Pride and Prejudice. Ducati has made it known that the transfer question regarding who will be the rider in the Borgo Panigale team alongside Pecco Bagnaia will not be clarified at Mugello as had been promised. We still need time to make a decision and choose between Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez. Two Spanish champions, because Enea Bastianini doesn’t seem to have any chance to remain in the official team.
If it were up to Gigi Dall’Igna the choice would have already been made: the General Director of Ducati Corse would like Marc Marquez, but this corporate decision involves choices that are more complex than those of the heart. Claudio Domenicali, president of the Bolognese brand, will certainly not be extraneous to the resolution, just as the interactions that will have to be created with the satellite teams will have an impact.
Luigi Dall’igna, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
The game, therefore, is more complex than it seems, but what is surprising is the attitude of the two riders who seem willing to take their time, as if only Ducati, which at the moment finds itself in the position of dictating the rules of the game.
Jorge Martin has made it clear that next year he wants to race for an official brand: his message is clear. If you don’t want me on the red bike, know that I have an alternative in KTM who has already put a contract proposal under his nose.
And we wouldn’t be surprised at all if even Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, now that he is certain of having a free bike at the end of the year with the retirement of Aleix Espargarò made official last week in Barcelona, is not ready to make his advances to that who will be the rider “rejected” by Ducati, because he will not have the “official” rider’s stripes on his suit.
The eight-time world champion from Cervera seems to be in less of a hurry to close the transfer question: the 31-year-old Iberian is well capable of doing the math, aware that, perhaps, he could earn more by riding the Desmosedici packaged by Borgo Panigale for Pramac, being able to maintain its own sponsorships which, however, could conflict with some brands that support the factory team.
It is curious to note, in this situation, how the riders do not have the upper hand to dictate the conditions of a negotiation which in other moments and other riders had led to separations that might have seemed incredible. Suffice it to cite an example for everyone: Valentino Rossi.
It’s incredible to photograph how the Ducati “magnet” is attractive to top drivers. Would leaving the orbit of Borgo Panigale be an act of courage or just a useless provocation? The prospect of earning less because Bagnaia ate the most important slice of the budget is not a useful key to resolving the issue: Dall’Igna takes his time and seems capable of playing the cards in her deck. Martin and Marquez await the slow cooking. Who will get burned?
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