Whether it is Pecco Bagnaia who repeats the world title, or Jorge Martin who becomes the first rider of a satellite team to win the World Championship since Valentino Rossi (2001), or even Marco Bezzecchi, surprise winner with a motorcycle last year, Ducati has already won this season.
The Borgo Panigale brand, which celebrated the Manufacturers’ World Championship a few days ago, is experiencing the best moment in its history if we consider that never before had it led the points classification with three of its riders.
This hegemony is also supported by significant events such as the recent decision of Marc Marquez, who in 2024 will give up the remaining year of his contract with Honda, at the price of over 15 million euros, to ride a Ducati for an independent team (Gresini ), which will not even be in the latest version available. The change of direction in Marquez’s career is nothing more than the materialization of the will of any rider on the current starting grid.
A turning point that makes all the sense in the world if you consider the numbers that Ducati is leaving in the history books of a championship that still has four rounds on the calendar. However, we must not lose sight of the numerical superiority of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, which represents more than a third of the starting grid (eight out of 22). The four Hondas, the Aprilias and the KTMs are already in the minority compared to the eight Demosedicis, not to mention the only two M1s with which Yamaha competes.
On Saturday in Australia, Johann Zarco took his first premier class victory, seven years and 120 Grands Prix after his debut in the category. The Frenchman was joined on the podium by Bagnaia (second) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (third), who reached the podium for the first time in MotoGP. The Red’s result is even more remarkable if you consider that he hadn’t won at Phillip Island since Casey Stoner did it in 2010, thirteen years ago.
Zarco’s victory was the thirteenth for the Italian manufacturer, a figure that beats its own record set last year (12) and leaves it just two away from the all-time record of 15 set by Honda in 1997 (500cc) and in 2003. Of the 16 rounds held so far, only Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia), at Silverstone and Montmeló, and Alex Rins (Austin) have won on Sunday with a bike other than the Desmosedici GP.
With Saturday’s hat-trick, Ducati equaled its 32 podiums in 2022, with four races to go. The momentum of the Bolognese manufacturer is enormous, as demonstrated by the 20 victories out of the last 26 played, and will undoubtedly lead to the second consecutive title and the third in its history. Even in terms of pure speed there is no possible comparison if you consider that 14 of the 16 pole positions were won by five Ducati riders and that only Marquez (Portimao) and Aleix (Jerez) broke with the “single make”.
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Ducati treble in Australia, where the Italian brand did not enjoy the time of Casey Stoner
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