Former MotoGP team manager Francesco Guidotti has dismissed claims that Ducati suffered a “disaster” at the Thai season opener.
The Italian believes the manufacturer’s worst grand prix result since 2021 says more about its recent dominance than any serious problem.
Guidotti, a former boss of Pramac Ducati and later the factory KTM team, now contributes to Sky Italia’s MotoGP coverage.
The Buriram race ended Ducati’s run of 88 consecutive MotoGP podiums, with rivals Aprilia filling four of the top five places.
Marco Bezzecchi led the charge with victory, but Ducati’s reigning champion Marc Marquez looked set for a podium before suffering late wheel-rim damage.
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“Of course, the Thailand GP looks like a huge disaster for Ducati but only compared to the past,” Guidotti told Speedweek.com.
“Realistically speaking, an outcome like the Thailand GP is rather normal and, in my view, not a drama for Ducati.”
Guidotti credited Aprilia’s memorable weekend performance but also highlighted that Bezzecchi seems to excel on the special, harder rear tyre construction.
“Of course, Aprilia did a great job; they closed the gap,” he said.
“But Bezzecchi was also able to make the difference in Buriram because he is one of the few riders who loves Michelin’s special carcass, which is otherwise only used at Mandalika and the Red Bull Ring.
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“Marc was back at the front after a long break. Under normal circumstances, he would have been on the podium twice at the start of the season; you can’t expect more than that.”
“I don’t see a huge problem for Ducati”
Guidotti also felt VR46 riders Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli had shown competitive speed, despite a technical issue and a poor start, respectively.
At Gresini, the Italian suggested title runner-up Alex Marquez may have felt the pressure of factory expectations, “that ended with him in the gravel”.
Meanwhile, Marc’s team-mate Francesco Bagnaia was “the only question mark for me in the Ducati camp.
“He showed over the winter that he has the pace of the other Ducati riders, but he couldn’t translate that into race results for no real reason.
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“Overall, though, he did a good job.
“You can’t say much after just one GP, but a major goal was to get all the Ducati riders fast together, and they’ve come closer to that. They may have lost time elsewhere over the winter, though.
“But I don’t see a huge problem for Ducati.”
Round two of the 2026 season will be held at Goiania in Brazil, this weekend, a new challenge for all teams and riders.
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