MotoGP

[PJPR01]

WHAT A RACE!!  I won't spoil the results...watch and enjoy!!

[p6x]

I am tempted to say that Enea Bastianini is most likely no longer an option for the second Ducati seat in 2025. Even as strong a racer he is, he is being outclassed by the other two hopefuls.

As for Marquez, I have to admit that a repeat of the coming back from a long way down twice in a row is certainly something exceptional. In a clean way too! he did not send anyone down unlike previous attempts. Chapeau!

Bagnaia was unlucky for the sprint, but admitted that he was outclassed during the race. That certainly speaks volume.

All being said, this season is so far turning out to be almost a Ducati show. Sometimes there is an exception, but it really looks like you need a Ducati to be a player.

Acosta did his first mistake in a race on Sunday. Too bad, but inevitable. Excepted for him though, the KTM are being a bit opaque this season.

[GuzziMoto]

Personally I hope Ducati sign Marc Marquez to race alongside Pecco. Not because I think that is the best choice but because I think the fireworks will be epic. It could rival when Rossi and JLo were teammates at Yamaha. Plus it would likely mean Martin leaves Ducati, and I would hope he would end up at either KTM or Aprilia. And he is the fastest guy out there on average. I would love to see someone that fast on the Aprilia, or even on a KTM. I would not mind seeing Marc on an Aprilia or KTM, but I don't think Marc wants to be on either of those. He seems very focused on getting the factory Ducati ride. Anyway, right now Ducati has too many of the fastest guys, it would be nice to see some of them end up at KTM or Aprilia. Sure, KTM has Acosta. And Aprilia has Mav, who on his day can be really fast. But Acosta has a lot to learn still, he is the future, and Mav is not on often enough. Mav has always been hot or cold. With cold being more common then hot it seems.

But if I were Ducati I could not imagine not signing Martin to the factory seat alongside Pecco, and moving Bastianini to the Pramac team. I would try to sign Marc, perhaps, to the other Pramac seat. Sadly Morbidelli seems like he is in danger of loosing his ride. A shame, I like him.

[LaGrasta]

I know Binder hasn't been fantastic as of late, as KTM hasn't. However qualifying last and finishing so far up the grid was amazing. The announcers hardly mentioned it, so much action at the front. Fun race to watch.

[p6x]

3 hours ago, GuzziMoto said:

Personally I hope Ducati sign Marc Marquez to race alongside Pecco

You are almost certainly correct. There is no way Ducati is not going to choose Marquez over Martin.

Before anything else, those racing in MotoGP are doing it for Marketing presence. Signing Marc Marquez at a bargain is a given. In fact, I was following the French report about the race today, and when Ducati signed Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez was also an option which ultimately did not work because he was extremely expensive.

From what I understand, he is no longer requesting a star'salary, but a motorcycle to win one more championship.

So Martin is almost certainly going to be sacrificed for Marquez, even if Martin wins the world championship this year.

[p6x]

3 hours ago, GuzziMoto said:

I would hope he would end up at either KTM or Aprilia.

Aprilia is unreliable, and even if he goes there, there is no guaranty. They never have the consistency Ducati has shown.

KTM would be a better choice, but Jack Miller's seat is normally going to go to Pedro Acosta. Unless they keep Acosta on GasGas, and take Jorge Martin to team up with BB.

[p6x]

2 hours ago, LaGrasta said:

so much action at the front.

When Marquez overtook Bagnaia, the crowd's howling was so loud that people at the next corner heard it! reported by those who were at the track.

[p6x]

I think Martin lost his chance to be in the factory team. He should have been preferred to Enea Bastianini. Now, it is too late!

