We are now six races into the 2025 MotoGp season, well and truly enough for some patterns to emerge. Indeed, we probably could have written this much sooner and have drawn the same conclusions.
To the haters, this is shaping up to be a very boring season with the Marquez brothers running rampant at the top of the table almost unopposed. Interestingly, the same haters were quite happy for any other rider to win every weekend, even on a Ducati but we know that their hatred is contrived so we will ignore them.
Marquez Snr has won 4 out of the six races, Marquez Jr has won one and Bagnaia has won one. Already people are saying that Snr is on his way to a 9th world championship but he has provided just a glimpse of his vulnerability with two DNFs, both as a result of unforced errors.
Amongst the surprises of the season so far (and, yes, there have been some) has been the performance of Marquez Jr. Always regarded by the paddock as a pale shadow of his illustrious brother, Alex has stepped up to the plate with pole positions, a win and consistent podium placings. Riding last year’s bike, the bike that Marc proved to be a winner last season, Alex has proved to be the best of the rest by a considerable margin, consistently beating the rest of the Ducatis (including all the other riders on GP25s – except Marc) and showing up all the favoured runners.
Yamaha has started to turn the corner and Fabio’s performance at Jerez AND at the test day the following day have been a revelation. Despite the constant talk of a new V4 engine, Fabio has proven that the I4 engine still has life and his running of the new engine on Monday has proven that to be correct.
Apart from that, there aren’t a lot of highlights. Aprilia are still struggling, Agura being by far their best.
KTM? Well, what can you say. Despite the claims that the parent company’s financial woes would not affect the racing arm, it is clear that they have with none of the KTM riders troubling the scorer. Vinales is providing some joy but that’s clearly more about rider talent than it is about improved bike performance.
Honda is benefitting from concessions and Zarco is showing signs of some progress but there is still a long way to go.
And the other Ducatis? Well, despite being on a GP25 de Gianantonio is nowhere and Morbidelli’s form on the GP24 is patchy at best.
But what about Bagnaia? The supposed #1 in the team is hurting big time with the arrival of Marquez Snr. He is close to the podium or on it most races but his race pace is disappointing and he is clearly being overshadowed by seconds (which is an eternity) which must be a worrying thing for him and for Ducati.
In other Grand Prix news, the Aussies are booming along with Joel Kelso scoring well in the last few Moto3 races (3rd in Spain) and Jacob Roulstone, recovering from a broken neck in pre-season, getting into the top 10 for the first time this year. In Moto2 Senna Agius getting onto the podium in the Moto2 race. And Hunter Valley teenager, Carter Thompson got a 3rd and a win in the two Red Bull Rookies Cup races on the weekend as well.
Yes, the MotoGp subscription is expensive but it is well worth it!
