Is the Thailand MotoGP round going to suck? If so, how badly? Let’s find out in this exclusive preview!
Ducati
The Bolognese factory didn’t even need to upgrade their machinery, as the GP24 already laps faster than a Valentino Rossi fan telling you about The Doctor’s favourite colour. Spanish Antichrist Marc Marquez should romp home with the victory, and start the short process of destroying his team-mate Pecco Bananas’s 46-encrusted soul. Alex Marquez has also been super-quick on the GP24, so anyone not called Marquez is liable to end up in the Clinica Mobile. At least it can’t be an all-Ducati top 8 any more.
Aprilia
Moody Italian Bez has been quick in testing so he should be racing towards the front of the pack. Years of VR46 training have honed his mind and body into an unruly ball of seething hatred for Marc Marquez, so he’ll be extra-angry when he inevitably gets rammed by one of the Marquez clan. Meanwhile, his team-mate Jorge Martin will be stuck at home watching on TV. The only question is how many bones the Spanish titanium consumer manages to break when he falls off the sofa while reaching for the remote.
KTM
Mysteriously saved from bankruptcy, the Austrian dirt-bike manufacturer will be operating on a Moto2 backmarker budget and are therefore likely to suck. Back in Austria, the hills won’t be alive with the sound of music as thousands of sacked factory staff watch KTM pouring its meagre funds down the drain on its ridiculous MotoGP vanity project. Although to be fair, MotoGP racing has been “in KTM’s DNA” for 8 and a bit years now (if we don’t count them very briefly producing crap MotoGP engines and hiring Shane “Barrier Magnet” Byrne not to ride with them).
Yamaha
Fabio Quartararararo has had the best of testing and the worst of testing, but now starts his season of discontent with the Yamaha’s performance. He’ll finish in his usual mid-pack position amongst the rookies on better bikes, provided he doesn’t get rammed by any of them. In the satellite Primark Yamaha team, Jack Miller finally has an excuse for going slowly. He’ll still probably lob the bike at the scenery, though. Learning processes aren’t exactly the Aussie’s strong point.
Honda
The RC213V continues to be about as much use as Randy Mamola’s hairbrush. Luca Marini will have a tough battle on his hands with Aprilia stand-in Lorenzo Savadori in the battle to find out which of them least deserves to even pose for pictures on a full factory bike, let alone ride one. And Joan Mir will claim to have made a lot of progress after he crashes out of the race.
Conclusion
The main point of interest in Ducatifest Thailand 2025 is going to be how much Marc Marquez pisses everybody off. That alone is going to be worth watching a couple of Ducati podium lockouts.
