Alex Marquez Experiments with 2025 Ducati Aerodynamics at Valencia MotoGP Season Closer

Valencia, Spain – Alex Marquez, the Gresini Racing MotoGP rider, seized the opportunity during practice sessions at the Valencia Grand Prix to evaluate a prototype aerodynamic package slated for the 2025 Ducati machinery. This evaluation precedes his scheduled initial run on the new GP26 bike during the post-season test at the same Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

Marquez, who has been campaigning on the year-old GP24 throughout the 2024 season, took to the track on Friday with a motorcycle sporting noticeable aerodynamic revisions. The younger of the Marquez brothers dedicated a significant portion of the day to assessing these upgrades, which mirror the aero package employed by the factory Ducati riders during the current season. He subsequently reverted to a more familiar configuration for the time attack runs later in the afternoon.

The 29-year-old Marquez is expected to continue comparing the two aerodynamic specifications during the remaining practice sessions before deciding which version to utilize in both the sprint race and Sunday’s main grand prix.

Marquez explained that the team opted to expedite the aero package test due to anticipated cold temperatures during Tuesday’s post-season Valencia test. "I tried the aero," Marquez stated. "The plan was to try [it] on Tuesday. But we already started trying a few things over the weekend because Tuesday will be quite a cold day, and we won’t have a lot of hours on track with a good temperature."

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He added, "We need to anticipate some things, so we can focus more on the important things during the test on Tuesday."

At the conclusion of Friday’s practice sessions, Marquez secured fourth position on the timesheets, trailing the pace-setter, Pedro Acosta on the factory KTM, by just over two tenths of a second.

Marquez acknowledged that the aero testing diverted attention from the usual set-up refinements on Friday. He emphasized his willingness to experiment with new components, having already secured second place in the riders’ standings within the independent teams.

"We focused more on trying different packages and not extracting the potential from the bike [or] improving our set-up, so tomorrow we’ll have double work," he said.

"I’m trying a few things because I’m more relaxed, I don’t fight for nothing now in the championship, so I can try the things and I’m enjoying it. Trying [new] things is something that I like, so tomorrow we’ll focus again on some packages – I will decide which one and then we’ll try to extract [the most from it]."

Marquez refrained from offering a comprehensive evaluation of the aerodynamic package utilized by his brother, Marc Marquez, along with Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio di Giannantonio this season. However, he noted that the knowledge of the parts’ proven performance by the factory Ducati riders instilled confidence.

"It’s different. It’s one aero that already the three official guys tried during the season, but they [Ducati] wanted more information, they also wanted other common riders [to try them]," he said.

"Since these are things that have already been tested by other riders, you’re not as cautious because you know those parts work and that they’re not going to do anything unexpected. You’re a bit more confident."

Contextual Background

Alex Marquez’s transition to Gresini Racing for the 2023 season marked a significant turning point in his MotoGP career. After a challenging stint with the factory Honda team, followed by a year with LCR Honda, Marquez found a renewed sense of competitiveness aboard the Ducati machinery. His debut season with Gresini saw him secure a victory at the Silverstone circuit, along with several podium finishes, demonstrating his potential on a competitive bike.

The 2024 season has seen Marquez consistently challenge for top positions, often outperforming his teammate. His consistency has cemented his position as a key rider within the Ducati satellite teams. Securing second place in the independent teams’ standings reflects his strong performances throughout the year, and allows him the freedom to experiment in the final race weekend.

The Valencia Grand Prix holds particular significance as the final race of the 2024 season, and also serves as a crucial testing ground for manufacturers as they prepare for the 2025 campaign. The post-season test, scheduled for the Tuesday following the race, provides teams with a valuable opportunity to evaluate new components and prototype machinery.

Ducati’s dominance in recent MotoGP seasons has been attributed, in part, to its aggressive development program and willingness to innovate. The introduction of new aerodynamic packages has played a crucial role in enhancing the performance of their Desmosedici machinery. The factory Ducati riders, Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini, have been instrumental in providing feedback and validating new aerodynamic concepts.

The data collected from Alex Marquez’s testing of the 2025-spec aero package will be invaluable to Ducati’s engineers as they refine the design and prepare for the upcoming season. The feedback from a rider outside of the factory team provides an independent perspective, and allows the factory to broaden the range of feedback regarding the new components.

The decision to have Marquez test the aero package during the race weekend, rather than solely during the post-season test, reflects the importance of gathering data under race conditions. The demands of a race weekend, with its varying track conditions and competitive pressures, provide a more realistic assessment of the aero package’s performance.

The colder temperatures anticipated for the post-season test also influenced the decision to expedite the testing program. Colder track temperatures can affect tire performance and overall grip levels, potentially skewing the results of the aero testing. By conducting initial tests during the race weekend, when track temperatures are typically warmer, the team can obtain more reliable data.

The Gresini Racing team, under the leadership of Nadia Padovani, has established itself as a competitive force within the MotoGP paddock. The team’s close relationship with Ducati has enabled them to receive factory-level support and access to the latest machinery. The team’s commitment to developing young talent, as demonstrated by their support of Alex Marquez, has contributed to their success.

The Valencia Grand Prix also marks the final race for Marc Marquez with the factory Honda team. His departure to Gresini Racing for the 2025 season has been one of the most talked about moves of the MotoGP season. The opportunity to ride a Ducati, widely considered the most competitive bike on the grid, is expected to revitalize Marquez’s career. His data and feedback from riding the Honda over the last few years will be invaluable to Ducati as they work to ensure that the transition from Honda to Ducati is as smooth as possible.

Looking Ahead

As the Valencia Grand Prix weekend progresses, Alex Marquez will continue to evaluate the 2025-spec aero package. His feedback, along with the data collected by the team, will play a crucial role in shaping Ducati’s development plans for the upcoming season.

The post-season test on Tuesday will provide further opportunities for Marquez to refine his understanding of the new aero package and begin adapting his riding style to the GP26 machinery. The results of these tests will be closely scrutinized by Ducati’s engineers as they strive to maintain their competitive edge in the fiercely contested MotoGP championship.

The outcome of the Valencia Grand Prix, both in terms of Marquez’s performance and the data collected from the aero testing, will set the stage for an exciting 2025 season. The ongoing development and refinement of aerodynamic packages will continue to be a key area of focus for all MotoGP manufacturers as they seek to extract every last tenth of a second from their machines.

The final race of the 2024 season is shaping up to be a significant event, not only for the championship contenders, but also for the future development of MotoGP technology. Alex Marquez’s willingness to experiment and provide valuable feedback underscores his commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance. His performance will be closely monitored as the season draws to a close.