MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina

Comments

Would never have bet on a…

Would never have bet on a Honda and a rookie being the best of the rest.

Ogura was disqualified…

Ogura was disqualified. Improper software.

I see Marc said that Alex is…

I see Marc said that Alex is the main championship rival. Now, mind games aside, I don't feel I'm sticking my neck out predicting that Alex wont finish in the top three come year end. It's not 2014.

If Marc doubles up at Texas…

If Marc doubles up at Texas and Qatar, there will be a whiff of 2014 in the air.

He won the first 10 races in…

He won the first 10 races in 2014. I think only Dani had the same bike, can't remember what Bradl had. It's a lot closer now than 2014.

I am inclined to agree, it definitely seems a pattern that those on "last year's" machines benefit at the beginning of the year from bedded in motorcycles, which riders on the newer bikes take a while to find their feet, and I suspect this is what will happen with the '24 vs '24.5 Ducatis. Having said that Marc Marquez makes a mockery of my words, but then he is surely a special case if ever there was one.

except that this year there…

except that this year there are no complaints of having to sort out the latest model. I suspect the 2025 has very little that truly makes a difference on it but also there's little to sort out. Fact is though, MM will be given new parts to try all season and Alex won't and so yes, on that basis, it is about as close now as it's going to get.

Pecco will take Alex but he won't catch Marc and already, i don't think Marc can feel any pressure. JM89 coming back can only rob everyone else of points because he isn't going to beat Marc for a long, long time. While he tries, it'll be AM73 and PB63 that drop points.
Is it time to say;
1) If MM was on a Honda - he'd be winning (Zarco did well though)
2) Honda relied on MM to develop their bike yet 16-months after he left, it is competitive again. Can we say Marc can't develop bikes or at least that Pedrosa could but Marc won out to develop the Honda his way?

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	49
2	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	38	-11
3	63	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	30	-19
4	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	21	-28
5	79	Ai Ogura	Aprilia	17	-32
6	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	15	-34
7	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Aprilia	14	-35
8	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	11	-38
9	33	Brad Binder	KTM	10	-39
10	23	Enea Bastianini	KTM	7	-42
11	37	Pedro Acosta	KTM	5	-44
12	43	Jack Miller	Yamaha	5	-44
13	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	4	-45
14	10	Luca Marini	Honda	4	-45
15	36	Joan Mir	Honda	3	-46
16	54	Fermin Aldeguer	Ducati	3	-46
17	88	Miguel Oliveira	Yamaha	2	-47
18	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	0	-49
19	12	Maverick Viñales	KTM	0	-49
20	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	0	-49
21	35	Somkiat Chantra	Honda	0	-49
22	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-49

Year

2025

Round Number

Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	37
2	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	29	-8
3	63	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	23	-14
4	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	18	-19
5	79	Ai Ogura	Aprilia	17	-20
6	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Aprilia	10	-27
7	33	Brad Binder	KTM	10	-27
8	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	9	-28
9	23	Enea Bastianini	KTM	7	-30
10	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	6	-31
11	43	Jack Miller	Yamaha	5	-32
12	10	Luca Marini	Honda	4	-33
13	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	4	-33
14	37	Pedro Acosta	KTM	4	-33
15	54	Fermin Aldeguer	Ducati	3	-34
16	88	Miguel Oliveira	Yamaha	2	-35
17	36	Joan Mir	Honda	1	-36
18	12	Maverick Viñales	KTM	0	-37
19	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	0	-37
20	35	Somkiat Chantra	Honda	0	-37
21	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-37
22	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	0	-37

Year

2025

Round Number

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	12
2	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	9	-3
3	63	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	7	-5
4	79	Ai Ogura	Aprilia	6	-6
5	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	5	-7
6	37	Pedro Acosta	KTM	4	-8
7	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	3	-9
8	33	Brad Binder	KTM	2	-10
9	36	Joan Mir	Honda	1	-11
10	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	0	-12
11	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	0	-12
12	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Aprilia	0	-12
13	54	Fermin Aldeguer	Ducati	0	-12
14	12	Maverick Viñales	KTM	0	-12
15	10	Luca Marini	Honda	0	-12
16	88	Miguel Oliveira	Yamaha	0	-12
17	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	0	-12
18	23	Enea Bastianini	KTM	0	-12
19	35	Somkiat Chantra	Honda	0	-12
20	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-12
21	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	0	-12
22	43	Jack Miller	Yamaha	0	-12

Year

2025

Round Number

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	89	Jorge Martin	Ducati	508
2	1	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	498	-10
3	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	392	-116
4	23	Enea Bastianini	Ducati	386	-122
5	33	Brad Binder	KTM	217	-291
6	31	Pedro Acosta	KTM	215	-293
7	12	Maverick Viñales	Aprilia	190	-318
8	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	173	-335
9	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	173	-335
10	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	165	-343
11	41	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	163	-345
12	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Ducati	153	-355
13	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	113	-395
14	43	Jack Miller	KTM	87	-421
15	88	Miguel Oliveira	Aprilia	75	-433
16	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	66	-442
17	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	55	-453
18	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	31	-477
19	30	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	31	-477
20	37	Augusto Fernandez	KTM	27	-481
21	36	Joan Mir	Honda	21	-487
22	10	Luca Marini	Honda	14	-494
23	44	Pol Espargaro	KTM	12	-496
24	26	Dani Pedrosa	KTM	7	-501
25	6	Stefan Bradl	Honda	2	-506
26	87	Remy Gardner	Yamaha	0	-508
27	29	Andrea Iannone	Ducati	0	-508
28	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-508
29	51	Michele Pirro	Ducati	0	-508

