Jorge Martin (89) aboard the factory Aprilia RS-GP he will race in 2025. Photos by Michael Gougis.
Three MotoGP rookies got their first taste of the firebreathing literbikes that make up the series’ premier class racebikes, and several riders got their first outings on new machines and in new livery at the first post-2024 MotoGP test in Barcelona.
It was a tough start for the rookies, as all three crashed early in the day as they started to come to grips with racebikes that were heavier, much more complicated and made twice the horsepower of the Moto2 machines they raced in 2024.
At mid-day, the three were lumped together at the bottom of the time sheet, with Fermin Aldeguer just ahead of Somkiat Chantra and Ai Ogura.
Pedro Acosta (37) moved from the satellite GASGAS Tech3 team to the factory Red Bull KTM squad.
Fermin Aldeguer (54) on the Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP24.
Aleix Espargaro (41) started his career as a test rider for Honda.
Enea Bastianini (23) moved from the factory Ducati to the Tech3 KTM.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) left the Pertamina Enduro VR46 team to take the factory Aprilia ride.
Somkiat Chantra (35) replaced Taakaki Nakagami at the LCR Honda team.
Maverick Vinales (12) moved from the factory Aprilia to the Tech3 KTM team.
Miguel Oliveira (88) moved from Trackhouse Racing’s Aprilia to Pramac Racing’s new Yamaha.
Ai Ogura (seated on scooter) was one of the first to crash.
Jack Miller (43) got the other Pramac Yamaha ride. The team opted for experienced MotoGP racers for the first year with Yamaha.
Marc Marquez (93) rode for the factory Ducati team in red but without sponsor decals on the bike. Contracts are complicated things at the eight-time World Champion level.
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