Ducati finished the opening round of MotoGP in Thailand in third place on the constructors’ leaderboard, marking its lowest position after the first race since 2014.
This ranking is somewhat misleading, as lead rider Marc Marquez appeared set to earn a significant number of points before suffering a wheel rim failure on his Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Unlike last year’s 1-2-3-4 finish at the Thailand Grand Prix, Ducati is now not seen as the top bike contender in Buriram.
So, how concerned should Ducati be? Here are three key questions that may help clarify the situation.
Was it just the rear casing?
Many Ducati riders entered the race weekend knowing it might not favor them, blaming the reinforced tyre carcass from Michelin for their struggles in Thailand.
Last year, a harder tyre construction was linked to Ducati’s lackluster performance in Mandalika, with only Fermin Aldeguer – who missed this weekend due to injury – managing to adapt effectively.
“I hope and expect that this season will have some strange situations,” remarked Alex Marquez, expressing the need for calm amid the performance issues. “We have to work, but it’s essential to avoid panic.”
Is the Aprilia genuinely this strong?
Although Pedro Acosta is leading the championship out of Buriram, he likely isn’t Ducati’s primary concern.
Acosta delivered an impressive performance all weekend, but sustaining that level of excellence over a full season is a tall order.
However, Aprilia seemed to have a general advantage over Ducati at this venue, and only Jorge Martin’s lack of full fitness prevented an even greater demonstration of the RS-GP’s prowess.
Will anyone else step up?
A misfortunate incident for the physically struggling Marc Marquez highlighted the thin margin between a decent and disastrous outcome for Ducati.
An over-reliance on a 33-year-old returning from a serious injury poses a potential risk, despite Marquez’s ability to ‘carry’ the team even when less than fully fit.
While Fabio Di Giannantonio fulfilled much of his expected role, other Ducati riders like Alex Marquez, Bagnaia, and Franco Morbidelli fell short.
Bagnaia’s performance, in particular, raised alarms as he struggled to match his teammates in speed, showing that the change in track conditions had a harsher impact on him compared to his peers.
