Francesco Bagnaia says he can already discover a “big” distinction between Ducati’s new MotoGP prototype and the outgoing GP24 bike he took to 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’ll race in 2025 on Tuesday on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya within the official post-season check.
Finishing a complete of 56 laps, break up between the GP25, the GP24 and a hybrid model of the 2 bikes, Bagnaia ended up a powerful third on the timesheets with a lap that was 0.595s down on Gresini Ducati pacesetter Alex Marquez.
Whereas the GP25 bike he examined in Barcelona continues to be in improvement, Bagnaia was already impressed with its potential and the work Ducati has invested to keep up its MotoGP hegemony.
“We examined many issues at this time and the GP25 is an effective base to begin growing and enhancing [upon],” he stated.
“Our engineers and the staff 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 big and I believe we won’t have a giant step for Malaysia [test in February] as a result of the step [forward] was already right here.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Workforce
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
“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.”
Bagnaia admitted that there have been nonetheless some areas the place the GP25 is in reality weaker than Ducati’s 2024 contender, however he places it all the way down to the truth that the GP24 was nicely refined by the tip of the season after a full 12 months of working.
“When it comes to dealing with, the GP24 continues to be higher on the braking,” he defined. “I improved loads this 12 months with the ’24 [bike] by way of braking. We should search to go in the identical route [with the GP25].
“However the ’25 has an excellent stability by way of quick corners and I prefer it, and likewise with used tyres. That is good. And the engine may be very robust 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 comfortable about it.”
It is necessary for Ducati to begin the 2025 season with a powerful bike resulting from a mixture of the brand new engine freeze guidelines and the concession system.
The engine Ducati will homologate at first of subsequent 12 months should stay in the identical specification till the present guidelines cycle ends after 2026.