After failing to secure a single podium in each of the opening three rounds of the year, the factory Ducati team already have some catching up to do if they want to answer the dominance of Aprilia that has marked the start of the season.

Fortunately, the next race in Jerez is not only expected to favour Ducati slightly more than those that have been visited in the opening rounds, but it is also a crucial weekend for testing in which MotoGP teams are allowed to officially test new parts with their primary riders.

Aprilia already has the advantage when it comes aero thanks to its new airflow innovation which enables riders to use their elbows to plug vents along the straight and redirect air to the lower side of the bike, all the while countering this in corners by releasing the vents and directing air upwards towards the rear fins.

Although Ducati's 2026 package was already homologated at the Buriram test, they are allowed one aero upgrade for the season - and there's every chance that it could be as soon as the Jerez test that we see it implemented.

Test rider Michele Pirro was already seen testing parts at the Spanish circuit in the last few weeks, and Ducati will need to rely on his feedback a lot considering they are restricted by concessions from allowing their primary riders Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia to do any private testing.

One thing is for certain though, Ducati have been put on notice as their place at the top of MotoGP appears to be under serious threat. Ducati team boss Davide Tardozzi has called on his other riders to step up to the challenge, rather than leave it all up to Marquez.

Read about the statement from the Ducati boss here.