Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1542014
VOLUME ISSUE DECEMBER , P87 Having scored 700 points from a possible 728 in the 2023 Constructors' Championship, then 722 from 740 in 2024, the only way was down for Ducati. That didn't necessarily show early on in this campaign, as they locked out the season's first four podiums. But other factories soon caught up. Aprilia was the big surprise. It featured an all-new rider lineup in 2025 (with new crew chiefs), plus a new technical director in former KTM man Fabiano Sterlacchini. Yet the RS-GP went from a bike that per- formed beautifully in fast, low-grip conditions to an all-round contender. Bezzecchi's run from Assen, which resulted in two wins and eight podiums, was enough to steal third overall from Bagnaia in the champi- onship—a first for the factory. In that time, Fernandez also contributed a win and further podium. And all this despite its star signing, 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin, missing 15 of the year's 22 rounds. KTM endured a horrible winter. The negativity surrounding the com- pany entering into receivership spilled over into its MotoGP efforts. "By [the] Thailand [test], we felt this drama at home," admitted KTM Motor- sport Director Pit Beirer. "[This affected] the spirit in the group. Then we rative was always strong. And his crowning in Japan brought many of the torturous moments, from four operations on his upper right arm to overriding a woefully uncompetitive Honda, into focus. "The most difficult thing was fighting against Marc," he said of those tough moments. "One Marc said stop, the other Marc said continue. But in the end, I tried to follow my instinct, to give my 100 percent, and never give up." It wasn't just the number 93's riding that stood out. "The humanity of Marc. I didn't expect this man beyond the rider. This is the most sur - prising thing," said Ducati Corse General Manager Gigi Dall'Igna. "I don't know if he had this since he was young. He's a real man, not only a champion." The team's swing from surrounding former golden boy Bagnaia to lauding its new rider had a de - stabilizing effect on the Italian. In his place, Marc's brother Alex rose to the fore. Taking full advantage of the sorted GP24 package, his consistency (15 Sprint podiums and 12 on Sundays) was astonishing for a rider whose previous best Mo - toGP finish was eighth overall. He backed up his maiden suc- cess at Jerez with further wins in Barcelona and Malaysia. Plus, he was the lone rider that could assert that he had beaten Marc in a straight fight before the championship went to Japan. For the first time in MotoGP his - tory, brothers finished first and second in the championship. Marco Bezzecchi was the season's late standout. With a fully sorted Aprilia, he will be a challenger in 2026.