2025 Season Thread

[El Español]

I really should feed a troll....but here goes.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2023...n-pedro-acosta-di-mata-legenda-spanyol/486038

https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/motog...edro-acosta-this-rookie-is-really-incredible/

https://www.motogpnews.com/2025/02/...ta-is-already-better-than-brad-binder-at-ktm/


As for unnecessary mistakes... #Location

A couple of riders who have never been around him enough to make a definitive judgment on his personality who are also happen to be his countrymen a.k.a just crazy biased . And a dude working for a factory that simply doesn't have a championship caliber talent and praying that Acosta won't leave them before his contract is up because if he does they are going to be left with a bunch of have beens. The truth hurts when you're a fanboy but it is what it is, mate.

Also +999 to IQ for spotting my location. Top job there.

 

[MotoMundo]

I don't think there will be anyone who can legitimately challenge Pecco and Marc.

The only one would be Martin. Apparently Aprilia has a good base (Ogura and Bezz did a good job in this first GP). Martin would probably get a podium if he were in the Japanese's place.

Of course, technically Quartararo and Acosta have the ability to do so, but they don't have the equipment to compete.

Alex was a "surprise", I mean, he has the tools. But you never look at him as a favorite. I believe he can be a constant presence on the podium and take some points off the official ones.
Morbidelli should be that person, because he is the most experienced in GP24 among the satelites Desmo.
We'll see if DiGia can keep up too, he has an updated bike, but he's physically inferior.
Aldeguer doesn't enter the equation.

Anyway, believing that PB63 and MM93 will monopolize the victories, I made a chart where I think each one will finish ahead of the other in the season. And it's very balanced.

What do you think?

 

[JFM01]

Is Raul’s mechanical an indication that Aprilia reliability problems continue, making Martin’s defense even more difficult?

I don't think a title defense was ever on the cards.
That's why I was sweating blood every race last year. I wanted Jörg to win the title so bad because 2024 was his last chance to win the title for at least three years.

Of course the way this season started sucks for him but he's better off sitting out a few more races rather than worsening his injury with a premature comeback.

 

[michaelm]

I don't think a title defense was ever on the cards.
That's why I was sweating blood every race last year. I wanted Jörg to win the title so bad because 2024 was his last chance to win the title for at least three years.

Of course the way this season started sucks for him but he's better off sitting out a few more races rather than worsening his injury with a premature comeback.

Yes he need look no further than MM himself to know the danger of coming back too soon. I tend to think no rider no matter how good can beat both factory Ducati riders in the next 2 years riding an Aprilia as you are probably implying. He is not all that old, and likely will have good choices after the conclusion of the 2026 season, possibly including a Ducati factory ride.

 

[Mrpurple]

I have a hard time seeing JM getting podiums on the Ape, maybe but I dont see it.

Go Duke or go home imo...

 

[Barbedwirebikerr]

I have a hard time seeing JM getting podiums on the Ape, maybe but I dont see it.

Go Duke or go home imo...

Jorge has the one lap pace to qualify well, along with the aggressiveness required to get up and stay near the front during opening laps. I think the Aprilia will be good enough, sometimes, that Martin will have multiple podiums this year.

 

[JCtx]

I see Martin as the new Marquez, in both aggressiveness and talent, now that he's older and less aggressive (mostly due to crippling injuries). So I agree with possible multiple podiums this year. We'll just have to see how quickly he adapts to the new bike.

 

[mikesbytes]

Last year we saw the Aprila work quite a bit better at some tracks than others while the Ducati was excellent at most tracks and really good at the others. If this is similar this year then we will see Martin on the podium occasionally

 

[JFM01]

He is not all that old, and likely will have good choices after the conclusion of the 2026 season, possibly including a Ducati factory ride.

I don't see an opening at factory Ducati after 2026. I previously thought Marc might call it quits after next season but I would say it's more likely he keeps going until 2027 or 28.
2027 will be a complete reset though. Maybe (hopefully) there will be a more level playing field.

Last year we saw the Aprila work quite a bit better at some tracks than others while the Ducati was excellent at most tracks and really good at the others. If this is similar this year then we will see Martin on the podium occasionally

Yeah I could see him battling for #3 with Alex and Diggia in the second half of the year.
While we've seen only one race, Ai wasn't too far off the podium in that one. Jörg should absolutely be able to fight for podiums when he's fit.

