The 2024 MotoGP World Championship promises to be, even more than the previous one, a land of conquest for Ducati.
If three days of testing are not enough to issue a definitive ruling, there are however all the signs of another season dominated by the Desmosedici thanks to a 'package' of evolutions promoted by the riders, starting with the new fairing.
On the Sepang circuit, after the exploits of Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini, the closing with a bang could only fall to Francesco Bagnaia.
The reigning world champion re-established the hierarchies by signing the best time of the last day, which is also the new fastest lap of the track, in 1'56"682. It means having shaved half a second off Bastianini's time yesterday. But above all having taken over 8 tenths off his own pole last year in Sepang (1'57"491).
"Many of the new features we tried worked. Something can still be improved on the engine - his comment - but in general I really like the new bike, especially when braking".
And behind Pecco the music doesn't change: Martin (Ducati Pramac), Bastianini (official Ducati) and Alex Marquez (Ducati Gresini) are the others who dropped below the 1'57 mark and complete the Borgo Panigale poker.
"This year it will be fun, it won't just be a three-way fight between me, Pecco and Martin" is Bastianini's prediction, who sees delivery as "the only point to work on".
Otherwise the 2024 version "looks very good".
To find the first bike out of the pack - but still Italian - you have to go down to fifth place, with Aleix Espargaró's Aprilia.
Sixth is Marc Marquez (+0.588 thousandths) with the second Ducati of the Gresini team, who improved significantly compared to the first two days.
Seventh was Fabio Di Giannantonio (the best in the Sprint Race simulation, +0.661), another centaur riding a Ducati.
Rookie Pedro Acosta (KTM), Joan Mir (Honda) and Brad Binder (KTM) close the list of the best 10. Eleventh Fabio Quartararo with Yamaha.
The Frenchman is not exactly satisfied: "We are still far away, especially on the time attack. We need to make a step on grip and electronics to make progress over time. The new engine? The power is there, we need to be able to use it to the fullest."
Luca Marini, this year representing the Honda factory, finished 19th (+1"344). "The bike has improved a lot in the last few days, Mir set an excellent time.
But the Honda is very different to ride compared to the Ducati - he explained - I still have to adapt and we have to work: I can't get the bike to turn well in the insertion phase.
But we have understood the direction in which to go and in Qatar we will try new things". For confirmations and denials, meet at the two days of testing in Qatar (19-20 February), from 8 to 10 March the scene of the first GP of the season.
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