Bologna, 29 March 2024 – First thorns at home Ducati to the second grand prix of the season. Marc’s arrival Marquez in Gresini a third battle front opens for Pecco Bagnaia who will not only have to watch out for Jorge Martin, now leading the world championship and vice world champion, with controversy over what he said was a defective tire in the penultimate GP last year, but also by the eight-time world champion who is rediscovering energy, speed and aggression in Ducati. After the last two years in Honda made of falls, many, and joys, very few, the choice to land on a private Ducati, that of the Gresini team, seems right for Marquez who in Portimao achieved second place in the Sprint Race and would have achieved fourth in the race if there had not been contact with Bagnaia a few laps from the end. The ascent of the Spanish rider appears undeniable, as he is learning to ride Ducati and is finding happiness in the fray, feeling with the 2023 Desmosedici and therefore well-founded hopes of being able to join the top. On the other hand, this year is for this: to understand if he can still fight for victories. From the first grand prix it certainly seems so and a Marquez who can enter the world championship risks being an additional problem for Pecco.
Internal struggle, what will Ducati do?
So far Ducati, which has been the best bike of the lot for several years, has managed the internal challenge between Jorge well Martin and Pecco Bagnaiawho played for the 2023 World Cup. In the end Pecco won, repeating the 2022 title won against Quartararoand Martin took it out on a defective tire that took him out of the penultimate GP, but nothing that Ducati couldn’t manage, just as it had managed well the choice to promote Bastianini, and not Martin, in the official team. Ultimately, the Spaniard still rides an updated bike and the level of competition is very high despite not being in Pecco’s team. Bagnaia, for its part, must now manage a triple internal front. There is obviously Martin, who leads the ranking, but also unlike last year Bastianini has found competitiveness again. Enea, finally physically intact after the many injuries in 2023, found pole position and second place in Portiamo and is a candidate to be the protagonist as in 2022 when he remained in the fight for the title until 4 GPs from the end with the Ducati Gresini, that is same team that has now signed Marc Marquez. But Borgo Panigale can manage the trio of official riders, being under contract with the company, while Marquez is a Gresini rider, rides a one-year-old bike and could represent a loose cannon with an impact on the title. It is no mystery that Ducati would not have wanted the cumbersome presence of the eight-time world champion, but the Gresini team can act autonomously and has made an epochal choice for a champion who had fallen out of favor with Honda. And this represents something new for all the contenders. Marquez in fact he lived two years away from the top and no one had to worry about him, because Honda was in difficulty and he totally lacked confidence in riding it: he was never in the fight for the title. For Bagnaiabut also for Martin, it’s new because they’ve never had a competitive Marquez around and today, however, they do. This shuffles the cards, both for Gresini’s autonomy in managing it and for his desire to Marquez to return to competing for titles and we know that when he’s strong he doesn’t look at anyone.
No penalty for the fall, but the relationship between the two…
First skirmishes between Pecco and Marc in Portimao. Both were not fighting for victory, with Martin And Bastianini then fled to the front Viñaleswhich then broke the gearbox, and Acosta who had taken the margin, so there was fifth place available but in the end both went to the ground. The version of the two pilots is obviously discordant. Marquez he attacked on the inside and ended up slightly wide, so Bagnaia attacked by accelerating first but Marc didn’t notice his presence and narrowed the line, causing both of them to go onto the asphalt. There were no sanctions from the stewards, the accident was assessed on the basis of the race and not with obvious faults of one of the two, but Bagnaia is certainly convinced that Marquez should have left room and Marc is convinced that Pecco should not have attacked again. In short, no common ground will be found. “When we arrived at race direction I told the stewards that it was a race accident – the Spaniard immediately commented – The stewards have to decide what the limit is. For me it was a mistake by Pecco because he tried to come back. When there are a few laps to go and you know you will lose position there is no need to be so aggressive. Ducati thus scored zero points.” Bagnaia he immediately showed his annoyance, but didn’t go any further with overly weighty statements, but what is certain is that from now on any duel between the two on the track will be watched very carefully and anything could happen. Marquez, when he is confident, he certainly doesn’t hold back, just like Pecco who has his own defensive style which often consists of counter overtaking when exiting corners after having just been attacked. In short, Ducati will have to be vigilant but now it knows that there is one more competitor and it represents a loose cannon. He said it anyway Dall’Igna: “Marc demonstrated all his talent and great ability to adapt to a new bike. He’s already a formidable competitor.” The next meeting is in Austin on April 15th, tracked where Marquez he has won seven times in his career, six of which consecutively from 2013 to 2018. There will be fun for the spectators, perhaps a little less for Ducati who will have to try to manage an increasingly cumbersome internal struggle…
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