In preparation for the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, it is not uncommon for older bikes to outperform newer ones as teams adjust. However, this has not been the case in 2024 for Ducati. The GP24 bike has been incredibly fast, but one of the riders from the old GP23 has consistently kept up with those on the latest specification. This may pose a dilemma for the factory team boss, Gigi Dall’Igna, as he tries to resolve Marc Marquez’s situation.
Ducati’s progress in 2024 has been a mixed bag of results. While last year’s championship contender, Jorge Martin, has a comfortable lead on the Pramac Racing machine, other riders have faced difficulties. The current world champion, Pecco Bagnaia, has struggled with vibration issues on the factory bike, partly due to the introduction of a slightly different Michelin tire this season. His teammate, Enea Bastianini, had a better start, but still falls short of Ducati’s expectations compared to satellite rider Martin.
The situation is even worse for the GP23 riders. Typically, they start the season with a fully developed and refined machine, ready for use. However, this season has been different. The GP23 bike not only faces the same Michelin tire issues as the 2024 bike, but it is also slower. This performance gap has led to disappointing results for riders like Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio, who were race winners in 2023.
The focus has been primarily on Marc Marquez, the six-time MotoGP champion, as he adapts to Ducati after spending his entire premier class career with Honda. Despite facing various dramas, including contact with Bagnaia and brake issues, Marquez has shown impressive pace on the Gresini bike. His results may not yet reflect this, but he has the potential to be one of the fastest riders on the Ducati on track.
This poses a potential problem for Ducati, especially considering the difficulties faced by the factory team. Should they continue to focus on solving Bagnaia’s issues or invest in developing last year’s machine for Marquez’s potential? Team manager Dall’Igna is determined to win and has never been too concerned about which rider achieves that. He also sees Marquez as a long-term investment for the factory, especially with the emergence of Pedro Acosta from KTM/Gas Gas.
The post-race test in Jerez will provide some insights into Ducati’s future direction. It will be an opportunity to test new parts for Marquez and for the factory team to find their way back on track. This issue also raises questions about the future. With a still vacant seat in Ducati’s factory team alongside Bagnaia, Marquez is believed to be a key target. However, if Pramac switches to Yamaha next year and Gresini receives a factory bike, Marquez may be convinced to stay with his current team.
One thing is clear: Marquez’s ambition to return to winning ways is now more realistic than ever. However, his success may depend on the support he receives to fulfill his full potential.
