Marc Marquez's arrival at Ducati has shaken the MotoGP world. Antonio Jimenez, an iconic figure in the paddock and former collaborator of Aleix Espargaró at Aprilia, gave his analysis of this situation in a recent interview. For the Spaniard, this new situation promises a particularly exciting 2025 championship.
Antonio Jimenez, one of the most respected technicians in the MotoGP paddock, continues to shape the future of the championship with his unrivalled expertise. In recent years, Jiménez has been a key part of the development ofAprilia, working closely with Aleix Espargaró. In 2025, he added a new dimension to his career by accompanying the Granollers rider, in his role as test rider at Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).
Latest guest of the channel YouTube #ZamTube, Jimenez shared his thoughts on the major changes expected for next season, including the long-awaited arrival of Marc Marquez in the official Ducati team.
The announcement of Marc Marquez in red Ducati was like a stone thrown into the peaceful pond of MotoGP, creating ripples that shook the established order. The first wave was the departure of Jorge Martin de Ducati to join the court ofAprilia, taking with him the title of World Champion. Although not necessarily the favorite for the title this year, Jimenez don't underestimate it:
« Perhaps the rider who makes the difference at Aprilia has arrived " he said, remembering this… " When I was at Yamaha, in 2000, for me the bike was a good bike, maybe we were missing the champion. Valentino Rossi arrived and with that bike he won the first race and won the world championship.. So that means the job has been done, a good job has been done. So maybe we were missing the driver that makes the difference ».
Antonio Jimenez: " Bagnaia has won eleven races, so Marquez must win twelve »
On this reflection, he continues: “ Like Valentino in 2003, Jorge Martin has become world champion. He will surely have many victories, many podiums, many pole positions, but he will have to fight with a Bagnaia and a Marc Marquez. Other than that, for me, The three drivers for next year are them ».
Jimenez stresses the importance of the pilot and the machine: “ The rider makes the difference with a good bike, of course. The example will be, in theory, Marc Marquez next year. He will have to win at least 12 races. Bagnaia has won eleven races, so Marquez must win twelve. The rider makes the difference when he has the right bike. And we all know that the right bike, at the end of 2024, was the Ducati. In 2025, everything can change, of course. »
With two great champions at Ducati, Jiménez sees both an opportunity and a challenge: “ The sporting challenge is nice because we have two completely different drivers. A great, calm Pecco, but with spectacular driving when he lowers his visor and becomes another person. Then we have Marc Marquez, whose objective we know, is to win 10 world championships. A very aggressive and completely different driving. The problem, for me, will not be a sporting problem. It will rather be a management problem within the team. "He says.
Confident in the team's abilities, Jimenez concludes: I think the hardest work will be for Tardozzi, he will have to manage it, but we know he is capable of it. So the important thing at the end of the day is that I think for Ducati, they will have to let the races finish. Because now, on paper, They can be first or second almost every Sunday and Saturday. From time to time we will see Martin. But at the end of the season, unless things change a lot, on paper Ducati with Marquez and Pecco are the two men to beat »
Antonio Jimenez sees a high-tension season in 2025. The presence of Marquez et bagnaia in Ducati promises exciting duels, while George Martin will try to confirm his status as World Champion at Aprilia.