, if they will extract the robust factors or not.”
Aragon apart – the place Marquez’s pure affinity for the observe and between-sessions rain having a constant impression on the freshly-repaved floor – 2024 has not likely introduced a weekend the place the GP23s had been conclusively pretty much as good because the GP24s, a lot much less higher.
The GP24 riders, nevertheless, have reliably maintained that the hole between the 2 specs isn’t as huge as is commonly steered – and at Mandalika, Bagnaia repeatedly identified that he had a a lot simpler time working his well beyond the GP24 of Franco Morbidelli than the GP23 of Marco Bezzecchi on Sunday, due to traction on nook exit.
“What I have been saying from the beginning of the season is the GP23 has extra traction than our bike,” he insisted.
“In this sort of circuit it is affecting the acceleration extra – as a result of the rear grip isn’t too excessive, and in that first a part of acceleration the GP23 has a bit extra.
“I am not saying it is a huge step but it surely’s slightly step that may assist.”
“It is true,” concurred Bagnaia’s good good friend Bezzecchi – earlier than going into an in depth reply for why this hasn’t been sufficient for the GP23s to place up a stronger struggle.
“The traction on [corner] entry is a giant drawback for us. [The GP24] is best in stopping and turning. After which in [corner exit] traction for positive they’ve one thing much less.
“However when we now have a brand new tyre, additionally within the entrance, particularly within the entrance, we will handle to strive to stick with them within the entry, then within the exit perhaps we acquire one thing – however then when the entrance grip drops, we’re destroyed. And they’re unbelievable.
“They flip so nicely, they do not want traction within the rear. They’re able to carry nook pace, carry entry pace, and they’re clean with gasoline.”
Michelin’s revised-for-2024 rear tyre seems to have been a key consider all of the efficiency tendencies defining how the season has gone, and for Bezzecchi particularly that extra of rear grip has been catastrophic on nook entry – forcing understeer and sapping him of confidence.
Nearly all different riders on the grid have talked about it as a difficulty sooner or later in 2024, together with the GP24 riders, however Bezzecchi has maintained it’s significantly limiting on the GP23 – one thing corroborated by the elder Marquez, who attributed his ongoing qualifying struggles to precisely that: the rear tyre at its peak grip pushing the entrance.
“Our bike has extra grip in angle,” continued Bezzecchi. “It is good – however for turning and for stopping it’s extremely dangerous.
“We’re struggling. All of the ’23 Ducati riders complain about the identical drawback. There are some tracks the place I used to be capable of modify a bit, some tracks the place I struggled a bit extra. However total the attribute is that this.”
At many tracks, any acceleration mismatch in favour of the GP23 can be negated by the very fact the newer Ducatis have an improved experience top gadget, providing successfully ‘free’ laptime.
Mandalika is not a format the place that will clearly confer, however the GP24s – although extra weak than typical, as evidenced by Pedro Acosta protecting Martin sincere within the grand prix together with his KTM/Gasoline Gasoline RC16 – nonetheless prevailed ultimately, helped by a weekend of clear climate that allowed grip to construct up and the very fact GP23 standard-bearer Marc Marquez clearly would not listing Mandalika as considered one of his higher (and even anyplace close to above-average) venues.
