Marquez wins
Although he has not yet tasted the taste of victory in MotoGP again, according to rumors in the last few hours, Marc Marquez has won a place in the official Ducati team for 2025 in the sprint.
The Spanish champion managed to overtake Jorge Martin, the world championship leader, right at the finish line and who until Thursday had seemed quite confident that he would be the one to share the red garage with ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia next season.
Marc Marquez’s all-out strategy, which began with that “Pramac is not an option for me” which overturned the table, has therefore borne fruit. On the other hand, at 31 years old the Spaniard knows he still doesn’t have many opportunities ahead of him to become world champion again, and he played all the cards in his pocket with the usual ruthlessness that he usually shows on the track.
The agreement will be for two yearswith Marquez willing to part ways with his historic sponsor Red Bull (Ducati is in fact linked to Monster Energy) in order to have a seat in the Lenovo team.
Ducati will also have been able to give reassurances to Bagnaiawho had mentioned in recent days: “They asked me for my opinion on the new partner. I’m only interested in ensuring that whoever arrives doesn’t ruin the environment…”.
Martin surprises: it will be Aprilia
What more could he have done than what he did? Jorge Martin to get an official position in Ducati? Last year the world championship was played right down to the last race and this season it is leading the championship after seven world championship stages. The Spaniard’s disappointment is understandable, as is his decision to feel like a protagonist in other shoresrather than the second or third choice in Borgo Panigale.
Martin therefore surprisingly chose Aprilia, with a multi-year project, where he will follow in the footsteps of his great friend Aleix Espargarò. A great injection of confidence for the Italian brand, which masterfully took advantage of the situation and got its hands on the world championship leader.
Two options for Pramac
Paolo Campinoti’s structure has spoken with Yamaha, to become Iwata’s satellite team, and has until July 31st to trigger the farewell clause to Ducati. In recent days Pramac has reiterated its desire to stay with Borgo Panigale and put two GP25s on the track, but surprises cannot be ruled out.
Bastianini towards KTM GasGas
Also Enea Bastianini he emerges defeated by Ducati’s decision. The Italian driver, really unlucky in 2023 due to the serious injury in the Portimao race, is looking around and several sources converge in ensuring that his future will be in the KTM GasGas team. The Rimini native will thus replace Pedro Acosta and will have a motorbike identical to the official one at his disposal.
For the rest of the market, watch out for Joan Mir, who between the lines has not ruled out the possibility not only of a farewell to Honda, but even of an early retirement from racing. At that point it should also be monitored the situation of Maverick Vinales in Aprilia – even more so with the arrival of Jorge Martin -, who at Mugello made a cryptic statement: “After Qatar they could have used an option to renew my contract, now I have to think about what I want to do“. It has long been whispered in Spain that Honda HRC could tempt Vinales with a very important offer.
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