Neither a pure leap forward from the GP24, nor a simple copy, the Desmosedici GP25 has been intriguing since the 2025 MotoGP preseason. Tested in Sepang, adjusted before Buriram, it oscillates between innovation and a return to its roots. Marc Marquez tames it wonderfully, while Pecco Bagnaia calls for the pure GP24 for the next round in Austin. Michael Laverty, TNT Sports analyst, deciphers this hybrid machine with these elements: a perfect base, daring adjustments, and a rider who changes the game!
La Ducati Desmosedici GP25, it's a bit of an enigma in the MotoGP paddock at the start of the season. It seems to be navigating a gray area. A strange, almost hybrid state, which raises questions and fuels debate. And yet, despite the adjustments and setbacks, one thing is clear: Ducati continues to push the boundaries.
« It is difficult to improve on perfection. ", throws on crash.net Michael Laverty, MotoGP analyst at TNT Sports. And he's right. The GP24 was a near-perfect machine: it braked, turned, and accelerated like no other motorcycle had ever done before. So why change everything? Because Gigi Dall'Igna, the engineering genius at Ducati, never rests on its laurels. He likes to push the limits, he likes to take risks ", remember Laverty. And that's exactly what he did during winter testing.
Ducati modified the main frame, the engine, the swingarm and even the leveling device. Bold changes, but not without consequences. They tried to work to improve the package as a whole, and they found some improvements – It's clear to see from the first lap with Marc Marquez's domination on this bike ", Explain Laverty. However, faced with the difficulties encountered, Ducati had to backtrack, reducing the engine specifications to bring it closer to those of the GP24. An admission of failure? Not really. More of a demonstration of pragmatism.
But the most significant change this year isn't the bike – it's the rider. With the arrival of Marc Marquez in Ducati Lenovo, the balance has shifted. And the eight-time world champion has already left his mark, adjusting the bike to his personal preferences. When he was at Honda, he used a rear brake disc the size of a plate, it was enormous in terms of thickness and diameter "Says Laverty. " But now it is much more normal, it's a normal size. An adaptation that shows to what extent the Desmosedici, despite its 300 horsepower, has become a “user-friendly” machine.
Marc Marquez, the real upgrade of the Ducati GP25?
The little details make the difference, and Marquez knows it better than anyone. I like them Marc's little personal preferences – the front brake lever, for example, he likes it well positioned " notes Laverty. “He brakes with two fingers and he cut the back of the lever – sometimes you pull the lever too hard and it hits the two little fingers of the glove. It's just that detail. » Adjustments that may seem trivial, but which reveal one thing: Marquez is already in sync with his machine. And it shows on the track.
« Watching him against Pecco Bagnaia – who was arguably the strongest braker last season – Marc is already in contact in the braking zones », observes Laverty. A rivalry that promises to be explosive, especially since The two drivers have different technical preferences. " Marc uses the newer fork [with] the longer tube, Pecco likes the older shorter front fork – again, it's a personal preference. » Two approaches, two styles, but one motorcycle. And therein lies the challenge for Ducati : satisfy two champions with sometimes contradictory demands.
But the GP25 is not just about its pilots. It also embodies a technological evolution, particularly with its attitude correction device. The ride height device is semi-active in the sense that the driver activates it on the straight, then enters the corner and doesn't think about it, then it's almost automatic on the exit of the corner. " explains Laverty. An innovation that makes the difference, especially when exiting bends. " When you watch Marc come out of a corner, you get the impression that he is so comfortable : buttocks pressed against the seat cushion, front wheel floating above the ground, rear end pressed in like a drag bike, and it accelerates so well. » An image which alone sums up the mastery of Ducati in power and grip management.
However, despite these advances, the GP25 remains a motorcycle in transition. Between technical adjustments, rider preferences and the pressure of competition, Ducati is sailing in troubled waters. But one thing is certain: with pilots like Marquez et bagnaia, and a team led by a visionary like Dall'Igna, the Italian factory still has something to surprise. It remains to be seen whether the GP25 will be able to combine perfection and risks to write a new page in the history of MotoGP.
