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KTM’s Pol Espargaro Predicts Shift in MotoGP Dynamics Against Ducati
KTM test rider Pol Espargaro anticipates a gradual decline in Ducati’s dominance in MotoGP starting next year, attributing this shift to the significant changes within Ducati’s racing program.
After participating as a wildcard competitor in last week’s Austrian Grand Prix, Espargaro expressed his belief that Ducati will acutely feel the impact of losing key riders Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini, and the Pramac team in 2025.
During the recent race at Spielberg, Ducati showcased its power with an impressive performance, placing seven bikes in the top 10, featuring both the GP24 and the previous year’s GP23 models.
Despite praising Ducati’s success—primarily due to team boss Gigi Dall’Igna’s meticulous, Formula 1-inspired approach and the brand’s expansion to eight bikes across four teams—Espargaro speculates that the manufacturer’s peak may be starting to wane. The anticipated reduction to six bikes, following the departure of two victorious riders, could pose significant challenges for Ducati.
“Ducati has maintained a superior edge, which stems from a sustained data advantage over the years that other manufacturers have struggled to match,” Espargaro noted. “Their speed in development is remarkable, attributed to having numerous bikes on the track compared to teams with two or, at most, four. The reduction in their on-track presence will significantly alter the competitive landscape.”
Ducati’s Future Challenges
Espargaro believes that the negative trends for Ducati will start to emerge as early as next season, following the loss of a team and several fast riders. He posits that these changes will lead to more balanced competition.
At KTM’s home race in Austria, however, the performance was less than satisfactory. The best result for the team came from Brad Binder, who finished fifth, notably trailing winner Francesco Bagnaia by nearly 19 seconds. Espargaro himself secured 11th place aboard KTM’s test bike, while teammates Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez barely made it into points, finishing 13th and 15th, respectively.
Insights on KTM’s Position
Despite the sizeable gap to Ducati, Espargaro found some consolation in the team’s positioning, having placed as the first non-Ducati bike on the leaderboard. “Although the time difference was significant, it was clear that we were not alone in feeling the pressure from Ducati,” he remarked. “For instance, Aprilia faced similar challenges, with Aleix Espargaro finishing two seconds ahead of me.”
Espargaro acknowledged that KTM had arrived with high hopes for the race and expected to perform better than they did. He concluded, “Ultimately, it is incredibly challenging to contest against the strength of the Ducatis this year.”
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