Ducati gave an updated engine to three of its MotoGP riders at the Thai GP
This comes after Ducati originally announced that all six of its riders will use last year's engine in the 2025 campaign
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Team Gresini
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, Autosport 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 will use last year’s engine for the 2025 season, following feedback from its two factory riders, Marc Marquez and Bagnaia, 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 Autosport.
“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”.
Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing, Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Team Gresini
Ducati dominated the 2024 campaign winning 19 of 20 grands prix and it carried that form into the 2025 Thailand Grand Prix weekend.
Marc Marquez dominated on his factory Ducati debut winning the sprint race and grand prix, while younger brother Alex of Gresini and 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.
Share Or Save This Story
Top Comments
What Trackhouse saw in Ogura that made him a surprise MotoGP signing
Why this is the most extraordinary version of Marc Marquez in MotoGP
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing for the better
Ducati will not agree to Aprilia's special request for Martin, says Tardozzi
Room to improve for Bagnaia on Fridays in battle against MotoGP team-mate Marquez
The talent-outweighing ambition that will kill Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP title hopes
Hamilton: Verstappen's radio "far worse" than me and Adami
Obituary: Team owner Eddie Jordan who brought rock and roll to F1
Porsche to make full-time return to British GT3 in 2025
Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan dies aged 76
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing for the better
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
