Ducati MotoGP launch: First look at Marquez in factory colours

MotoGP champion Ducati has unveiled its 2025 livery in a launch event at Madonna di Campiglio, featuring a first appearance of Marc Marquez in factory Ducati colours.

Marquez was already embedded in Ducati's factory garage during the post-season test in Barcelona, but - as is the norm due to MotoGP contracts running to year end - ran in an unbranded red livery.

Now he's officially a factory Ducati rider, on a two-year deal, and as a consequence of this switch he's had to split with his long-time sponsor Red Bull - as Ducati has a major Monster Energy sponsorship deal.

In the past Ducati ran split energy drink sponsorships between its riders - like Aprilia is doing this year with Jorge Martin (Red Bull) and Marco Bezzecchi (Monster). But here Monster is present on the bike and both riders' leather suits - but only on Bagnaia's helmet, not Marquez's.

As for the livery itself, it is almost completely unchanged from 2024 - both in terms of colour patterns and sponsorship decals.

Ducati won the manufacturers' championship last season and its factory team was teams' champion - but the riders' title went to Martin, then a Ducati-contracted satellite rider at Pramac and now an Aprilia rider.

Martin would've stayed at Ducati but it favoured a move to promote Marquez into the works outfit.

"We have two champions, and in my view they are the best riders on the grid," reiterated Ducati sporting manager Gigi Dall'Igna during the launch.

As for the 2025 machine - whose predecessor GP24 won 19 of the 20 grands prix - he said: "The objective we have this year is not to have a completely new bike, it's to better the bike we had. The base is already very sound, very good."

But he described Ducati's item list for the upcoming tests as "a new swingarm, a new chassis, a completely new fairing and also other elements that have been adapted and retouched".

"But we will be really strict in the selection of materials that really work, that will make the difference - and maybe we'll leave the other elements that we have some doubts on to the side, and maybe we'll try them during the season."

"There are so many things to evaluate, to assess, and also on the basis of our competitors and what they will do.

"I like to take risks. I always have. But you have to be smart. You have to risk when it's the right moment to."