The Thailand Grand Prix delivered a shock for MotoGP fans as Ducati, long a dominant force, struggled through one of its toughest weekends in years. Fabio di Giannantonio was the top Ducati finisher in sixth place, while reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia battled rear tyre issues to finish ninth. Alex Marquez crashed out entirely, marking a weekend to forget for the Italian manufacturer and ending an impressive 88-race podium streak dating back to the 2021 British Grand Prix.
Aprilia, by contrast, capitalized on Ducati’s difficulties with their strongest performance yet. Marco Bezzecchi led the factory team to a 1-3-4-5 finish, signaling that Aprilia has emerged as a genuine title contender and challenging Ducati’s long-standing supremacy.
Source: MotoGP
Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi described the result as a “slap in the face,” while acknowledging that the unique conditions at Buriram played a role. He emphasized that upcoming races at circuits like Austin, Qatar, and Jerez will be key to gauging true performance across the grid.
Interestingly, Ducati had posted top times during pre-season testing at Buriram. Tardozzi attributed the race struggles to changing track and humidity conditions, which affected Ducati’s bikes while competitors such as Aprilia and KTM’s Pedro Acosta were less impacted.
Looking ahead, Tardozzi stressed that Ducati must deploy every resource to return to the podium, recognizing Aprilia’s rise and Bezzecchi’s strong form since mid-2025. While the Thailand Grand Prix was a stark lesson, the MotoGP season remains long, and Ducati’s resilience will be tested as they work to reclaim their competitive edge.
Thailand’s results have shaken up the championship battle, highlighting Aprilia as a serious challenger and adding a new layer of excitement to the season.
