Tests in Barcelona with the revolution of teams and riders: and Bagnaia dusts off the '63' on the fairing. Marquez fire red, Martin 'freezes' the n.1

by the envoy

BARCELONA

It really is a strange effect to see Marquez all in red. Ducati red. Of the official Ducati. And it is even more of an effect to see him exchanging tire changes and briefings in the garage next to Pecco Bagnaia who since yesterday - the first day of work of MotoGP in view of 2025 - has returned to wearing his 'old' number 63, leaving free that number one worn with pride for two seasons in a row. Number one that, at least yesterday, Martin also left partially in the fridge. Jorge opened the Aprilia garage showing an 819, where the number 1 is in the middle of his historic 89. The World Champion, once he got off the Ducati and said goodbye to the Pramac team, rode first on the Aprilia 2024 and then on the first model of the Rs-Gp 2025, bringing home the first results and the first sensations in the direction of his new adventure. With Martin also Marco Bezzecchi, also launched into the Aprilia adventure after having finished with the Ducati of Valentino Rossi's team.

Returning to the official Ducati (with a blitz in the pits by Jannik Sinner), Bagnaia and Marquez first rode with the 2024 Desmo, with a race set-up, then went on the track and discovered the 2025 bike. A new bike, with which the brand new braking system was also tested (calipers supplied by Brembo). A bike that, as Davide Tardozzi explained, "gained approval from both Pecco and Marc". Satisfied with the debut duo, Marquez: "I'm happy. With what I did, with the first indications from the bike, with how we work in this box. It was a very positive day. And Pecco and I had the same feelings". First laps with blue colors, the Yamaha blue for the Pramac team, now far from Ducati. Bastianini's debut (encouraging) on ​​KTM. The day ended with the best time set by the Desmo Gresini of Alex Marquez, followed by the Yamaha of Quartararo and then the Ducatis of Bagnaia and Marquez. Record laps completed for Bezzecchi (84).