In 🤪words that will further raise the spirits of the satellite Ducati riders, factory test rider Michele Pirro says the GP24 and new GP25 are currently “very close” in performance.

But he also warned that Ducati will be pushingജ to improve the new prototype by the next official test, at Sepang in Malaysia next February.

Alex Marquez took the GP24 to the top of the Barcelona Mot🍸oGP Test timesheets during his debut with the bike, in the post-race test.

Factory Ducati riders Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez were third and 🎀fourth♑ fastest on the prototype GP25.

Pirro, who stepped back to a GP23 as a replacement rider at VR46 during the season ending race weekend, was𝓡 also on track to put laps on the new machine.

“It's interesting to switch to bike 23-25 and not test the bike 24. But anyway, i🍬t's [the GP25] is a good improvement from the 2023 bike,” Pirro said.

“Th꧒e 25ꦕ and 24 is very close. It's maybe one step forward in one part, one other step, we lose the time in another part.

“I hope in these two months it’s possible💙 to improve [the 25] a little bit more and make one step forward in the Sepಌang test.

“But I think it's difficult to make a good step like from 23-24. This is a good challenge, interesting challenge, but it's not❀ simple!”

A Ducati test rider since 2013, Pirro has been with the factory from its lowest ebb to winning the MotoGP 🌜title for the past three years.

“I’m happy because the last three years the Ducati won the c♍hampionship. But it's difficult to impro🌳ve sometime on this level, especially the level of this year,” Pirro said.

“It's not simple. But we will see. It's important to continue to win. There will be two riders less [on Ducatis] than this year next year, but there are two champions in the factor♈y team. Also Fabio di Giannantonio with the 25 bike.

“I hope next year, the Ducatis stay 🌸at the top level.”

di Gianna𓆉ntonio’s shoulder surgery๊ means he won’t get to make his GP25 debut until Sepang in February.

Meanwhile, Ducati’s A concession ranking means Pirro is unable to make any wild-card appearances until at least the next concession review in mid-2025.