Aprilia's Thai Masterclass Leaves Ducati Reeling in Historic Performance Gap
Marco Bezzecchi delivered a commanding performance at the Thai Grand Prix, piloting an Aprilia to victory while the manufacturer's teammates secured three additional positions in the top five. The result marked a catastrophic weekend for Ducati, highlighted by Marc Marquez's tire-related difficulties that contributed to the Italian squad's worst grand prix result in five years.
Aprilia's impressive showing at Thailand's iconic circuit overshadowed what proved to be a disastrous outing for the Ducati contingent at MotoGP's Thai Grand Prix.
Bezzecchi's commanding victory served as the centerpiece of a stellar day for Aprilia, which managed to populate four of the top five finishing positions—a remarkable achievement that underscored the manufacturer's technical superiority during the race. The Italian squad's dominance proved particularly striking when contrasted with the struggles encountered by their Italian rivals.
For Ducati, the afternoon unfolded as one of their most forgettable in recent memory. The team's troubles were epitomized by Marquez, whose encounter with tire difficulties proved catastrophic to any hopes of salvaging a respectable result. This performance drought represents the manufacturer's poorest showing across a single grand prix weekend in the past five years, signaling concerns that extend well beyond a single race weekend.
The stark contrast between the two manufacturers' form at the Thai Grand Prix highlighted both Aprilia's technical prowess and Ducati's immediate need to address the fundamental issues that plagued their entire operation throughout the weekend.
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Related Regulations
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Full Regulation Text
Article 4.3
ADUO Operational and Financial Measures and Eligibility Criteria
Chapter: APPENDIX C5: HOMOLOGATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF POWER UNITS, FUEL AND OIL FOR 2026-2030
In Simple Terms
This rule gives struggling power unit manufacturers extra development opportunities to catch up. If a manufacturer's engine is 2-4% slower than the best engine, they get 1 extra upgrade per season for two seasons. If they're 4% or more behind, they get 2 extra upgrades per season instead. These upgrades are one-time grants and don't stack within the same season.
- ADUO (Aid to Disadvantaged Users of Older power units) provides extra homologation upgrades for manufacturers falling behind on performance
- Eligibility is based on ICE Performance Index: 2-4% gap = 1 upgrade per season; 4%+ gap = 2 upgrades per season
- Upgrades are granted for two consecutive seasons (N and N+1) but don't accumulate within a single season
- Manufacturers must also reduce their Cost Cap spending downward when receiving these benefits
Official FIA Text
At the end of each of the ADUO periods specified above, every PU Manufacturer granted ADUO may implement further upgrades to their homologated Power Unit (as described in Article 3.3 of this Appendix), extend the usage of their Power Unit Test Benches for Restricted Testing (as described in Article F5.2.7) and must make a downward adjustment for Cost Cap purposes (pursuant to Article 4.1(t) of the Power Unit Financial Regulations). a. PU Manufacturers whose ICE Performance Index is at least 2% but less than 4% below the best-performing ICE will be eligible for: i 1 additional homologation upgrade in season N ii 1 additional homologation upgrade in season N+1 b. PU Manufacturers whose ICE Performance Index is at least 4% below the best-performing ICE will be eligible for: i 2 additional homologation upgrades in season N ii 2 additional homologation upgrades in season N+1 ADUO homologation upgrades are not cumulative within a season and will only be granted following the first occasion that the PU Manufacturer is assessed by the FIA as eligible for ADUO according to the criteria in this Article. [The proposed 2% threshold and subsequent resolution of the ICE performance index will be validated or adjusted after conclusion of the ongoing activities between PU Manufacturers and F1 Teams related to the on-track ICE performance measurement]
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