The 2025 MotoGP season rolls into its fourth round this weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix, and while the race is typically known for opening the season, this time it arrives under the scorching April sun. After a dramatic weekend in America that saw Marc Marquez crash out from the lead, allowing his brother Alex Marquez to snatch the championship lead by a single point, the stakes are high at Lusail. The Ducati camp has their eyes on Qatar as the turning point for Pecco Bagnaia, who picked up his first win of the season at COTA and is now just 12 points behind Alex. But it’s not just about the standings—there are several compelling storylines to follow.
One of the biggest talking points is the long-awaited return of reigning world champion Jorge Martin, who is finally set to make his debut for Aprilia. After sustaining multiple fractures during testing in Sepang and another injury before the Thai Grand Prix, Martin has been sidelined for the first three rounds. He comes into the Qatar GP having only completed 13 laps on the Aprilia RS-GP this year. While the team has made progress in his absence—with Marco Bezzecchi showing promise and rookie Ai Ogura sitting sixth in the standings—Martin himself admits he’s unsure whether he can even finish the race. With expectations kept low and the focus on rebuilding fitness, just reaching the chequered flag without incident would be considered a successful weekend for the champion.
Meanwhile, Alex Marquez finds himself in unfamiliar territory—leading the world championship for the first time in his MotoGP career. His consistent form, with second-place finishes in every race so far, has been key. While he was outpaced by Bagnaia at COTA, Alex comes into a circuit where the Ducati has traditionally performed well, and his own past results in Lusail suggest he could continue this strong run. With doubts over Marc’s strength at this track and questions still lingering around Bagnaia’s breakthrough, Alex could be in prime position to make a serious push for his maiden premier class victory.
Bagnaia, on the other hand, is being tipped by Ducati insiders to hit his stride in Qatar. Although his record at Lusail includes a win and two podiums, it’s not dominant enough to justify the heavy hype. Nevertheless, the Italian made noticeable progress in America, especially with braking confidence, and took full advantage of Marc’s crash to secure the win. If that performance was a sign of him finally clicking with the GP25, this weekend could see him claw even closer to the top of the standings. That said, he’ll need to prove that his form wasn’t a one-off, especially against teammates and rivals equally hungry for success.
Adding to the unpredictability is Fabio Di Giannantonio, who could be the dark horse of the weekend. After missing the pre-season due to a freak injury at Sepang, he has quietly been building momentum. Despite still dealing with collarbone pain, he was on course for his best result of the season at COTA before inheriting a podium after Marc’s fall. His performance was solid—just 3.5 seconds off the win and well clear of the midfield. Qatar holds special meaning for Di Giannantonio as the site of his first MotoGP win last year, and with the powerful GP25 underneath him, he could be a serious threat to the established Ducati trio of Marc, Alex, and Bagnaia.
All eyes are now on Lusail as these stories converge. From Martin’s brave comeback and Alex’s rise to Bagnaia’s title charge and Di Giannantonio’s resurgence, the 2025 Qatar GP promises to shake up the championship picture once again.
