Bagnaia Predicts Yamaha Will Be Ducati's Competitor

Ducati's racer, Francesco Bagnaia. (Doc. Instagram @pecco63)

JAKARTA Two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia estimates Yamaha will be Ducati's tough competitor in the race for the 2025 MotoGP season.

European manufacturers have dominated the main class in recent years. At the same time the remaining two Japanese manufacturers in the competition, Yamaha and Honda, slumped to a lower position in 2023 and 2024.

Bagnaia said that this is likely to change in the competition map this season after Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha became the only riders outside Ducati to record impressive results in Sepang.

"I think there will be a change in terms of who will be behind Ducati during this season," Bagnaia said as quoted by Crash.

During the three-day test in Malaysia, Quartararo recorded convincing results. He and his motorbike showed they could be competitors to the Italian manufacturer, who locked the title in the last three years.

Quartararo started his journey in Sepang this week by finishing ahead on the first day. In a row after that he finished second and third.

"Fabio Quartararo had fantastic speeds in the third day and time attack, which was one of Yamaha's weak points last year, was fast today. So, in my opinion, they have done a very good job," said Bagnaia.

The sepang test itself was passed by defending champion Jorge Martin, Fabio di Giannantonio, and Raul Fernandez. The three had an accident on the first day so they had to fly to Europe for surgery.

The riders will continue their next test at the Buriram Circuit, Thailand, on February 12-13. Following that, the opening series will be from February 28 to March 2 at the same place.