It's the end of January and we've seen five team presentations so far. The Shakedown and two Official Tests in Sepang and Buriram are fast approaching on the horizon, and it's there we'll start to get some questions answered about 2025.
But before that, there's a great sense of unknown. Naturally, as fans, we'll all have our own opinions on what we think might happen in MotoGP™ this season. So we've come up with five burning questions - one for each manufacturer - that will be on many people's lips before we see bikes back on track again in Malaysia.
DUCATI: Who will win the Bagnaia vs Marquez battle?
It's one of the greatest-ever MotoGP line-ups. Bagnaia, the rider who won Ducati's first title since Casey Stoner and then backed it up a year later, against the incoming eight-time World Champion. 11 Grand Prix titles between them, both with points to prove following 2024.
Bagnaia joined Marquez and Valentino Rossi as the only riders to win 11 races in a single season, yet he lost out on a third MotoGP title by 10 points. He wants to reclaim that crown. For Marquez, he's proved he's still ultra-competitive and now, in his words, he has all the tools to fight for titles again. This is a compelling story that we'll be laser-focused on from the minute both leave pitlane at the first Official Test.
KTM: Can Acosta get his first win and return KTM to the top?
Back in factory KTM orange for 2025, last year's rookie superstar will be hunting one thing from day one - that first MotoGP victory. Five Sunday podium finishes and a P6 Championship accolade signalled a powerful start to life as a premier class rider for Acosta, but that's nowhere near enough for the two-time World Champion.
KTM's last dry victory in MotoGP was back at the 2021 Catalan GP. Their last win was Miguel Oliveira's wet weather 25-point haul at the 2022 Thai GP. If the Austrian marque can give Acosta and co a strong set of tools that brings them closer to Ducati, then it's surely only a matter of time before the #37 is standing on the top step of a MotoGP podium.
APRILIA: Will World Champion Martin take the Noale factory to the next level?
A new era begins for Aprilia in 2025 as they welcome a pair of fresh - and very fast - faces through the factory doors. Marco Bezzecchi will gain plenty of attention as he switches from Ducati to Aprilia, but a few metres away sits two RS-GPs that sport a beautiful number one slapped on the front of them.
Can Jorge Martin take Aprilia to the very top? The Italians were the only other manufacturer to win a race in 2024 alongside Ducati, and now they've got last year's sharpest weapon on their machine. Giving the #1 a competitive package will be the first mission. And if that's completed, which we're all sure it will be, then just how fast and consistent can Martin be in 2025? It's a fascinating tale we'll all be keeping tabs on.
YAMAHA: Will the addition of Prima Pramac help them bridge the gap faster?
Five Sunday top 10s in the last eight races of 2024 for Fabio Quartararo indicated that the Iwata factory were taking steps in the right direction heading into the winter break. But what was arguably more positive was welcoming Prima Pramac to the Yamaha ranks, giving them two more factory bikes on track in 2025 and beyond.
More bikes on track = more data and feedback every Grand Prix. That can only be a good thing for Yamaha as they try and bridge the gap to Ducati, KTM and Aprilia as quickly as possible. However, how quick will that process be? Never say never, but fighting for a title win this season is probably beyond the realms of possibility. But scrapping for top fives, podiums and maybe a win or two? That's more realistic.
Yamaha now have four multiple MotoGP race winners riding for their bikes every weekend, plus a World Champion in Quartararo. That pedigree, plus Jack Miller and Oliveira's fresh ideas and input, will be crucial in the Japanese manufacturer's quest to climb back to the two-wheel summit.
HONDA: How much closer can HRC be to the front in 2025?
The answer we're all hoping for is: a lot! The going has been tough for HRC for a while now as they search for that missing spark when it comes to their RC213V, so can 2025 be the year we see the Japanese giants gain some positive momentum?
With Joan Mir, Luca Marini and Johann Zarco, Honda's arsenal have victories and experience in the locker. With Somkiat Chantra, they've got a Moto2 race-winning rookie who arrives with a bundle of positive energy. The addition of Aleix Espargaro to their test team will also hand HRC a basket full of valuable knowledge which can hopefully turn into success on the race track. It remains to be seen if HRC can enjoy the fruits of their labour in 2025, or if it will take a little longer to get the jigsaw puzzle pieces in place.
Let's go testing!
Those are just five questions we've picked out. There are so many more that will get answered along the way in 2025, and it all starts with pre-season testing firing into life. Let's get this show on the road, shall we?