It's a revolution in the MotoGP paddock. For years, Ducati was THE benchmark for top speed, whether in 990cc, 800cc, or 1000cc. But at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, the myth was shattered. For the first time, the Reds from Borgo Panigale were eclipsed... by Maverick Viñales' KTM... Even though Marc Marquez saved the victory for Ducati, a shocking truth emerged: the Desmosedici is no longer the fastest in a straight line. KTM has taken the throne, and it's causing a stir.
It's been a truth etched in MotoGP stone for years: "Ducati has the fastest bike." From the 990cc era, through the 800cc and up to the current 1cc, the Borgo Panigale machines have always dominated the straight. But that dogma may have just been shattered.
When for his 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, an almost unthinkable scene occurred: the Ducatis were overtaken... in a straight line. And not by just anyone: by the KTM RC16 of Maverick Vinales.
Marc Marquez won the race, but the real shock was the performance of Casa Particular in Viñales. Long considered irregular, the Spanish driver this time proved to be incisive, fast and – surprise – untouchable in a straight line. He overtook bagnaia and Marquez full throttle, relying on the slipstream, but with such authority that it would have been unimaginable in the past, even on slipstream. In short, KTM has finally reversed the hierarchy on this ground long reserved for Ducati.
The official data is unequivocal. Here is the ranking of the best top speeds reached during the weekend at Losail:
- Brad Binder (KTM) : 358,8 km / h
- Pedro Acosta (KTM) : 358,8 km / h
- Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati) : 356,4 km/h
WHAT IS GOING ON 🤯 Maverick hits the front! #QatarGP 🇶🇦 pic.twitter.com/xqOPs7GoY0
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) April 13, 2025
Maverick Viñales, the unexpected KTM rocket from Ducati
Two KTM in the lead, ahead of the best Ducati. And Casa Particular in Viñales He wasn't far off, but it was the way he overtook him that really stood out. Ducati hadn't been dominated like that for... a very long time. And then there's this sentence, discreetly thrown out by Enea Bastianini, teammate of Casa Particular in Viñales in Tech3 : « Maverick rides a different bike than us, but I can't say more because we don't have the right to use it »
A statement heavy with innuendo. Is this a new engine upgrade? A new aerodynamic package? Or a differentiated electronic management system? Officially, Casa Particular in Viñales rolls with the same KTM RC16 that bastianiniBut this sentence sowed doubt.
Some skeptics attribute the performance of Casa Particular in Viñales to an illegal tire pressure, which earned him a 16-second penalty after the race. However, the explanation could be simpler, and even more worrying for Ducati.
KTM didn't expect that Casa Particular in Viñales rides alone, without the usual "traffic." So the team set the starting pressures too low, anticipating a natural rise due to the dirty air. But Casa Particular in Viñales stayed in the lead... and the pressures remained too low. In other words: the performance was very real, and the penalty resulted from excessive caution, not intentional cheating.
It is still difficult to say whether KTM actually found the philosopher's stone to beat Ducati. But the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez will offer a first verdict. Ducati remains the favorite… but the pressure is mounting, and not just in the tires. KTM struck a big blow to the Qatar. Ducati is warned: total domination in MotoGP is no longer guaranteed…
