Discussion
Assuming Ducati sign Pecco sharpish, there's one factory seat with several riders vying for it. Whatever happens Ducati are going to lose a couple of fantastic riders by the end of the season. Although both KTM and April Aprillia are claiming they're happy with the riders they have, I'm struggling to believe they'll retain them all instead of picking up some of the riders looking to move.
Alex said last season this year (2024) is going to be his last racing year full time. Aprilia have offered him a testing gig thereafter and he's happy with that. That opens up at least one seat. If I were them I wouldn't be in a rush to resign Maverick - they always like an Italian so more progress could see any number of riders on that bike. Foggia or Arbolino if they have a good year in Moto2, Bezzecchi or maybe Aleix will instead put in a word for Jorge Martin instead. Martin will flounce if he doesn't get the red seat for 2025.
Aleix did say that, but he subsequently said he would consider another contract. Aprilia should be looking at a GP rider focussed on championship contention, there's plenty of them out of contract at the end of this season. With the exception of Aldegueur, all of the Moto2 riders need a step up in form before being considered for a ride, GP already has many exciting, relatively young riders still establishing themselves. I'd be surprised if more than two of the current GP riders were left without a GP ride for '25.
David Alonso is interesting, he was pretty impressive last season.
David Alonso is interesting, he was pretty impressive last season.
Pehaps Martin gets fed up of not getting a factory Ducati seat and moves to Aprilia for 2025. Him and Aleix are good friends too.
Aprilia really need to be looking for a proven consistent race winner to push the project forward now. I'd be looking at Martin and Quatararo, maybe Digi as a second rider for a cheaper option.
Aprilia really need to be looking for a proven consistent race winner to push the project forward now. I'd be looking at Martin and Quatararo, maybe Digi as a second rider for a cheaper option.
Normodog said:
Pehaps Martin gets fed up of not getting a factory Ducati seat and moves to Aprilia for 2025. Him and Aleix are good friends too.
Aprilia really need to be looking for a proven consistent race winner to push the project forward now. I'd be looking at Martin and Quatararo, maybe Digi as a second rider for a cheaper option.
Aprilia really need to be looking for a proven consistent race winner to push the project forward now. I'd be looking at Martin and Quatararo, maybe Digi as a second rider for a cheaper option.
Agree, Fabio would be my choice of the two but can't deny Martin for speed
Aprilia are the only team that have better bikes than riders.
Martin and Quatararo on the Aprilias is a very intriguing thought. I posted a few pages back that maybe Martin would go there in 2025 and could be a serious contender for the championship but hadn't thought about Quatararo making the same move. Martin might have the easier transition but Quatararo might be one of those planets-aligning events (or not!).
Day 2 Malaysia test with concession teams (Honda and Yamaha joining in now)
https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/1043972/1/202...
https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/1043972/1/202...
daniel-5zjw7 said:
I find it really hard to think Ducati would of let Marquez in at all if there was a good chance he'll bounce to another team after this year, surely there must be some sort of other agreement there even if its loose. Otherwise I feel like Ducati may as well have just closed the door to Marquez completely if they thought he'd go straight back to Honda after one season.
I get that some may struggle with Marquez on the factory bike, but I'm not so sure they'd be bothered if he's in championship winning form, not to mention I'm sure he could bring a lot with him to a factory team and with his following do no harm in other areas such as bike sales.
I think Ducati tried some years ago to get Marc on the bike but he was riding the winning wave back then and why would you leave if you're onto a good thing.I get that some may struggle with Marquez on the factory bike, but I'm not so sure they'd be bothered if he's in championship winning form, not to mention I'm sure he could bring a lot with him to a factory team and with his following do no harm in other areas such as bike sales.
However, Marc is a Gresini rider and not on Ducati's payroll so I'm not sure they would have much say in who Gresini signed or not, same for VR46. There is a risk that Marc could up sticks and leave at the end of '24. I expect teams will be eager to sign the top riders ASAP, seemingly Pecco isn't far away from signing - he knows he's put 2 championships in their hands and Ducati will do a hell of a lot to retain him. Bastianini wasn't lucky in '23 so unless he's pulls something out of the bag within the first few races I can see Jorge taking his seat, but again if Marc performs that could be an issue for Jorge.
Ultimately Ducati have a great rider line up and only 2 factory seats, so at least 1 person is going to be upset by the end of this season.
Chipchap said:
I still think the plan here is for Marc & Alex to buy the team towards the end of 2024 and for them to run Red Bull liveried KTM's badged as MV Agusta.
Who fancies a wager on that one then ?
Is that a plan you made up yourself, or has it come from a source?Who fancies a wager on that one then ?
Interesting one.
We were at Catalunya Circuit yesterday for a private hire day, and there was a good chunk of the GP paddock there
It was nice to see Vinales literally turn up on his own with his RSV4 practice bike in the back of a van and do his own tyres and fuel.
Martin was there too on his V4, and Arbolino etc from Moto 2 all on 1000cc practice bikes
Arbolino was bloody impressive on a VDS liveried R1 too, and was doing a lot of data work with a big team, so maybe he's considering a move to Worlds if the Moto2 championship doesn't go to plan this year
It was nice to see Vinales literally turn up on his own with his RSV4 practice bike in the back of a van and do his own tyres and fuel.
Martin was there too on his V4, and Arbolino etc from Moto 2 all on 1000cc practice bikes
Arbolino was bloody impressive on a VDS liveried R1 too, and was doing a lot of data work with a big team, so maybe he's considering a move to Worlds if the Moto2 championship doesn't go to plan this year
Ref Arbolino on a 1,000cc. There is some rule that now prevents them practicing on MotoGP tracks on bikes too similar to those they ride, especially in the smaller classes. Sergio Garcia IIRC fell foul of this in Moto3 - as did Fabio Quatararo when he did a feature for a French magazine on a very fancy R1.
Don't VDS runs Ducatis in WSBK?
Don't VDS runs Ducatis in WSBK?
Edited by Marquezs Stabilisers on Friday 2nd February 22:11
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