We dwell within the age of immediacy, and that brings each benefits and downsides. Within the media world, there may be barely any time left for the form of reflection that provides true perspective. The simple steps made by Aprilia this yr led many daring voices to assert that Ducati’s dominance in latest seasons was now underneath menace from the Noale producer – one which has present in the pillar that couldn’t present whereas being stricken by damage.
Nonetheless, a deep dive into the info from this season means that the Ducati stagnation so typically mentioned within the paddock is nothing greater than an phantasm.
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Ducati’s absolute numbers this yr fell in need of its spectacular 2024 season. However final yr was a record-breaking marketing campaign for the crimson bikes: 19 wins from a doable 20 (95%), 53 podiums out of 60 (88.3%), and a clear sweep of the podium in 14 grands prix. In complete, Ducati scored 722 factors out of a most of 740 – an astonishing 98% strike fee.
This time round, the figures aren’t fairly as extraordinary, however they aren’t far off both: 17 wins from 22 races (77.3%), which was achieved by 4 completely different riders. Add to that 44 podiums from 66 (66.6%) and 7 grands prix with three Ducati riders on the rostrum. In the long run, the manufacturing facility collected 768 factors out of a doable 814, or 94% of the utmost factors accessible over the 2025 season.
The opulence of 2024 has waned, sure, however the concept the 2025 statistics are considerably weaker is much much less clear. The truth is, this has nonetheless been the second-best season in Ducati’s historical past. And, crucially, a number of elements have had an simple impression on the slight regression.
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Two of these elements stand out above all: Ducati went from working eight bikes to 6, and – its spearhead – suffered a severe damage in the beginning of the Indonesian Grand Prix. Because of the harm to his already wearied proper arm, he missed the ultimate 4 rounds of the season. Coincidence or not, three of Aprilia’s 4 wins this yr (Australia, Portugal, and Valencia) got here throughout the interval when Marquez was absent.
Additionally it is price noting that till Australia – the primary race Marquez missed – Ducati had received 16 of the 18 occasions held, with the one exceptions being Silverstone, the place Bezzecchi triumphed after ’s Yamaha engine expired, and Le Mans, the place the rain handed and his Honda an unlikely alternative.
Moreover, Pramac’s departure – changing into Yamaha’s satellite tv for pc workforce – meant Ducati misplaced two Desmosedicis on the grid, a 25% discount in firepower. And never simply any quarter, however the reigning world championship workforce from 2024, which had contributed three wins and 16 podiums by means of Martin, who finally turned that yr’s world champion.
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Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing
Aprilia, for its half, climbed from one win in 2024 ( in Austin) to 4 this season – three from Bezzecchi and one from (Australia). That lone Texas victory in 2024 had additionally been the workforce’s solely podium in an in any other case tough yr, whereas in 2025 Aprilia uncorked the Prosecco 11 occasions. Its 302-point tally from final yr (41% of the entire accessible) have grown to 418 factors (51.4%) – a rise of 10 share factors.
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Recording the second-largest enchancment amongst producers, surpassed solely by Honda, is actually cause to be proud. However believing this routinely makes Aprilia a real menace to Ducati is a conclusion that even Bezzecchi doesn’t share – a minimum of not but.
“We want to be rivals of Ducati, however yearly is a brand new story and nothing might be taken with no consideration,” Bezzecchi mentioned in Valencia, earlier than securing his third win that very same Sunday.
“We should maintain this mentality of specializing in our work. Ducati will begin because the favorite. Marc received the title with 5 races to spare, so two victories aren’t sufficient for me to think about myself at his stage.”
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