Ducati group boss Davide Tardozzi has admitted that its defeat to Aprilia within the Thailand Grand Prix felt like a “slap within the face”, however insists the true aggressive order in MotoGP will solely grow to be obvious over the approaching rounds.
Ducati endured one among its most difficult weekends in current reminiscence at Buriram, with VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio ending up as its prime finisher in sixth. The consequence marked the top of an 88-race podium streak stretching again to the 2021 British Grand Prix.
Whereas reigning world champion Marc Marquez remained within the hunt for a top-three consequence till he suffered a sudden rear tyre failure, different Ducati riders largely struggled for tempo on the Thai venue. Most notably, final yr’s runner-up Alex Marquez crashed out on the finish of an underwhelming weekend, whereas manufacturing facility rider Francesco Bagnaia might solely salvage ninth after struggling together with his rear tyre on Sunday.
Aprilia, then again, delivered its most full efficiency in MotoGP, with Marco Bezzecchi main a 1-3-4-5 consequence for the manufacturing facility.
Tardozzi believes the monitor traits performed a task in figuring out the result of the Thai Grand Prix, however conceded Ducati had been comprehensively overwhelmed by the one different Italian producer on the grid.
“I might say that the monitor had a destructive affect, however I imagine that [general manager] Gigi [Dall’Igna] is completely on level,” he informed Sky Sport in Italian. “After taking 4 slaps within the face, as a result of that is the reality, there might be tracks that can reveal the true values.
“Aside from Brazil, which is a brand new monitor for everybody, I imagine that Austin, Qatar, and Jerez will reveal the fact of the scenario.”
Davide Tardozzi, Group Supervisor Ducati
Photograph by: Gold and Goose Images / LAT Photographs / through Getty Photographs
Aprilia has emerged as probably the most credible risk to Ducati’s dominance in recent times, with Bezzecchi main the Noale-based marque to new heights after becoming a member of from VR46 in 2025.
Nonetheless, coming into the brand new season, there have been nonetheless query marks over whether or not Aprilia will be capable of maintain a title problem over the complete season in opposition to the Desmosedici, which has traditionally carried out nicely on all kinds of tracks.
Hailing Aprilia’s ascent in MotoGP, Tardozzi mentioned Marquez was already discovering it onerous to maintain tempo with Bezzecchi earlier than his 2025 marketing campaign was reduce brief in Indonesia.
“Properly, it is apparent that Aprilia has completed an important job and that Bezzecchi is in nice form,” mentioned the previous rider. “However I feel it has been that approach for the reason that center of final yr, as a result of let’s do not forget that Marc had an accident, however in earlier races he at all times struggled to beat him.
“That mentioned, hats off to Aprilia, as a result of they have been actually sturdy. Then we have to work on what we’re considering, we won’t hold something within the drawers anymore, now we have to carry out the whole lot we have got, however I feel Gigi is completely conscious of that, so I might say that our responsibility is to place the Ducati riders again able to battle for the rostrum.”
Ducati loved a robust finish to pre-season testing in Buriram final month, with manufacturing facility riders Marquez and Bagnaia that includes close to the highest of the timesheets on each a single lap and longer runs.
Nonetheless, that early testing tempo didn’t translate into huge ends in the Thailand GP, with each Aprilia and KTM’s Pedro Acosta edging out the Ducatis on Sunday.
Tardozzi admitted that the Desmosedici bundle wasn’t as aggressive throughout the grand prix weekend as testing had prompt.
“All Ducati riders suffered from the change in situations in comparison with the exams. The monitor modified, the humidity was completely different too, one thing modified and the efficiency of all Ducati bikes dropped a bit of. Clearly, this wasn’t the case for different bikes, reminiscent of Acosta’s KTM and the Aprilias. That mentioned, it isn’t an excuse, however we have to perceive why it occurred.”
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