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Even more than having set the best time, it was important for Marc Marquez and Ducati in Buriram to choose which direction to take. The doubt was over the engines: play it safe with the 2024 or take a chance with the 2025? Now the die is cast, riders and engineers decided that it would not make sense to complicate life, especially since there is a development freeze for 2026, so the engine that will be homologated will be used for two years. Marquez confirmed that 2024 will be the base.
"It seems the direction is decided, today we focused most of the time on the 2024 engine," says the Spaniard, "Tomorrow will be the last day and we will have to try some small things, like the new aerodynamics, but it seems like that will be the base. Ducati was very aware that the 2025, I'm talking especially about the engine, would have to be much better than the 2024 because the powertrain homologation will be valid for two years, 2025 and 2026, and you can't take risks. The GP24 has been tested for a whole year, at all the circuits, it is a bike that has reached a good base, while the GP25 seems a bit more radical. It can give you something more in some places and suffer in others, so unless tomorrow completely changes the story, we will continue with the 2024 base, we will not take risks."
Is it the wisest choice?
"Last year Ducati won 19 GPs, so the base is good. Tomorrow we will reconfirm everything, but I feel great with the 2024 engine. I'm not saying we will race with the GP24, because they have developed parts that will be introduced in that engine."
Do you and Bagnaia agree?
"Ducati has the ability to develop the bike in two different directions, even if it is not the best solution. Anyway, at the moment our comments are the same, although I haven't spoken with Pecco yet today. I do so at the end of the day because I don't want to be influenced."
What does your best time today mean?
"I started and felt good from the very first time out and that's the most important thing, because in a Grand Prix you don't have as much time as you have in a test, you have to be quick right away. I already felt this feeling in Malaysia, on the first day, and again today. Tomorrow the times will come down, we'll see where I'll be, but starting this way allows you to work from the second time out and give very accurate comments."
Did the time come easily?
"When you put on a new tire, you always take risks. If anyone says otherwise, they are lying. I pushed."
Who is the surprise in these tests?
"Right now it is Alex, and not because he is my brother. He was first in the Barcelona test, in the Malaysian test and today he was in front also because of the pace, he is fast. This morning here he was the fastest and this afternoon he didn't do a time attack, he is surprising me, then we will see in the race. Acosta is also doing well, he had a good long run, and Pecco will be in front. Then we'll see who else will be there."
Alex says you remain the favorite.
"In Barcelona he was very fast and in Malaysia, in the Sprint simulation, it was impossible to beat him. Honestly, Alex is the biggest surprise of these tests. I know him and I know that when he has everything under control, because he is very sensitive as a rider, he is so fast."
