Francesco Bagnaia is the reigning two-time MotoGP champion, and after winning both pre-season testing in Sepang and Lusail, the factory Ducati rider is expected to be difficult to defeat.
Bagnaia established two new lap records, but Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez impressed in their own unique ways.
Marquez’s race pace was particularly impressive, while Martin’s sheer speed was on display at both tests.
Every rider in Ducati’s lineup has won a MotoGP race, with the exception of Alex Marquez, who won two sprint events in 2023.
So Bagnaia, Martin, and Marquez will almost definitely face competition from inside.
But other brands are also capable of making a significant push, and Doohan is excited to see what Pedro Acosta can accomplish.
Speaking about the forthcoming season, Doohan told MotoGP.com: “Jorge Martin came very near to winning the title last year. I imagine it will be much the same again.
“I didn’t see much testing, but the Ducati was strong, and there will be numerous Ducatis at the front, including Jorge and Bagnaia.”
“You can’t ignore Marc Marquez either. But there are a lot of young men coming through.
“Acosta will also be a wildcard, depending on how the GASGAS plays out.
“It’s early days, and I haven’t seen any testing. I noticed some results, but it’s testing, and it’s difficult to tell what’s going on.
“After three or four races you’ll get an idea of what the lay of the land is.”
