2025 Season Thread

[p4p1]

Thought it was a good idea for things that may not be in discussion about a particular round.

Looking early on in the season, it should be a strong advantage to MM over Pecco. The next 3 out of 4 races are at some of MMs strongest tracks with Argentina, USA and Jerez all coming up. It is conceivable that MM could heard to Qatar with a 32+ point lead then onto Jerez where anything he may lose to Pecco at Qatar he makes up in the 5th round of the season. France (R6) is another strong MM track while Pecco has had one podium, which came last year and was behind Marquez. Pecco really needs to bank as many points as possible early in the season before his favoured tracks come up, otherwise he could end up in another situation like last year, where Martin didn't need to take risks and could just cruise to get the points he needed for the championship.

Looking at the calendar it doesn't appear to me that Pecco has a run like MMs early this season where it is basically tracks that favour himself not broken up by tracks that favour his rival. Tracks that I would consider stronger for Pecco generally have a round that in theory favours MM after them. IE At Silverstone and Mugello, tracks I expect Pecco to take more points than MM in but in the middle of those two rounds is Aragon, which I think we all expect MM to take more points than Pecco at. Maybe it is that I expect more tracks will favour Marquez over Pecco but it will be harder for Pecco to put championship pressure on MM when 'his' tracks are often broken up by 'MM' tracks.

 

[p4p1]

I'm interested to see what KTM can do from here, Binder was 9th and 6th in the sprint and GP respectively last year, while Acosta had a DNF and a podium finish. Miller managed 5th in the GP, so I don't think you can say that last year, the track was bad for the KTM. The sprint race was about 4 seconds slower than the sprint last year. It could be a long year for the KTM boys if it wasn't a track related issue and they just haven't made the same step everyone else has. Given their troubles over the summer break, you couldn't be surprised if that was the case.

 

[JCtx]

The way I see this season, it could unravel rather differently than before... and NOT in Pecco's favor. What I mean by that is that MM is so comfortable on the new bike that he's apparently riding it in different riding styles (reason for his lower tire pressure yesterday), and still faster than everybody else. That could mean the tracks where he was weak before, might not be the case anymore. Or at least less so than before. Guess we'll have to wait until Qatar, to test my theory. Ha ha.

 

[Sennas_Caress]

KTM have stopped functioning as an ordinary motorcycle company somewhere around October - November last year.

They have been given a chance to survive, for a while at least.

I can't see them being able to develop this bike at the rate others do.

They'll slip further back, lose Acosta and either fold as a company or sell their spot to BMW.

 

[MichaelBolton]

That could mean the tracks where he was weak before, might not be the case anymore. Or at least less so than before. Guess we'll have to wait until Qatar, to test my theory. Ha ha.

Marc was weak in Qatar because the Honda was weak in Qatar. It could very well be that former bogey tracks become now a talisman for him. I still don't know how current Marc compares to pre-injury Marc but he has never had a bike this good in his career. The Ducati doesnt show weaknesses in any circuit. The thought of it is scary.

 

[JPSLotus]

Marc was weak in Qatar because the Honda was weak in Qatar. It could very well be that former bogey tracks become now a talisman for him. I still don't know how current Marc compares to pre-injury Marc but he has never had a bike this good in his career. The Ducati doesnt show weaknesses in any circuit. The thought of it is scary.

I'm really curious to see how he gets on at Losail this season now that he has the bike under him to give him a victory there. Same with Mugello.

 

[PRS717]

I'm really curious to see how he gets on at Losail this season now that he has the bike under him to give him a victory there. Same with Mugello.

My memory is terrible but didn't they shorten the run to the finish line at Losail?

 

[#22]

Thought it was a good idea for things that may not be in discussion about a particular round.

Looking early on in the season, it should be a strong advantage to MM over Pecco. The next 3 out of 4 races are at some of MMs strongest tracks with Argentina, USA and Jerez all coming up. It is conceivable that MM could heard to Qatar with a 32+ point lead then onto Jerez where anything he may lose to Pecco at Qatar he makes up in the 5th round of the season. France (R6) is another strong MM track while Pecco has had one podium, which came last year and was behind Marquez. Pecco really needs to bank as many points as possible early in the season before his favoured tracks come up, otherwise he could end up in another situation like last year, where Martin didn't need to take risks and could just cruise to get the points he needed for the championship.

Looking at the calendar it doesn't appear to me that Pecco has a run like MMs early this season where it is basically tracks that favour himself not broken up by tracks that favour his rival. Tracks that I would consider stronger for Pecco generally have a round that in theory favours MM after them. IE At Silverstone and Mugello, tracks I expect Pecco to take more points than MM in but in the middle of those two rounds is Aragon, which I think we all expect MM to take more points than Pecco at. Maybe it is that I expect more tracks will favour Marquez over Pecco but it will be harder for Pecco to put championship pressure on MM when 'his' tracks are often broken up by 'MM' tracks.

Looking at the historic results, the strong tracks for Baganaia are traditionally:

Catalunya
Jerez
Mugello
Assen
Red Bull Ring
Sepang.

Now, as others have said. Marc in effect hasn;t had many weak tracks, more his equipment has. That said, he has admitted that tracks like Qatar and Sepang are not his stronger ones, but that at Sepang in the recent test he found something that 'allowed him to ride in a good way'. So, without getting carried away..it could be ominous.

As 2019 showed, and it's up for debate if he can repeat his pre-injury form, Marc can be ultra consistent when he needs to be. Bagnaia on the other hand, hasn't, and in fact it was what cost him the title last yr.

KTM have stopped functioning as an ordinary motorcycle company somewhere around October - November last year.

They have been given a chance to survive, for a while at least.

I can't see them being able to develop this bike at the rate others do.

They'll slip further back, lose Acosta and either fold as a company or sell their spot to BMW.

They certinly don't look good at the moment and I can see Acosta throwing his toys out of the pram before long if things don;t improve. Traditionally, KTM (Binder) have been strong at the start of the season, but not this yr.

Will Acosta's management be pushing for a 2027 Lenovo Ducati ride?

Marc was weak in Qatar because the Honda was weak in Qatar. It could very well be that former bogey tracks become now a talisman for him. I still don't know how current Marc compares to pre-injury Marc but he has never had a bike this good in his career. The Ducati doesnt show weaknesses in any circuit. The thought of it is scary.

I posted an article yesterday that some people close to him say 2025 Marc is better than 2019 Marc. If that is true, and he has a GP25 under him, that could be a scary thought.

 

[Sennas_Caress]

I wouldn't say leaving a sinking ship to be throwing your toys out of the pram.

He is clearly pushing every single session. Same as Quartararo. The latter though has been presented with a business plan that has been followed up by concrete action.

Acosta deserves a bike that can challenge for podiums.

I'm quietly hoping that HRC have got their act together, and can present him and Ai with a package that they cannot refuse.


Just imagine a competitive Ducati corse, a resurgent Yamaha, Noale being guided by the former world champion and HRC able to win again....

 

[El Español]

I don't want to see Acosta with HRC. I don't like the guy and I like the factory. He wouldn't be a good fit there, the Japanese are not going to like working with him and his attitude of a spoiled brat. I'd prefer him to stay where he is and either prove me wrong and rise against the odds or sink with that ship.