Can Ducati mount a serious victory challenge at the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix?

Ducati is heading into the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix facing tougher opposition than the usual Ducati-versus-Aprilia storyline after KTM set a strong tone during Friday. While Ducati’s lead rider Marc Marquez is often criticized for slow starts, the day’s running still offered some signals: he used the same pair of tyres in the morning, set his fastest lap on his 14th circuit, and finished fourth in both sessions. With cold conditions limiting tyre wear, Marquez stayed on the soft rear for 17 laps and posted a 1m29.812s lap—about three tenths off the 2024 all-time best race lap by Francesco Bagnaia. The article also highlights Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer, leading on Ducati’s specific Michelin carcass, which is used only in a handful of races including Austria.