“The battle here is always fantastic”: Media Day from MotorLand
FRANCESCO BAGNAIA (Ducati Lenovo Team)
How confident are you about outperforming Enea this weekend?
“I’m thrilled to be here because I love this track. The layout is fantastic—a blend of challenging braking zones and fast corners that really suit our bike. The last two times we raced here, the track played perfectly to our strengths, so I believe we have great potential. We know Marc and Jorge are incredibly fast here, but it will likely be a four-way battle. Enea won here last time, I won in 2021, Marc has won six times, and Jorge has always been quick, so it should be an exciting fight. I’m looking forward to enjoying the weather and testing out the new asphalt.”
Do you expect this weekend to be one of the toughest battles of the season?
“Let’s see. It would be great to have a close battle because it’s tough to create a gap on this track. But that’s what makes the racing here fantastic. I’d love to have a fight like we did in 2021 and again in 2022 with Enea, who was pushing every lap. Last year, it was seven-tenths every lap, except for the last two laps when he overtook me. It was a great battle, and I’m ready for another one.”
JORGE MARTIN (Prima Pramac Racing)
Do you feel you have the potential to reclaim P1 this weekend?
“Let’s see. Since Le Mans and Sachsenring, I’ve come close but unfortunately crashed, so I’m feeling strong and confident in my potential to win. The last two weekends, I played it a bit safer to gather points, but Pecco was on another level in Austria, which made things really tough. This track is complicated, and the three guys here have all won in MotoGP™ on this circuit, while I’ve only won here in Moto3™. I’m the only one missing a MotoGP™ win here, so I’ll be pushing hard to change that.”
What’s the missing piece to get ahead of Pecco?
“It’s really tough. Pecco is on a great level and has improved in areas where he wasn’t as strong before. I still need to work on my weak points. But I’m looking forward to this battle, and I hope to have a chance until the very end. We’ll see what happens.”
ENEA BASTIANINI (Ducati Lenovo Team)
How do you feel about your chances of winning in Aragon again?
“The 2022 race in Aragon was a great fight. I remember we made some mistakes during the race, and it was on the limit even back then. This year will be even more challenging because the level is so high, and with all of us riding for Ducati, any of these riders could win. We need to start strong. In Austria, something wasn’t quite right, so we need to come out stronger here.”
Do you think your skills will give you an edge at the end of the race?
“The new asphalt will be a fresh challenge for all riders, and it could make a difference. We need to evaluate the tyres since we have three options. We’ll test them all and decide which to use during the race. Typically, we opt for the hardest front tyre, and here we have a new specification similar to Austria, but it was too dangerous to use there. With higher temperatures expected this weekend, it will be crucial to test it thoroughly and get some laps in.”
MARC MARQUEZ (Gresini Racing MotoGP™)
This weekend feels similar to Austin or Sachsenring, where you were considered a favorite. How do you see it playing out?
“We’re at a circuit I enjoy and have had success at in the past, but now is a different time. I know that if I have a perfect weekend, I might be able to fight with the top guys. In Austria, I was very close and felt really good with the bike—it was one of my best weekends in terms of feeling. The start in FP1 will be crucial. If we start with a solid base, we might be able to compete with the top riders.”
Where do you feel you are with the bike, and are you ready to win in the final part of the season?
“The first part of the season was about rebuilding, but now I feel great with the team and the bike. It’s true that we’ll face some tracks like Silverstone where I may struggle more. But I hope to have my chance on a weekend where I can fight with the top riders. One of my goals is to compete for podium positions, and if everything goes well, we might even fight for victory. If not, we’ll have more opportunities next year.”
ALEIX ESPARGARO (Aprilia Racing)
Are you confident in Aprilia’s chances for success this weekend?
“We’ll see. I’m really looking forward to it because this is a track where I always have a lot of fun riding. As you mentioned, the Aprilia usually performs well here—we finished on the podium in 2022, so I’m excited to get started. The new tarmac looks promising, and I spoke with some Moto2™ riders who tested here last week. They said the grip is pretty good for fresh asphalt, so I can’t wait to see how it feels tomorrow.”
Do you think this weekend brings you closer to the front?
“I want to stay optimistic, but we’ve been working hard, and the last time we raced here, our strength was in the second half of the race. This year, though, we’re still struggling to understand why we’re wearing out the tire more in that part of the race. Ducati has been incredible with their pace in the second half, which we can’t match right now. We’re quick in qualifying and the Sprint, but we’re missing something in those final laps on Sunday. Hopefully, we can figure that out this weekend.”
FRANCO MORBIDELLI (Prima Pramac Racing)
What is it about Aragon that you enjoy so much?
“I’m not exactly sure, but I’ve always had great results here. Even in my first year in Moto2™ back in 2014, I was already fighting for the podium. It’s always been an amazing feeling at this track, and I hope this weekend will be the same.”
Do you feel ready to battle for a spot in the top three?
“We’re working hard to make that happen. The crew and I are addressing everything we missed at the beginning of the year because of the injury, which set us back in terms of experience with the bike and as a team. Now, we’re almost there, and I believe we can aim for a podium. But everything needs to fall into place, so let’s see if we can make it happen.”
SOMKIAT CHANTRA (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia)
How does it feel to see your dream come true?
“I was overjoyed when I found out I’d be in MotoGP™ next year. I was so happy that I cried when I called my mom to tell her the news. I also want to thank everyone who has supported me.”
Your MotoGP™ debut will be in Buriram. How special is that?
“Yes, and the big news is that my first race will be in Buriram, which is also my home race. There are so many fast riders, and I hope to learn a lot from them and enjoy the experience in Buriram.”
What does it mean to you to go from winning the ATC in 2016 to knowing you’ll be in MotoGP™ next year?
“It’s been an incredible journey. This year, I won my home race, which was amazing, and next year, I’ll be starting the season in Buriram. It feels really good.”
Somkiat Chantra to make history in 2025
History Will Be Made in 2025!
2016 Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (ATC) Champion, Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia), is set to make history by becoming the first-ever Thai rider to compete in MotoGP™. Chantra will join IDEMITSU Honda LCR, marking a significant milestone in Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
At the Austrian GP, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) became the first rider from the ATC to have his promotion to MotoGP™ confirmed. Now, his former Moto2™ teammate Chantra follows in his footsteps, making it two ATC alumni who will compete in the premier class in 2025, just over a decade after the Cup’s inception.
Chantra’s journey began with immediate success in the ATC, where he became the first Thai rider to win the title in 2016. He then spent two years in the JuniorGP™ World Championship, followed by a wildcard appearance at the 2018 Thai GP in Moto3™, where he impressed with a P9 finish on home soil.
Building on this strong debut, Chantra moved up to the Moto2™ World Championship in 2019. In 2022, he secured his and Thailand’s first victory at the Indonesian GP, followed by another win at the Japanese GP in 2023, leading to a career-best P6 overall finish in the intermediate class.
As the 2024 season concludes, Thailand will soon have its first MotoGP™ hero to cheer for, with the 2025 season kicking off in Buriram. The Thai GP is known for its passionate and vocal supporters, and excitement will reach new heights when Chantra debuts as a MotoGP™ rider.
From the ATC to MotoGP™, Chantra and Ogura have paved the way for future Thai, Japanese, and other Asian stars. A historic chapter awaits in 2025!
Official MotoGP Press Release