Year

2024

Round Number

Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain

Comments

Teams Standings

Really highlight the Ducati dominance. Honda’s total for the whole season was a mere 35 points which is less than what was available on any given race weekend. Gresini exceeded the combined totals of KTM and Tech 3, and to its credit Aprilia came 4th above VR46. I’m sure there is a lot more to be identified however at this stage I’m thinking Honda might be better off buying a couple of Ducati Panigales to rebadge in preparation for 2025.

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	89	Jorge Martin	Ducati	492
2	1	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	473	-19
3	23	Enea Bastianini	Ducati	377	-115
4	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	372	-120
5	31	Pedro Acosta	KTM	209	-283
6	33	Brad Binder	KTM	207	-285
7	12	Maverick Viñales	Aprilia	189	-303
8	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	165	-327
9	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	165	-327
10	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	160	-332
11	41	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	152	-340
12	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Ducati	146	-346
13	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	108	-384
14	43	Jack Miller	KTM	84	-408
15	88	Miguel Oliveira	Aprilia	71	-421
16	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	66	-426
17	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	53	-439
18	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	31	-461
19	30	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	31	-461
20	37	Augusto Fernandez	KTM	27	-465
21	36	Joan Mir	Honda	21	-471
22	10	Luca Marini	Honda	14	-478
23	44	Pol Espargaro	KTM	12	-480
24	26	Dani Pedrosa	KTM	7	-485
25	6	Stefan Bradl	Honda	2	-490
26	87	Remy Gardner	Yamaha	0	-492
27	29	Andrea Iannone	Ducati	0	-492
28	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-492
29	51	Michele Pirro	Ducati	0	-492

Year

2024

Round Number

Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	89	Jorge Martin	Ducati	485
2	1	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	461	-24
3	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	369	-116
4	23	Enea Bastianini	Ducati	368	-117
5	31	Pedro Acosta	KTM	209	-276
6	33	Brad Binder	KTM	206	-279
7	12	Maverick Viñales	Aprilia	189	-296
8	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	165	-320
9	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	161	-324
10	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	155	-330
11	41	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	146	-339
12	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Ducati	144	-341
13	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	108	-377
14	43	Jack Miller	KTM	84	-401
15	88	Miguel Oliveira	Aprilia	71	-414
16	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	66	-419
17	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	53	-432
18	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	31	-454
19	30	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	31	-454
20	37	Augusto Fernandez	KTM	27	-458
21	36	Joan Mir	Honda	21	-464
22	10	Luca Marini	Honda	14	-471
23	44	Pol Espargaro	KTM	12	-473
24	26	Dani Pedrosa	KTM	7	-478
25	6	Stefan Bradl	Honda	2	-483
26	87	Remy Gardner	Yamaha	0	-485
27	29	Andrea Iannone	Ducati	0	-485
28	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-485

Year

2024

Round Number

Sepang, Malaysia

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	89	Jorge Martin	Ducati	465
2	1	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	436	-29
3	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	365	-100
4	23	Enea Bastianini	Ducati	352	-113
5	33	Brad Binder	KTM	206	-259
6	31	Pedro Acosta	KTM	198	-267
7	12	Maverick Viñales	Aprilia	180	-285
8	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	165	-300
9	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	159	-306
10	41	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	143	-322
11	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	142	-323
12	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Ducati	137	-328
13	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	98	-367
14	43	Jack Miller	KTM	84	-381
15	88	Miguel Oliveira	Aprilia	71	-394
16	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	66	-399
17	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	48	-417
18	30	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	31	-434
19	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	23	-442
20	36	Joan Mir	Honda	21	-444
21	37	Augusto Fernandez	KTM	21	-444
22	10	Luca Marini	Honda	13	-452
23	44	Pol Espargaro	KTM	12	-453
24	26	Dani Pedrosa	KTM	7	-458
25	6	Stefan Bradl	Honda	2	-463
26	87	Remy Gardner	Yamaha	0	-465
27	29	Andrea Iannone	Ducati	0	-465
28	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-465

Year

2024

Round Number

Sepang, Malaysia

Comments

Last race.

I think that if the title is decided tomorrow, then the last race will be cancelled and just a one day test in Losail on the way back. There isn't much point in spending all that money on rearrangng everything with nothing riding on the race being run.

It would be very typical…

It would be very typical Pecco to win the race. Wouldn't surprise me.

It would indeed.

Pecco wins, Jorge DNF.

4 point gap going into who knows where, or when.

Great minds...