[GuzziMoto]

Again, I do hope Ducati sign Marc to be Bagnia's team mate, mainly because it will probably blow up. From a "We want to win the championship" perspective it is not the best idea. The friction between Marc and Pecco will be toxic. From a marketing perspective it is also not the best idea. If Marc wins the title on a Ducati it will be Marc that gets the credit, not Ducati. Also, while Marc is incredibly popular he is also incredibly unpopular. He tends to be very polarizing, people root for him or against him. Ducati are better off with Marc on a different brand and having the riders to beat him. That would make them look better. Marc winning on a Ducati doesn't make Ducati look good at all. People would give all the credit to Marc, not Ducati. Also, Marc doesn't have many years left, where as Martin does. And honestly, Martin is faster. Marc has more race craft perhaps, but in outright speed Martin is faster. We have the luxury of waiting to see how the season plays out. Ducati don't have that luxury. They have to make a decision long before the season plays out.

I truly don't get Martins obsession with being on the factory team. As far as I can tell there is no disadvantage to being on the Pramac team. You get the same factory bike and the same factory support it seems. But Martin seems to feel that it is the factory team or he leaves to go to another manufacturer. That is a bit biting off your nose to spite your face. But whatever. As long as Martin doesn't go to Yamaha or Honda, it will be good for the fans. But it would be weird if Ducati wins the title with Martin and he takes the number one plate to another team / bike.

[fastaussie]

1 hour ago, GuzziMoto said:

The friction between Marc and Pecco will be toxic. From a marketing perspective it is also not the best idea. If Marc wins the title on a Ducati it will be Marc that gets the credit, not Ducati. Also, while Marc is incredibly popular he is also incredibly unpopular. He tends to be very polarizing, people root for him or against him.

Martin is faster. Marc has more race craft perhaps, but in outright speed Martin is faster.

I truly don't get Martins obsession with being on the factory team. As far as I can tell there is no disadvantage to being on the Pramac team. You get the same factory bike and the same factory support it seems.

 

first, i will agree with you, that i would think the vibe within in the team may very well be toxic, for Pecco.  he won't like having Marc in the team with him, that is a clear threat to his superiority, which he clearly had with the #1 plate.  however, he did not earn that up against a healthy Marc on a competitive motorbike.  he and the entire grid knows that, which is why they all want to rough him up so badly now.

and yes, you are right on another point.  if Marc wins the title this year the credit will all go to him.  and it will be rightly deserved.  Martin has been on the Desmosedici for 4 years now, Bagnaia for 6.  Marc for 5 race weekends, on the year old machine, on the third tier support team.  and here is where i differ with you on the opinion of Martin being faster.  Marc has three times, in two separate weekends, now caught the top two boys on Factory bikes coming from way back.  and has passed each to beat both.  and only not won by 3/10ths of a second from each rider.  that makes Marc the faster rider.

3. it may seem that Martin has the exact same situation as Pecco, but it is not.  the bike is not as up to date, and the amount of technicians is significantly less.  that is why Martin wants to be on the Factory team.  Pramac leases their bikes from Ducati, at a cost of around $2 million per machine.  their team budget is significantly less, and the updates don't come as quick.  even slower for VR46 and Gresini...
 

[p6x]

1 hour ago, GuzziMoto said:

If Marc wins the title on a Ducati it will be Marc that gets the credit, not Ducati.

I really doubt that.

Marquez admitted that Ducati was the bike to have if you wanted to win.

Ducati comes out of two consecutive world titles.

Ducati introduced the aerodynamics appendixes, hole shots and ride height devices, front and back.

Ducati is constantly at the front.

There will be no confusion even if Marquez win the world championship. From what we know, he does not even get a salary from Gresini. He only gets whatever money from his sponsors.

He said that in 2025, he will be on a factory bike, he also admitted that it could be any, but I don't believe it.

Back to Ducati's decision, this is a no-brainer. A Marquez win on a Ducati his a success that is going to generate millions. I am even wondering if Repsol is not going to try to get in on the deal.

[p6x]

I am reading that both Joan Mir and Luca Marini are actively seeking an out from Honda factory, which in turn puts Honda back into recruitment mode.

Jack Miller seems to be a prime target. Lots of experience, and maybe surplus at KTM since Pedro Acosta is the obvious choice to join KTM Factory next year.

