Ducati has introduced electronic updates at this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP, with further upgrades planned for Monday’s post-race test as it looks to close the gap to “fastest bike” Aprilia.

The Desmosedici’s four-year MotoGP dominance is under serious threat from Aprilia, which has won the opening three grands prix with Marco Bezzecchi, plus a Sprint with Jorge Martin, to lead the world championship standings.

The top Ducati rider, VR46’s Fabio di Giannantonio, is behind KTM’s Pedro Acosta in fourth, followed by the factory’s reigning champion Marc Marquez.

“This month, Gigi [Dall’Igna] and the engineers worked a lot,” Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi told MotoGP pit lane reporter Jack Appleyard during FP1.

“They analysed all the data of those three races and on the electronic side we found something, but for sure we’ll have something [more] on Monday to test.”

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While Marc Marquez’s healing shoulder has also been a factor in the Spaniard’s form, Tardozzi admitted Ducati has been outpaced by the RS-GPs.

“Aprilia showed that they made a huge step ahead, and honestly, we didn’t.

“So this month, Gigi worked a lot in the factory to try to find out why we haven’t progressed as much as them.

“This is a racetrack that should suit Ducati and the Ducati riding style. So I think that we will be competitive, but we know that Aprilia is the fastest bike in this moment, with fast riders.

“We need to be with our feet on the ground and work, because the domination of the last years is not there anymore and we have to face this situation.”

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Tardozzi identified braking and corner entry as the source of Aprilia’s current advantage.

“The bike is not so different on the chassis side [for the grand prix], but again, we found something on the electronic side to help the riders… because what we miss more from Aprilia at this moment is the last part of braking and entry of the corner.”

Ducati riders filled the top three places in FP1 courtesy of di Giannantonio, Franco Morbidelli and Alex Marquez, however the VR46 riders used new rubber to set their best times.

Bezzecchi finished fourth and Marc Marquez fifth, having – like 2025 Jerez winner Alex Marquez – remained on used tyres.

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