Trying out a new Ducati motorbike, Marc Marquez immediately sets a lap record

Marc Marquez, source : Okezone Sports

Marc Marquez has recently showcased his training with the new Ducati Panigale V2 2025 at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia. To everyone's surprise, Marquez's first encounter with the Ducati Panigale V2 resulted in a new lap record. This revelation came directly from Ducati's CEO, Claudio Domenicali, who was the key figure behind organizing the testing and training session. The story began with a conversation between Domenicali and Marquez before Christmas, during which the rider expressed his interest in training with the Panigale V2 at the Aspar Circuit.

"I called him to wish him a Merry Christmas, and he mentioned that he was planning to train with the 2024 Panigale V2 at the Aspar Circuit," Domenicali shared in an interview with Todocircuito.

"At that time, the 2025 version of the bike wasn't ready in full racing setup," explained the Italian executive. Instead of providing the older version, Domenicali decided to prepare the 2025 Panigale V2 with a racing setup for Marquez's training.

"I was personally very curious to hear his opinion about the latest version, so I called a few people to arrange a session for him to test the bike for photo and video launching purposes," Domenicali revealed.

Marquez's feedback was surprising, even to Domenicali. "He not only said that the bike was easy to handle but also commented on how comfortable the riding position and power delivery were," the Ducati CEO added.

During the session, Marquez managed to match the unofficial supersport lap record at the circuit with a time of 1 minute 12.2 seconds. Remarkably, he achieved this feat not on a true supersport racing bike but on a street-legal Panigale V2 with minimal modifications for racing purposes. The bike still retained standard road components such as headlights and a catalytic converter. Looking ahead, Ducati plans to prepare a full racing version of the Panigale V2 for Marquez's training by removing and replacing certain components.

It's worth noting that the latest version of the Panigale V2 features a reduced engine displacement, dropping from 955 cc to 890 cc, which slightly decreases its maximum power output. However, the new model is lighter than its predecessor, resulting in a better power-to-weight ratio.

"We can't wait to test the racing version, which will see its power increase from 120 hp to 126 hp while being 10 kg lighter thanks to the removal of street components," Domenicali stated. "I am very satisfied with the performance of a bike designed to combine the characteristics of regular tracks and mountain roads," he concluded.

Marquez's impressive lap time and his positive feedback on the Panigale V2 2025 have further heightened anticipation for his upcoming MotoGP season with Ducati. The collaboration between Marquez and Ducati continues to generate excitement, with this training session serving as a promising start to their partnership.

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