I thought about this scenario immediately after the sprint. Even if Martin gets 1 point and Pecco wins then in the season finale Pecco wins and Martin finishes 2nd, they would be tied on points with the championship going to Bagnaia for having the most wins. It's possible but not likely.

I prefer Bagnaia over Martin but I did pick Martin to take the title.

It’s not just about the winner

Even if the top of the title is decided on Sunday, there’s still a lot of positions further down that could change and are presumably important to those riders. Third: Marc or Bestia? And top KTM.

Third in the championship…

Third in the championship pays a hefty bonus generally. Fourth usually pays nothing.

They have every right and…

They have every right and every reason to cancel the last round. Loads of meetings get cancelled and this would be another. They don't have to replace it at all. As you all indicate, they will have a look after the race tomorrow and decide that a Spaniard ............sorry, s-o-r-r-y!

there I go again....

Ponderings

Got myself prepared for no final Round in case, but looks like one is coming. Maybe a week late. Qatar? Tires will be there, yeah?

Martin/Pecco/Marc and that start was fantastic. Pecco's error, exciting and emotional. In that corner, there are bumps RIGHT in that apex, and they got the best of his bike and minor over-push.

In Q Pecco looked immaculate. SO smoothly precise! Lorenzo-esque. Contrast bronco Martin?

Marc's team did something lovely setting his bike up after. Then Marc did something special on board. Chapeau.

Martin? Did the business! He clearly has made the mental/emotional development his spicy fire so needed after his loss of Duc's factory ride. 2024 is one of errors or lack thereof, and pressure.

Honorable mention to Yamaha and their motor. Quarty was pushing that thing, and it was braking/cornering like it should. They have made the first big step, don't you think?

In the race, appreciating Marc and Quarty and the gravity of Pecco's error, one thought arose. They are Aliens, the title contenders may be human astronauts on other worldly GP24's. Or is Martin going to be seen as leaving orbit to Alienhood? Whelp, since he is going to Aprilia, perhaps the vehicle will return him to Earth to be viewed as astronaut. Were he aboard Red, perhaps he would not? Odd, that.

Looking fwd to seeing if Martin can bring a Championship to a private team, and a glorious bow out for Pramac Ducati. Where we immediately get more focus on the rejuvenated Yamaha project. Question mark is atop Aprilia. With big budget cuts at their parent co it is hard to think KTM approaches a rise, don't you think?

Who wins Sunday? What is the weather forecast? Enjoying yourself I hope David?

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	89	Jorge Martin	Ducati	453
2	1	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	436	-17
3	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	356	-97
4	23	Enea Bastianini	Ducati	345	-108
5	33	Brad Binder	KTM	203	-250
6	31	Pedro Acosta	KTM	197	-256
7	12	Maverick Viñales	Aprilia	180	-273
8	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	165	-288
9	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	155	-298
10	41	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	143	-310
11	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Ducati	137	-316
12	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	136	-317
13	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	93	-360
14	43	Jack Miller	KTM	82	-371
15	88	Miguel Oliveira	Aprilia	71	-382
16	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	66	-387
17	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	48	-405
18	30	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	31	-422
19	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	23	-430
20	36	Joan Mir	Honda	21	-432
21	37	Augusto Fernandez	KTM	21	-432
22	10	Luca Marini	Honda	13	-440
23	44	Pol Espargaro	KTM	12	-441
24	26	Dani Pedrosa	KTM	7	-446
25	6	Stefan Bradl	Honda	2	-451
26	87	Remy Gardner	Yamaha	0	-453
27	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-453

Year

2024

Round Number

Pos	No.	Rider	Bike	Points	Deficit
1	89	Jorge Martin	Ducati	433
2	1	Francesco Bagnaia	Ducati	411	-22
3	93	Marc Marquez	Ducati	351	-82
4	23	Enea Bastianini	Ducati	343	-90
5	33	Brad Binder	KTM	193	-240
6	31	Pedro Acosta	KTM	181	-252
7	12	Maverick Viñales	Aprilia	171	-262
8	21	Franco Morbidelli	Ducati	155	-278
9	49	Fabio Di Giannantonio	Ducati	152	-281
10	72	Marco Bezzecchi	Ducati	137	-296
11	41	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	136	-297
12	73	Alex Marquez	Ducati	130	-303
13	20	Fabio Quartararo	Yamaha	93	-340
14	43	Jack Miller	KTM	71	-362
15	88	Miguel Oliveira	Aprilia	71	-362
16	25	Raul Fernandez	Aprilia	66	-367
17	5	Johann Zarco	Honda	40	-393
18	30	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	28	-405
19	42	Alex Rins	Yamaha	23	-410
20	37	Augusto Fernandez	KTM	21	-412
21	36	Joan Mir	Honda	20	-413
22	44	Pol Espargaro	KTM	12	-421
23	10	Luca Marini	Honda	9	-424
24	26	Dani Pedrosa	KTM	7	-426
25	6	Stefan Bradl	Honda	2	-431
26	87	Remy Gardner	Yamaha	0	-433
27	32	Lorenzo Savadori	Aprilia	0	-433

Year

2024

Round Number