When talking about the Ducati GP23 – apart from Pecco Bagnaia’s single crash incident which was then unfortunately hit by Binder in 2023 – it could be said that it is not very adaptable to tracks with low grip. The Catalunya Circuit is one of the most active circuits in the world, Pol Espargaro told podcaster Keith Huewen that in one year maybe only 3-4 days this circuit is empty of activity. And this is one of the reasons why it is difficult to maintain grip on the asphalt surface even though it has been recoated.
Last year, the motorbike that had great downforce when cornering due to its ground effect fairing design – Aprilia – managed to finish 1-2 with Aleix – Vinales who seemed to also pay for the error in calculating El-Capitan’s laps in 2022 when leading the race. This year ? Indeed, Yamaha is the most successful manufacturer with 14 GP500 and MotoGP wins (Valentino Rossi (2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2016), Jorge Lorenzo (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015), Quartararo (2020, 2022); three in GP500 : Wayne Rainey (1992, 1993), Luca Cadalora (1994). . However, the development of Aprilia’s aerodynamics is getting better, especially in ground effect.
Is it because the 2023 results mean that the 4 racers who use the GP23 this weekend will syllogically not have the potential to have a good race? It doesn’t seem certain, especially because they have Marc Marquez who is an adaptive rider and is one of the best racers currently in terms of racing performance. Marc There have also been rumors since Jerez and Le Mans that he has received several minor updates for his GP23 after Ducati saw its progress. There is also a motivational incentive where if Marc Marquez wins the Grand Prix race on Sunday’s Cataly, it will mark Marc’s return to the highest podium that he has been waiting for 945 days since his last victory at the 2021 Emilia-Roma GP Romagna.
After that, of course how the GP24 works on a track with low grip is a good question and needs to be addressed. It is worth noting that they have officially combined the Ground Effect details with the Difusser Downwash Duct details, which according to us has the opportunity and potential to achieve the positive things that Aprilia has achieved there. It is worth noting that Ducati’s last victory at the Catalunya MotoGP was when Jorge Lorenzo won in 2018 from pole.
In total, Ducati has won four MotoGP wins at the Catalunya circuit, including their first victory in that class with Loris Capirossi in 2003. Catalunya is also key. If Ducati is victorious here, on a low-grip circuit, who knows what else can hold them back in the series upcoming series
