The World Ducati Week continues, but Sunday's Race of Champions is marked by several absences and many riders opting not to push too hard.
Indeed, Iker Lecuona will not be at Misano, staying with his family following the birth of his child, and Gresini riders Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer will also be absent. Marquez is still dealing with the aftermath of crashes and abrasions sustained at Assen, while Aldeguer is sidelined due to a vertebra fracture he suffered at the Dutch GP. Michele Pirro, on the other hand, managed to push through after a fall during practice.
Apart from the absences, however, the Ducati paddock offers a broader perspective. The MotoGP calendar keeps expanding, and its effects are becoming increasingly apparent. With 22 Grands Prix and 22 Sprint Races, the championship has become a true physical and mental marathon, where even a celebratory event like the World Ducati Week is inevitably approached with an eye on managing energy levels.
This is also demonstrated by Marc Marquez. The Spaniard, a standout in the 2025 season, regularly took to the track at Misano, but without pushing the limits. During the Race of Champions practice sessions, he preferred to handle his workload conservatively, finishing with the 12th fastest time, far from the top positions.
This approach speaks more than words about how today, amidst races, Sprints, tests, and constant travel, riders must carefully choose when it's truly worth taking risks.
On Sunday at 12:40, the Race of Champions will nevertheless feature top Ducati names, from Francesco Bagnaia to Marc Marquez and Nicolò Bulega. But compared to the past, the impression is that this exhibition is increasingly seen as a break to be approached cautiously, rather than as a race to compete in fiercely until the last corner. Except perhaps for Nicolò Bulega, whose move to MotoGP with the VR46 team has not yet been officially announced.
WDW, the Race of Champions loses pieces: four withdrawals, even Marquez manages himself
Compared to the past, the impression is that this event is increasingly seen as a break to be approached with caution, rather than a race in which to give it all until the last curve.
