Ducati Faces New Threat as Aprilia Shines in Argentina MotoGP
Ducati is warned of potential threats from Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura in the Argentina MotoGP. Qualifying will be key due to difficult track conditions, with Yamaha and Honda hopeful about their performances as well. The upcoming race will serve as an important indicator of each manufacturer’s competitiveness this season.
The second MotoGP round of 2025 has highlighted the major threat Ducati may face: Aprilia. After an impressive performance at the Thailand Grand Prix, where Marc Marquez and Ducati riders dominated, attention now shifts to Argentina, where Marco Bezzecchi’s previous triumphs on a VR46 Ducati signal potential for Aprilia’s strong showing. Rookie Ai Ogura also demonstrated promising capabilities in Thailand and could continue that momentum despite Jorge Martin’s injury.
Marco Bezzecchi is pinpointed as a key contender for the Argentina MotoGP. According to Lewis Duncan on the Crash MotoGP podcast, “The Aprilia generally, in these conditions, works well. It has a strong front end, it’s a good agile bike.” Bezzecchi’s performance in Thailand showed potential, although he faces challenges in qualifying. His goal is to refine his technique and uncover the bike’s limits.
Friday’s practice sessions will be critical due to tricky track conditions, which significantly affect qualifying performance. Duncan indicated that success on this day is key, stating, “If you come through that in a good place, the job is almost half-done.”
Doubts persist regarding Yamaha and Honda’s capabilities going into Argentina. Yamaha has yet to turn pre-season promise into results, with Thailand revealing a disappointing performance. Duncan believes that a return to normal tire specifications in Argentina could help, as Yamaha needs to find their competitive edge to validate their potential.
Regarding Honda, Lewis Duncan noted that Johann Zarco finished seventh in Thailand, suggesting slight improvement. Despite struggles with traction and speed, Honda’s competitive performance is promising ahead of circuits like Austin and Jerez, which historically favor their bike design. Duncan remarked, “Argentina will be interesting because it will give us more of an idea of where the Japanese manufacturers are.”
In summary, Ducati must prepare for potential competition from Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura in the upcoming Argentina MotoGP. Meanwhile, Yamaha and Honda need to demonstrate their abilities to establish themselves as serious contenders moving forward in the season.
Ducati faces significant competition from Aprilia in the upcoming Argentina MotoGP, especially from Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura. Qualifying performance will be critical due to challenging track conditions. Yamaha and Honda are striving to improve their standings, with Yamaha needing to validate their potential and Honda looking for insights into their competitive edge. Overall, the Argentina circuit will be pivotal in revealing the capabilities of all manufacturers involved in the championship race.
Original Source: www.crash.net
