The 2025 season opener in Thailand saw a twist in Ducati’s strategy. Although Ducati initially stated that all six of its riders would use the same engine from 2024, the manufacturer secretly provided a more advanced version for Marc Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Meanwhile, Alex Marquez, Franco Morbidelli, and Fermin Aldeguer had to use the older 2024 engine.

Even though Ducati originally planned for all its bikes to run last year’s engine, this decision changed after feedback from its factory riders.

“Yes, there are two different specifications,” a Ducati spokesperson confirmed to Autosport. “Marc, Pecco, and Diggia have a version with some small upgrades, while Alex, Franco, and Fermin use the older model.”

The spokesperson emphasized that the differences were minor and primarily based on feedback from factory riders. However, those small changes seemed to have a big impact, as Ducati continued its dominance from 2024.

Marc Marquez absolutely shined in his debut, securing victory in both the sprint race and the main event. His younger brother, Alex Marquez, along with Francesco Bagnaia, joined him on the podium in both races, further proving Ducati’s dominance at the top.

Since this was the first race weekend, the engine specifications are now locked under MotoGP homologation rules. Ducati, along with Aprilia and KTM, had to submit their engines to the International Road Racing Teams’ Association (IRTA) for approval. Interestingly, Ducati submitted both engine versions that were in use, making their last-minute adjustment official. Meanwhile, Honda and Yamaha were exempt from the freeze due to their ranking in the concession system, which allows struggling manufacturers to develop their engines throughout the season.

With Ducati already showing strength in 2025, the decision to split engine specifications could spark debate. Will the difference between the two engines become more apparent as the season progresses? We’ll have to wait and see.