After another MotoGP race at the Montmelo circuit in Barcelona for the Catalunya Grand Prix, it seems that the competition for a spot in the Ducati official team in 2025 has narrowed down to two favorites: championship leader Jorge Martin and two-time podium finisher Marc Marquez. Although Ducati has not made a decision about their team for the next season, it is becoming increasingly clear that promoting Martin to be Pecco Bagnaia’s teammate is the only option that would ensure they do not lose either Martin or Marquez.
Both Martin and Marquez have made it clear what their demands are to stay at Ducati. Martin acknowledges that he is riding the best bike in the category and wants to continue with that machine to compete for titles. On the other hand, Marquez wants to reduce the performance gap between his bike from last year and the GP24. He is not particularly concerned whether he stays in an official team or a satellite team, as long as he has the latest bike.
For Ducati, the only viable solution at the moment is to offer Martin a place in the official team for the next two seasons. He has already proven his worth by fighting for the title until the last race of the previous season and currently leads the championship. Not offering Martin a spot in the official team could result in a public relations disaster for Ducati, especially if Martin continues to perform well next season and secures a number one spot on a bike from a competing manufacturer.
Although there are advantages to having Marquez in the official team, such as a victory in the media and merchandising opportunities, Ducati has never hesitated to use their satellite colors for marketing purposes. Additionally, there are potential downsides to pairing Marquez and Bagnaia in the official team, as Bagnaia has shown willingness to fight more against Marquez than any other rider on the track. Rumors suggest that Bagnaia would prefer to be teammates with Martin, his former Moto3 teammate, if continuing with Bastianini is not an option.
Considering Marquez’s willingness to stay in a satellite team if he has the latest bike, it seems like a logical choice for Ducati to pursue this option, as long as they can resolve the issue between Pramac and Yamaha that may be causing concerns in Bologna. Furthermore, keeping the three current candidates for the position, including Enea Bastianini, who may benefit from returning to a satellite Ducati, could be a strategic move that also denies him to Aprilia.
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