Marc Marquez sets 'same lap time’ with 2024 and 2025 Ducati aero in testing

Marc Marquez claims he set the same lap time on the 2024-spec and 2025-spec Ducatis at the Misano test on Monday – simply by adjusting his riding style.

The comments by the world champion-elect cast further doubt on the notion that factory Ducati team-mate Francesco Bagnaia’s ongoing struggles on the GP25 have anything to do with the newer bike.

“I will answer honestly,” said Marquez in reply to a question about whether he saw any advantage in the older package. “I did the same lap time with a different riding style. I mean, with both [packages] I did 1m31.0s.

“And yes, they’re different. It looks like with one we have more cornering speed, and with the other one we have more braking stability. But both are working well.”

Earlier in the weekend at Misano, Ducati sporting director Mauro Grassilli confirmed the minimal differences between the GP24 and the GP25.

Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com, Grassilli said: “24 and 25 are the same bikes. Completely the same. There are some options that every rider puts on the 24 in order to be on the 25. But the base of the bike is the same.”

Bagnaia in action at the Misano test

Photo by: Mirco Lazzari GP - Getty Images

Grassilli went on to say that any small differences between the machines have more to do with engine reliability and durability than lap times.

“We have some changes, especially not for the performance, but for the maintenance of the engine, for the [durability] of the engine. [For] that we put some technical tools inside the engine. But for the rest, it’s the GP24.

“The GP25 is a 24 plus some small changes, in order to better maintain the engine. So it’s not for the performance, but it’s to maintain it.”

Ducati’s willingness to take the blame for Bagnaia’s troubles appeared to wear out at Misano. General manager Gigi Dall’Igna said on Sunday that he had “lost patience” with the situation.

Bagnaia was eighth-fastest in the test, which was topped by Pedro Acosta. That put him two spots and less than a tenth of a second behind Marquez. The under-pressure Italian revealed afterwards that he was still working on technical solutions and believed he had made progress on the day.

“We just decided to try to move some weights on the bike, to change some set-ups, to understand the direction,” said Bagnaia.

“I have to say that I was quite competitive. In terms of pace, I was super fast. I did the best lap time with 21 laps on the tyres, something that I wasn't able to do in the [most recent] races during the season.”