Between track and market
The 2024 MotoGP continues in battles on the track and negotiations in the paddock. The driver market in 2025 is in fact more lively than ever and what keeps everyone on their toes is above all the decision to who will be Pecco Bagnaia’s teammate for next season on the second official Ducati. Three appear to be strong candidates for that post: Enea Bastianiniwho tries to defend his saddle, and the two Spanish champions Jorge Martin And Marc Marquez. All options have pros and cons and it will be up to Ducati management to try to draw the best card.
Gigi Dall’Igna he had recently talked about choice that “makes your legs tremble”. In the Le Mans paddock, at the microphones of Sky Sports MotoGPthese words were relaunched by Enea Bastianini’s manager, Carlo Pernat, which however also has teased the red managerunderlining how part of this chaos depends on the choice made by Ducati to hire Marc Marquez from Honda, albeit to field him in a ‘customer’ team like the Gresini team.
Pernat’s ‘sting’
“Gigi is right when he says it’s a decision that will make your legs tremble, but he also asked for it a little – Pernat joked – Why if you bring Marquez to Ducati, even as a non-factory rider, you create a different situation. I’m not saying that I completely disavow youth politics, but Marquez will be 32 next year. Then Ducati certainly has the strongest bike and does what it wants“.
Pernat then, concretely analyzing the options available to ‘his’ Bastianini, underlined how until Mugello nothing will be decided. Certainly, however, in addition to Ducati, the Beast is also negotiating with the rest of the grid to guarantee a safe ‘escape route’ in case Dall’Igna’s chosen one is one of the two Spaniards.
Many possible options
“It is clear that a good manager also looks for other options – commented the manager of #23 – and I don’t deny that there are contacts with Aprilia and KTM Factory. Pramac is a great team, where you win and there is a family environment, which could also be good for Enea. It’s a solution, but it’s clear that an official house is more enjoyable. I wouldn’t rule it out, but it’s plan C. Plan A is to stay in Ducati, B is Aprilia or KTM (perhaps more Aprilia), C is Pramac, D is Yamaha when they form a team close to Quartararo, even if it will be more risky”.