 

[JCtx]

I previously thought Marc might call it quits after next season but I would say it's more likely he keeps going until 2027 or 28.

I agree with that... BUT his body has to agree too. Ha ha. And that could be the problem. MotoGP is WAY more demanding physically than F1, or any other car racing series. He could move to that, but not sure if that attracts him. It'll be interesting to see what he does post retirement.

 

[p4p1]

I agree with that... BUT his body has to agree too. Ha ha. And that could be the problem. MotoGP is WAY more demanding physically than F1, or any other car racing series. He could move to that, but not sure if that attracts him. It'll be interesting to see what he does post retirement.

The physical demand, I don't think is an issue, as I said in another thread, he appears to be the hardest working rider training wise on the grid. Motivation and decline of reflexes is all that will stop him.

 

[JCtx]

Agreed. I was talking about in case of further body deterioration (falls, etc). Plus I don't think (and hope) Marc wouldn't be content to stay at the back of the field just for staying, like Rossi did. I think he'll accept when he's not at his peak anymore, and retire gracefully. And that just cannot happen at 40, so if all goes well, he might have 4 more years at the most. We'll see.

 

[JFM01]

Agreed. I was talking about in case of further body deterioration (falls, etc). Plus I don't think (and hope) Marc wouldn't be content to stay at the back of the field just for staying, like Rossi did. I think he'll accept when he's not at his peak anymore, and retire gracefully. And that just cannot happen at 40, so if all goes well, he might have 4 more years at the most. We'll see.

Yeah one bad crash could end his career which is why I was quite anxious last year when he appeared to try to find the limit by beginning way over the limit some weeks.

I agree that Marc is done if he can no longer compete for wins and podiums.
On the other hand, I can't really picture this guy do something other than ride motorcycles for a living. Unlike Rossi he hasn't shown a lot of interest in car racing so far but I'd love to see him do Le Mans or Indy.

Rossis longevity was remarkable but I don't think we'll see anyone ride into their 40s for quite some time. It's not like Rossi was riding at the back of the field for years though, his last podium came in 2020.

 

[p4p1]

Yeah one bad crash could end his career which is why I was quite anxious last year when he appeared to try to find the limit by beginning way over the limit some weeks.

I agree that Marc is done if he can no longer compete for wins and podiums.
On the other hand, I can't really picture this guy do something other than ride motorcycles for a living. Unlike Rossi he hasn't shown a lot of interest in car racing so far but I'd love to see him do Le Mans or Indy.

Rossis longevity was remarkable but I don't think we'll see anyone ride into their 40s for quite some time. It's not like Rossi was riding at the back of the field for years though, his last podium came in 2020.

As much as I don't like him he really only had one year at the back of the pack which was his last. 2020 he started well but getting Covid and then after Covid he didn't recover any form. I don't think Rossi was as ever as good as MM is or was, I will die on that hill, I believe proof is in the pudding and his h2h record against MM, Stoner and Lorenzo is proof of that.

 

[michaelm]

I don't see an opening at factory Ducati after 2026. I previously thought Marc might call it quits after next season but I would say it's more likely he keeps going until 2027 or 28.
2027 will be a complete reset though. Maybe (hopefully) there will be a more level playing field.

Yeah I could see him battling for #3 with Alex and Diggia in the second half of the year.
While we've seen only one race, Ai wasn't too far off the podium in that one. Jörg should absolutely be able to fight for podiums when he's fit.

Depends on a number of factors including how long Gigi is continuing and whether he wins a title or titles imo.

I could see MM returning to Honda (and Red Bull)) with whom he made his reputation if HRC are looking somewhat competitive. I also could see him retiring if he makes it to 8 premier class titles, surpassing Valentino and matching Ago, 9/11 not being a propitious number.

I agree he won’t continue if he is not competitive, which by his standards probably means for podiums most weeks and for the win some weeks, he has already said he was contemplating retirement when he was not competitive riding in suboptimal physical condition on a suboptimal bike in his latter years at Honda.

 

[JCtx]

I can't really picture this guy do something other than ride motorcycles for a living.

Me too. Ha ha. It'd be awesome if he started a motorcycle riding school, or take over Superbike School, which is already established, and the founder (who never won even one race) probably close to retirement. Can't imagine how much more successful he'd make it.

 

[mikesbytes]

MM has all the money he needs to retire and do what he wants, perhaps fly to Australia and go fishing with Stoner. He is there because he loves racing and will probably stay until such time as he no longer feels the love