Ducati’s Major Challenge in Argentina MotoGP: Watchful Eye on Aprilia

Ducati faces a notable threat from Aprilia at the Argentina MotoGP as Marco Bezzecchi aims to build on his previous victory. While Yamaha and Honda struggle to find their footing after initial races, conditions in Argentina may shed light on their actual performance levels. Success on Friday will be essential for all teams to establish a competitive edge.

Ducati has been advised to be wary of a significant threat during the second MotoGP round of 2025 in Argentina. Having secured the top position in the Thailand Grand Prix, Ducati is looking to maintain its dominance. However, attention has shifted to Aprilia, particularly following Marco Bezzecchi’s victory at the 2023 Argentina MotoGP and his success at this track in Moto3. Rookie Ai Ogura’s promising performance in Thailand further emphasizes Aprilia’s potential.

Ducati’s potential challenge was discussed by Lewis Duncan on the Crash MotoGP podcast, who indicated that the Aprilia bike demonstrates strong handling, particularly with its front end, and that Bezzecchi has pinpointed qualifying as a current weakness. He noted, “Bezzecchi had a strong first weekend and now knows what the weak point is – at the moment, it’s qualifying.” Success on Friday will be critical for competitors given the difficult conditions that have traditionally marked the opening day of the Argentine weekend.

As for Yamaha and Honda, Yamaha showed promise during pre-season testing but did not capitalize on it in Thailand. Duncan mentioned that Argentina could better reflect Yamaha’s capabilities with the return of the standard tyre carcass. He emphasized, “If they come away more competitively than Thailand, then it’s a good indicator.” Honda, despite finishing lower in 2023 with Johann Zarco in seventh place, showed improved competitiveness. Duncan believes Argentina may reveal more about the performance of Japanese manufacturers, stating, “Argentina will be interesting because it will give us more of an idea of where the Japanese manufacturers are.”

In summary, Ducati must be vigilant of Aprilia’s potential threat in the upcoming Argentina MotoGP, particularly due to Marco Bezzecchi’s recent success. Yamaha and Honda, while having faced challenges, will also seek to showcase their true capabilities as the season progresses. The performance in Argentina could serve as a critical barometer for the competitive landscape of the MotoGP.

Original Source: www.crash.net