Ducati faces KTM challenge at Austrian MotoGP
Ducati riders, led by Fermin Aldeguer, show competitive race pace on a special Michelin tyre at the Austrian Grand Prix, but face a formidable challenge
Ducati faces a stern test from the home KTM squad at the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix. The Italian manufacturer's riders showed promising long-run pace on Friday, but KTM's Pedro Acosta set the fastest practice time.
Marc Marquez, Ducati's lead rider, finished fourth in both Friday sessions. His race simulation on a soft rear tyre was particularly strong. A lap of 1m29.812s late in the afternoon was only around three tenths slower than the all-time best race lap set by Francesco Bagnaia in 2024. Marquez was, however, notably down on top speed compared to his Ducati stablemates.
Aldeguer Leads Ducati Charge
Gresini Racing's Fermin Aldeguer was the fastest Ducati rider on Friday. The young Spaniard has a proven affinity for the special Michelin tyre carcass used only in Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, and Austria. He used it to win his sole grand prix in Indonesia last season and pushed Marc Marquez for victory at this circuit in 2025.
Aldeguer explained his advantage comes from his riding style. Of all the Ducati riders, normally [I am the one who uses this tyre the best], because I carry a lot of speed in the middle of the corner and I don't use a lot of gas to turn and to exit, he said.
Di Giannantonio Commits to New Aero
Fabio Di Giannantonio was sixth fastest, a positive result at a track where he has previously struggled. The Italian rider confirmed he has fully committed to using the 2026 aerodynamic package for the remainder of the weekend, ending recent speculation. He cited his victory in Barcelona with that package as reason for optimism.
"We must give it a go on the GP26 to try to see if we can steal something here and there to be the best," Di Giannantonio stated.
Other Ducati Riders with Potential
While factory rider Francesco Bagnaia and VR46's Franco Morbidelli continued recent struggles, Alex Marquez showed potential despite problems. The Gresini rider dealt with a flailing fairing and a stuck brake that caused a crash, yet still qualified comfortably for Q2. He finished second to his brother in last year's Austrian sprint race.
Despite the grounds for optimism, the Ducati riders were cautious. Aldeguer admitted, "I feel better than the other Ducati riders for sure, but I don't feel good. We have to work and that's it."
Marc Marquez was effusive in his praise for KTM's Acosta, firmly stating the rookie is in the championship fight. I expected [Acosta to be fast] because it's not the first time that KTM is very fast here, Marquez said. The next two days of track action will determine if Ducati's race pace can overcome KTM's single-lap speed.