I also read that PRAMAC is also sought after by Yamaha as their non factory team; that makes PRAMAC's decision "should I stay or should I go" the linchpin of next season's pilot's musical chairs. We all know that Martin wants a factory ride, so does Marquez now that he has shown the world that he still got it. PRAMAC said they will only declare their intentions on July 31st, at the expiration date of their option to continue with Ducati. So Ducati is going to have to make a blind decision to decide between Mar+quez or +tin.

Marquez is 32 years old, while Martin is 26. But Marquez is a marketing coup for Ducati. They may always remain the manufacturer that gave Marquez the ability to equal Rossi on the number of World Championships won, and of course, they enabled Marquez to make a comeback in 2024.

[p6x]

A. Lopez should have been sanctioned for his pass on Joe Roberts in the final lap. This is the consensus. Joe Roberts would have finished 3rd instead of 4th.

As usual, the stewards' decisions remain completely opaque to the rest of the field. I guess they like to be despised by everyone.

[p6x]

The plot thickens....

Ducati said they never promised to divulge the name of the pilot that would be next to Bagnaia for 2025 and 2026.

Whereas it was thought that Marc Marquez did not care about getting in a factory team, as long as he would get a current year bike, this has now been changed. Marc Marquez said that Pramac was not an option for him.

The pressure is now back on Ducati. It was sort of the ideal scenario, they were going to keep all their eggs in the same basket, possibly minus Enea Bastianini, who seems to be strongly taking the door, direction Aprilia to replace the retiring Alex Espargaro.

But with the new information we have, we now know that Marquez will not remain at Gresini, nor will he go to Pramac. At least, this is what he said. Independently of knowning what Pramac is going to do in 2025. Jorge Martin has sworn that he will not remain in Pramac next year, and if he remains with Ducati, it will be in the factory team.

 

[GuzziMoto]

14 hours ago, p6x said:

The plot thickens....

Ducati said they never promised to divulge the name of the pilot that would be next to Bagnaia for 2025 and 2026.

Whereas it was thought that Marc Marquez did not care about getting in a factory team, as long as he would get a current year bike, this has now been changed. Marc Marquez said that Pramac was not an option for him.

The pressure is now back on Ducati. It was sort of the ideal scenario, they were going to keep all their eggs in the same basket, possibly minus Enea Bastianini, who seems to be strongly taking the door, direction Aprilia to replace the retiring Alex Espargaro.

But with the new information we have, we now know that Marquez will not remain at Gresini, nor will he go to Pramac. At least, this is what he said. Independently of knowning what Pramac is going to do in 2025. Jorge Martin has sworn that he will not remain in Pramac next year, and if he remains with Ducati, it will be in the factory team.

 

Talk is cheap, so take what he says for what it is. But as you said Marc has now said that the Pramac seat is not an option. He wants a factory bike, but not at Pramac. He has suggested that he would take a factory bike on the factory team OR he would take a factory bike at Gresini. But supposedly Pramac's contract gives them the only two factory bikes outside the factory team. So, a factory bike at Gresini doesn't seem to be a viable option. 

It seems sure that Martin is getting a seat at the factory team. Ducati would be crazy to let him go, and he has flatly said he will go if he doesn't get a seat at the full factory team. I don't get why, he gets everything at his current team, he has full factory support. But he seems to have an ego thing about being on the full factory team.

Another possibility would be Ducati signing Martin and Marc Marquez to the factory team. But I think Pecco already has a contract for 2025 and 2026 and current rules don't allow three bikes on a team (not like the old days).

Rumors suggest Marc may go elsewhere, one option being him and his brother both riding the GasGas factory bikes (really they are factory KTMs). I would rather see Marc go to Aprilia, but that seems unlikely to happen.

It is going to be interesting to see how it pans out. Will Martin get his factory seat or go elsewhere? Will Marc get that factory seat? Or will he go elsewhere. Seems likely one of them won't be riding a Ducati next year, unless Marc backs off what he said. And talk is cheap....