MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Former MotoGP team manager Francesco Guidotti believes the difficult result experienced by Ducati at the 2026 Thai Grand Prix should not be considered a major concern.
Guidotti, who previously led Pramac Racing before moving to the factory KTM project, said the outcome at Buriram reflects Ducati’s previous dominance rather than signalling a serious performance issue.
The season opener ended Ducati’s remarkable run of 88 consecutive MotoGP podium finishes. During the race weekend, rival manufacturer Aprilia delivered a strong performance by placing four bikes inside the top five, with victory secured by Marco Bezzecchi.
“Of course, the Thailand GP looks like a huge disaster for Ducati but only compared to the past,” said Francesco Guidotti.
According to the Italian, the result should be viewed within the broader competitive context of the championship.
“Realistically speaking, an outcome like the Thailand GP is rather normal and, in my view, not a drama for Ducati,” he added.
Guidotti also praised Aprilia’s performance during the Buriram weekend, noting that Bezzecchi was particularly effective in managing the special rear tyre construction supplied by Michelin, which is typically used at specific circuits such as Mandalika and the Red Bull Ring.
“Aprilia did a great job and clearly closed the gap. Bezzecchi was able to make the difference because he is one of the few riders who really likes Michelin’s special tyre carcass,” explained Francesco Guidotti.
Guidotti also pointed out that reigning champion Marc Marquez appeared capable of securing a podium result before suffering wheel-rim damage late in the race, which ultimately forced him to retire.
Meanwhile, riders from the VR46 Racing Team, including Fabio di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli, showed competitive pace despite encountering issues such as technical problems and difficult starts.
The only significant question mark within the Ducati camp, according to Guidotti, concerns the performance of Marquez’s team-mate Francesco Bagnaia, who endured a challenging weekend despite showing strong pace during winter testing.
“He showed during 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,” said Francesco Guidotti.
Despite the mixed results, Guidotti stressed that it is too early to draw conclusions after just one race of the season. He believes Ducati’s broader objective of maintaining a competitive group of riders remains intact heading into the next rounds.
The second round of the 2026 MotoGP season will take place this weekend in Goiania, Brazil, presenting a new challenge for teams and riders as the championship continues to unfold.
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