MotoGP, Domenicali: "Marquez surprised us on the track with a 2024 Panigale V2"

Marc Marquez is never one to waste any time, and in fact, with the Christmas vacations over, the Spaniard got right back on the job and was back on the bike. Although it was not a MotoGP bike, the champion from Cervera immediately got people talking about him, so much so that a comment even came from the CEO of Ducati Claudio Domenicali who, on his LinkedIn profile, revealed a few more details about the experience lived by the new Lenovo team rider.

"Was just before Christmas when I was on the phone with Marc for the usual wishes and I learned he had planned a training session in Aspar Circuit in Valencia for today. The plan was to have the session on a 2024 Panigale V2, because he was told our fully new 2025 model was not yet available in race trim," were the Italian manager's words.

"I was too curious to have his opinion on our new baby track bike therefore I had, during my travel to the mountains for my skiing holidays, some calls to organize at least him to have some laps with the bike we used for the shooting of the official launch video and pictures. It was then a big surprise to get a phone call from Marc at the end of the day where he told me that not only he loved the quick handling of the bike and the super comfortable riding position and the “electric” power delivery but was able to lap in 1m12.2s that I have been told from my people is just same lap time of the unofficial track record for the Supersport class," he continued, noting how the time was also replicated with the old V2 in race trim.

On the bike equipped with a catalytic converter, front and rear lights and a kickstand, the eight-time world champion therefore performed well. "We cannot wait to test with him and Pecco the 2025 Panigale in full race trim, with 126 HP instead of 120 HP and close to 10 kg of weight saving for elimination all the road legal stuff," he then added. "Very very happy for the performance on the track of a bike that has been born to have the best compromise between lap time on the track and fun on mountain open roads. Thanks Marc and many compliments to the Ducati engineers that develop the bike! Again, low weight is always proving to be a winning choice."