Written by Finn Glover, Edited by Dhara Dave
After 105 days with no racing action, MotoGP returns for its 2025 edition, in the searing heat of Buriram. A whole world of unknowns ahead, the question on absolutely everyone’s lips is who will take the crown come Valencia?
Until then, we have 22 rounds, 44 races, a bunch of rookies and some new, and returning destinations to look forward to. Saddle up, it is going to be a belter!
The Thai Grand Prix: Chang International Circuit
Round One sees the circus head to the Chang International Circuit, located in the humid heat of Eastern Thailand. Temperatures are forecasted to be over 35 degrees Celsius, yet the weather won’t be the only thing heating up this weekend.
The track itself houses distinct similarities with Austria’s ‘Red Bull Ring’, with long straights blending into tight braking zones, along with technical areas and a very exciting run to the final corner. 3/3 of dry races held at Buriram have been decided at the final corner, on the last lap. If you needed any statistics to show a track is made for racing, then that's it.
Made up of just 12 corners and stretching 4.554 km long (2.83 miles), nearly a quarter of the track is made up of the ridiculously long straight into the tight hairpin of turn 3. Racing is a guarantee here, despite a relatively narrow racing line and a dusty surface due to the relatively unused nature of the track.
For the first time, the Thai Grand Prix will host the season opener in spring, posing a significant challenge and change to the usual autumn slot that the race holds towards the end of the season. Yet, no matter the season, rain is always lingering somewhere, with there being a 40% record of rain since the Thai Grand Prix was inaugurated in 2018.
Past Results
In recent years, Ducati have dominated the Thai Grand Prix, with the sprint last year marking the first time the top 8 have all been totally locked out by the Ducatis. The race posed a different storyline, albeit the weather, but unless something obscure happens it seems like an ominous sign for other manufacturers.
In their golden era, Marc Marquez and Honda won two races in Buriram, both at the last corner. Last year, Marquez was a contender for the win as he battled relentlessly with Francesco Bagnaia until it came crashing down in an agonising accident for the once Gresini rider.
Last year, along with 2023’s edition, was characterized by the battle of Bagnaia and Martín, with Brad Binder featuring in the elder. But with Martín out injured this weekend, there will certainly be no repeat of that for the third time running.
KTM also has a very respectable history here; with KTM bikes locking out 3rd, 4th and 5th last year in the race, as well as a stunning win for Miguel Oliviera in 2022.
But, as previously mentioned, the form guide can be thrown out the window, with a totally new timeslot for the race, and with it being the first race of the season, we have no real implication as to what to expect in the racing environment. So expect a bit of the unexpected!
Key Notices
The Thai Grand Prix marks the earliest-ever start to a MotoGP season with bikes featuring on a race weekend in February for the first time ever. Following the Thai Grand Prix, 21 additional rounds will mark MotoGP’s longest-ever season. With a maximum of 814 points to be won, every move and every race is equally pivotal in the championship playout.
Three riders will make their MotoGP debuts this weekend, with Ai Ogura at Trackhouse Aprilia, Fermin Aldeguer at Gresini and local hero Somkiat Chantra at LCR Idemitsu. The latter will become the first-ever Thai MotoGP rider, and what better way than to make your debut in front of jam-packed grandstands in your home country.
Reigning champion Jorge Martín will miss the round after undergoing surgery following sustaining an injury in training; with his debut in Aprilia colours delayed until at least the next round in Argentina, meaning for the first time since Valencia 2022 there will not be a No. 1 on the grid. He will be replaced by the veteran test rider Lorenzo Savadori for the weekend.
Testing showed varying fortunes for the 5 manufacturers, with Ducati’s Desmosedici GP24 dilemma dominating headlines. The Japanese manufacturers, Honda and Yamaha dominated headlines, and KTM and Aprilia still have a few question marks surrounding their true picture for the season.
Yet, there are question marks surrounding all; possibly most notably surrounding the brewing battle of the Ducatis of Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia.
So, get ready for the action! The sound of GP bikes is back and better. In the excruciating heat of Thailand, who will cope, and who will reign victorious?
The bookies will likely be with Bagnaia and the Ducati dominion; but when the heat rises and the first race of the season is still approaching, it's useless making predictions. Absolutely anything could happen, and we won’t get a true meaning until we get to the European leg come April.
The Thai Grand Prix begins at 8 am GMT!
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