Ducati gave updated engine to three of its MotoGP riders at Thai GP

Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio all raced with a different engine compared to Ducati’s other MotoGP riders at the 2025 season-opener in Thailand, Motorsport.com has learned. 

The three riders used a more up-to-date model, while Alex Marquez, Franco Morbidelli and Fermin Aldeguer raced with the 2024 specification last weekend. 

This comes after Ducati initially announced that all six of its Desmosedicis would use last year’s engine for the 2025 season, following feedback from its riders after testing. 

But the Italian marque has now gone against its announcement, with two different types of engines being used by the reigning manufacturers’ champion.

"Indeed, they are two different specifications,” a Ducati spokesperson confirmed to Motorsport.com. “The one for Marc, Pecco and Diggia includes some small changes compared to the one for Alex, Franco and Fermin.”

"In the more modern specification, we have taken into account Marc and Pecco's comments," added the spokesperson, who emphasised that the differences between the two models "are small”.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Ducati dominated the 2024 campaign, winning 19 of 20 grands prix, and it carried that form into the 2025 Thailand Grand Prix.

Marc Marquez dominated on his factory Ducati debut winning the sprint race and grand prix, while younger brother Alex of Gresini and Marc’s team-mate Bagnaia joined him on the podium in both contests.

Morbidelli made it an all-Ducati top four in the main race, while di Giannantonio was down in 10th with Aldeguer three spots lower.

As it was the first grand prix weekend of the season, the manufacturers that are required to freeze their engines had to homologate what they will use in Buriram.

This included Ducati, Aprilia and KTM, as Honda and Yamaha were excluded due to concessions that favour those at the back allowing them to develop the power unit throughout the campaign. 

In the homologation, Aprilia and KTM submitted an engine to the technical staff of the International Road Racing Teams’ Association (IRTA), which will serve as a sample for the relevant checks across 2025. Ducati, for its part, submitted both engines that were eventually used by its riders.