Ducati's MotoGP Struggles
Ducati faces tough questions after their worst season opener in a decade at the Thai GP. Marco Bezzecchi's flawless Aprilia win ended Ducati's podium streak, while Marc Marquez retired due to tyre issues that Michelin attributes to track kerbs and temperature. New FIM helmet rules also forced some riders to use different brands.
The end of the Thai GP marked the first time in 88 consecutive races that a Ducati failed to finish on the podium. This historic run of success for the Italian manufacturer stretched all the way back to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 2021. Marc Marquez's race-ending tyre problem was more dramatic than a simple puncture. Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi confirmed the wheel rim itself "exploded" after a hard strike on a kerb at Turn 4. Michelin's MotoGP chief, Piero Taramasso, explained that the combination of aggressive kerbs and high heat caused multiple wheels to bend throughout the weekend. Marco Bezzecchi's victory was not just dominant but also record-breaking for Aprilia. He became the first rider for the manufacturer to win three consecutive Grands Prix, following his victories at the end of the last season. The day was a resounding success for the brand, with four Aprilia bikes finishing in the top five. The new FIM helmet rule, officially designated FRHPhe-02, is now mandatory for the 2026 season. The standard introduces stricter testing that simulates real-world crashes, including angled impacts to measure rotational forces and a "Skull Fracture Criterion" to assess the direct risk of severe injury. Beyond Marquez's retirement, the performance was lackluster across the board for Ducati-equipped teams. The highest-finishing Ducati rider was Fabio di Giannantonio for the VR46 team in sixth place, more than 16 seconds behind the winner. This left Ducati third in the constructors' standings, its worst position after a season opener since 2014.
