Aprilia‘s motogpโ Challenge too Ducati: Numbers Reveal โฃa โคDisparity
Valencia, Spainโ – Novemberโ 21, 2024 – Despite a late-season surge that saw Aprilia riders challenging for victories, a deeper analysis of 2024 motogp data indicates the Italian manufacturer’s threat to Ducati’s dominance might potentially be โoverstated. While Jorgeโข martin’s championship โbid kept Ducati โคon edge through the final rounds, Aprilia’sโค overall performance metrics revealโค a meaningful gap in consistency and outright pace compared to the Bologna-based marque.
the 2024 season โฃwitnessed Aprilia achieve a breakthrough with six wins โข- fiveโข by Aleix Espargaro and one byโ Raul Fernandez – marking a substantial improvement โขover previous years. However, this success was often reliant on specific track characteristics and favorable conditions. Ducati, in contrast, securedโ 14 victories across its factory and satellite teams, demonstrating a broader capability to โperform at a high levelโ across โคdiverse circuits. The championship standings reflect this disparity: โคDucati rider Francesco bagnaia clinched the title with 389 points, while the highest-placedโ Aprilia rider, Espargaro, finished sixth with 233 points.
This season’s โdata underscores a critical difference โคin podium consistency.โค Ducati โridersโ collectively achieved 29 podium finishes, nearly double Aprilia’s 15.This reliability, coupled with a superior qualifying record โฃ- Ducati โsecured 12 pole positions compared to aprilia’s 3 – allowed Ducati โto accumulate crucial championship points even on weekends where outright victory proved elusive.
Technical analysis further highlights the performance differences. Ducati’s aerodynamic development, especially the more extreme fairing solution introduced at the Valencia โขtest, demonstrates a commitment to maximizing downforce and minimizing drag. this focus on aerodynamic efficiency,combined โคwith a refined โengineโ package,has provided Ducati riders with a tangible advantage in both straight-lineโ speed โand cornering performance. Aprilia, while making strides inโฃ engine development,โ has yet to match Ducati’s level of aerodynamic sophistication.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Aprilia will need to address these essential โperformance gaps to mount aโค truly sustained challenge to Ducati. The Valencia test provided valuable data for both โmanufacturers as โขthey begin preparations for the next campaign, with both teams focused on refining their respective packages toโข gain a competitive edge. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Aprilia can โฃtranslate its recent successes into a consistentโ championship threat or if Ducati willโ continue โitsโ reign at the top of MotoGP.
