Talking points from the first MotoGP test of 2025

With the curtain falling on a thrilling 2024 MotoGP season, 24 riders took their first opportunity to see what 2025 has in store during a seven-hour test at Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya.

Here, we’ve distilled the main stories from the test.

In the unknown

Many of the teams and riders were in unfamiliar territory with 12 riders on bikes they had never ridden before, including Marc Márquez (Factory Ducati), Enea Bastianini (KTM Tech 3), Jorge Martín (Factory Aprilia), Pedro Acosta (Factory KTM), Marco Bezzechi (Factory Aprilia), Somikat Chantra (Honda LCR), Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati), Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia), Miguel Oliveira (Pramac Yamaha), Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha) and Franco Morbidelli (VR46 Ducati).

Márquez sets the pace

With all these unknowns, it was Alex Márquez, on his familiar Gresini Ducati, who sat at the top of the table for most of the day, setting a fast early lap and regaining fastest time in the fourth hour with a 1:38,803. Late in the day he crashed at Turn 7, damaging his GP24 bike, even so, no one could come close to his time.

Martín puts Aprilia to work

The Jorge Martín was recently crowned MotoGP champion in 2024 took the first tentative steps on an Aprilia during the test. In the morning, he climbed aboard a 2024-spec RS-GP to relax with a known race winner, then switched to next year’s prototype for the afternoon.

A low-speed crash at Turn 5 was the only blemish on his record as he racked up the mileage, completing 77 laps. He ended the session 11th fastest – just over a second off Alex Márquez’s final pace – and as the second fastest Aprilia four tenths behind Raúl Fernández in the Trackhouse Racing car.

Márquez in red

While there were plenty of newsworthy topics, all eyes were still on Marc Márquez and his foray into life at the factory Ducati team. 49 laps later it looked like Marc was always going to be there, with the six-time champion setting the fourth fastest time in the closing moments of the session.

His 2025 Ducati team-mate Francesco Bagnaia was just half a tenth down the road in third, giving the first hints of an exciting head-to-head between the two champions next year.

A glimmer of hope for Yamaha?

Fabio Quartararo had a short spell at the top of the times and ended the day in second place, four tenths behind A Márquez. With an updated chassis, aerodynamics and engine, the facelifted Yamaha M1 has shown positive signs after a disastrous 2024 campaign.

Acosta takes a step

2024 rookie sensation Pedro Acosta finished ninth in his first session aboard a factory KTM bike, just half a tenth behind teammate Brad Binder. After a first season that exceeded all but his own expectations, Pedro is certainly one to watch in 2025.

New kids on the block

Ai Ogura, Fermin Aldeguer and Somkiat Chantra will be looking to make noise just like Acosta did last season and a steady start for all three riders highlighted the composure they will need to rely on next year.

Aldeguer was fastest of the trio in 20th, 1.7 seconds off the top time after 58 laps, while Ogura completed 86 laps aboard his Trackhouse Aprilia to finish 21st. Chantra finished session in 23rd place with LCR Honda after 61 laps.