MotoGP is heading to Thailand for the sixth time in their history, this also marks the first time the country is hosting a season opener. It is also the first time we have a season opener in South East Asia for the first time since 1999, underscoring the region’s growing significance in the sport. Here are the top storylines for this weekend:
Marc Marquez Makes his Debut in Red
Mar Marquez, who was the face of Honda for over a decade, which helped him bag 6 premier class titles switched to Ducati last year, driving a year-old Desmosedici with Gresini. This year, however, he has made a switch to red, joining the Factory Ducati outfit. Hopes are high for the Spaniard who was constantly challenging the factory riders with his a-year older bike, helping him finish third in the Riders Championship. Stats favour Marquez heading into Buriram, as the Ducati bike has been on the pole, won the sprint race and the main race in the last 2 years. Marquez is also the rider with the most wins (2) in the current grid in Buriram.
A point to prove for Francesco Bagnaia
The 2023 MotoGP Champion, Francesco Bagnaia lost out the title last year by fine margins to Jorge Martin. This year, Bagnaia will be looking to turn things around and take his second premier class title. But it will not be an easy feat, as he has been teamed up against one of the greatest riders in the history of the sport.
Setback for Aprillia and Jorge Martin
Jorge Martin created history in MotoGP last year, becoming the only rider to win the title with a satellite team, albeit they were running the factory bikes. But the start of 2025 is not what he would have hoped for. During Day 1 of the Sepang Pre-Season test, Martin had a huge moment on track which ruled him out of the remainder of the test initially. Medical checks diagnosed him with a right-hand fracture and fractures in his left foot, with surgeries to take place later that week. Now, even though the surgeries went well, Martin has been ruled out of Round 1 at Buriram and also Round 2 in Argentina.
❌ @88jorgemartin is set to miss Argentina according to Aprilia Racing's CEO #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/xIp9XU00xl
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) February 27, 2025
Shark Attack in MotoGP: Acosta’s KTM Debut
When Pedro Acosta made his debut last year, hopes were high for the rookie, and boy did he deliver. The satellite KTM rider had 5 podiums, most of any KTM rider, and he finished just 2 points shy of factory rider Brad Binder in a satellite bike. This year he has been promoted to the factory KTM outfit. Confident and fast through testing, can last year’s rookie revelation cause a stir from the start? Yet to bag that first MotoGP Grand Prix victory, it’s a story not just for Thailand but for 2025.
Fresh faces: Rookies to watch out for
Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Racing MotoGP) was one of the standout performers in testing and along with fellow Aprilia rider Bezzecchi, notched up more laps than anyone else. Keep an eye on the #79 during the first round, he may be a surprise package. Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had a sparkling pre-season too and was one to watch; the Buriram Test proved more challenging but when the visor goes down when it matters, Aldeguer is very likely going to be there.
A rockstar in Thailand and one of the stars of the Season Launch, Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU LCR Honda) has perhaps the hardest job of all the rookies: he’s on an improving but not yet perfected Honda and he’s making his debut at home. He’ll be looking to have a solid weekend on track and shine in the spotlight off it.
Yamaha and Honda on an upward trajectory
Yamaha and Honda appear to be on an upward trajectory as the 2025 MotoGP season kicks off. Fabio Quartararo impressed with his consistency at the Sepang Test, while both he and Alex Rins showed promising improvements at Buriram. With Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP now fielding factory-spec bikes, Jack Miller is already settling in, and Miguel Oliveira is expected to unlock more pace. Meanwhile, Honda’s HRC Castrol squad made notable progress, with Joan Mir and Luca Marini showing competitive pace over Sprint simulations. Johann Zarco continues to be a key asset, and with Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami bolstering Honda’s development, the Japanese manufacturer seems well on its way back to the front.
Schedule and Where to Watch MotoGP in India
You can watch all the MotoGP sessions live in India on Fancode (digital) and Eurosport (TV Broadcast).
The complete schedule in IST is given below:
Two world championships with season openers on the same weekend. Read our WEC Qatar 1812KM preview here.
