Tardozzi Calls Yamaha An Unexpected Challenger For Ducati In MotoGP 2025

Fabio Quartararo impressed with Yamaha in Sepang (photo: dock.motogp.com)

JAKARTA - Ducati entered MotoGP 2025 as the main favorite in the race for three titles thanks to their technical dominance and a strong lineup of riders. However, who will be their closest challenger is still a question mark.

In recent seasons, KTM and Aprilia have become Ducati's main competitors. However, last week's pre-season test in Sepang showed a new surprise: Yamaha.

Ducati Lenovo's team manager, Davide Tardozzi, has actually predicted that the manufacturer from Iwata will make progress, especially after recruiting former Ducati engineer, Max Bartolini, in early 2024. However, the rapid developments they showed still surprised him.

"I knew they [Yamaha] would develop but I didn't expect it to be this fast," Tardozzi told MotoGP.com after testing in Sepang.

In the test, Fabio Quartararo impressed by recording the third fastest time and showing promising speed in the race simulation.

"I know Massimo Bartolini very well, I really believe that he is able to bring Yamaha forward rapidly. Now I know that they listen a lot to his input, and they also have amazing riders like Fabio. Currently, he is our opponent," added Tardozzi.

The Sepang test also features impressive performance from Ducati satellite team racers, including Marc Marquez. In the Sprint simulation, Marquez was able to record a time in the high range of 1 minute 57 seconds in the first four laps before finally dropping to low range 1 minute 58 seconds.

However, one racer who appeared faster than him was his younger brother, Alex Marquez. This makes Tardozzi optimistic about the strength of the Ducati satellite teams this season.

"I watched it with a smile," said Tardozzi when discussing Marc Marquez's Sprint simulation. "But in the end, we also had another Marquez who looked amazing, because Alex did a fantastic simulation." Even so, Tardozzi still believes that the real competition will only be seen when the official race begins.

"When the day the race arrives, that's a different story. I'm sure Marc [Marquez] and Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] will be there to compete," he added.

Apart from Alex Marquez, Tardozzi also has high hopes for Franco Morbidelli, who joined the Ducati satellite team this season. "I hope Franky [Morbidelli] and Alex [Marquez] will be very competitive since the first race," said Tardozzi.

Meanwhile, Fabio Di Giannantonio has not shown his best performance, but Ducati still gives full support to him.

Tardozzi also mentioned one name that has the potential to be a surprise in the middle of the season: Fermin Aldegeer, a young racer who is believed to be surprising to many people.

"We are waiting for the presence of a new young racer in the middle of the season or even sooner, because I think Fermin Aldeguer will surprise everyone," he concluded.