Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini yet to see new Ducati aero: ‘People tell me it’s good’

But with the factory keen to keep it under wraps for as long as possible, it won’t be seen until next month’s Sepang tests.

Indeed, double world champion Francesco Bagnaia and factory team-mate Enea Bastianini insisted they have so far only heard about it.

“I didn't see it but people inside the team tell me that it's good, but different,” said Bagnaia.

“My request was to have [better] handling, draft and downforce! So a bit of everything! But I think they did a good job.”

“We haven't seen this solution and I’m really curious also to see how the bike is in Malaysia,” said Bastianini.

Bastianini added that he wouldn’t be surprised if Ducati’s four factory riders, split between the Lenovo and Pramac teams, again pick a different aero package to start the season.

“[Aero] is a very important part of the bike now and it also depends on the riding style,” he explained. “Last year me and Pecco chose a different solution compared to Pramac. And that can also probably happen again this year.”

Bagnaia: Wrong to change Ducati rules under new concessions

The biggest technical change for the 2024 season is the launch of a revised concessions package.

Bottom-of-the-table Honda and Yamaha have been handed a range of perks - such as private testing with race riders, plus in-season engine and aero modifications - while KTM and Aprilia have also gained some extra private testing tyres and more wild-cards.

But Ducati, which scored 96% of the potential maximum constructors’ points, loses out, with reduced private testing tyres and no wild-cards.

“[Yamaha and Honda] can do tests everywhere. So I think it would be a big step for them,” Bagnaia said.

“It's true that they need it, but from my point of view the concessions for Ducati didn't have to change. For me, Ducati had to stay the same and not reduce the number of test tyres or the wild-cards.

“So I didn't understand it, because the concessions for others were huge, if we consider Honda and Yamaha. But I think it's good for them because they can do more things.”

Bagnaia also highlighted the winter departure of Ducati Vehicle Performance Engineer Max Bartolini to Yamaha as a significant loss.

“Yamaha has Max Bartolini coming to them and for sure [he] would be a big step in front for them,” he said.

Ducati kicked off MotoGP’s modern aerodynamic era by fitting downforce generating wings to its Desmosedici at the 2015 Qatar test.

The factory remained a step ahead of its rivals for many seasons but is now being challenged by aerodynamic innovations from the likes of KTM (with assistance from Red Bull Advanced Technologies) and Aprilia (which pioneered the ground effect side fairing and uses ‘S Duct’ technology for its front wing).