MM93 strikes again. The announcement, about a month ago, of the Spaniard’s move to the Ducati Factory Team, left fans stunned, causing a sort of chain reaction among the crossed destinies of the top riders on the MotoGP circuit.
Martin and Bezzecchi ended up in Aprilia; Bastianini and Viñales in GasGas, subordinates of the “heir” to the title Pedro Acosta. These facts, beyond the pure news, deserve to be analyzed with a little more attention for the situation that will emerge in the coming months and for the subtle implications linked to this choice, perhaps, unexpected.
Ducati side: the official motivation given by Dall’Igna is the desire of the Bologna-based company to focus on one of the best riders in the paddock who has demonstrated, in just a few races, that he is able to dominate a vehicle that is completely new to him, after years of staying in Honda.
Impossible to contradict this statement. Especially if we consider that with the same bike (the 2023 one) his brother Alex, Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi are struggling a bit and that with this year’s version Franco Morbidelli is doing even worse. Marc is still an eight-time world champion and his talent is beyond discussion.
And yet… The feeling is that behind this truth there is also a strategic marketing operation and a game of heavy sponsorships. Marquez has always been linked to Repsol. The brand, now a sponsor of Honda for thirty years, will separate from Minato’s house in 2025. Of course, it is not a perfect syllogism, but the synthesis appears clear.
The thing, honestly, also leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for the Italians. There were so many local alternatives and all valid. The confirmation of Enea would have been more than appropriate. Also because if Ducati had really wanted to do things well, already having in house the strongest rider, Bagnaia, the World Champion and on paper the man to beat, it would have tried in every way to grab Acosta who, for the way he rides and for the sensations he transmits, in perspective is the true successor of the Cabroncito, within the line of the Phenomena: Valentino, Marc, Pedro.
Lato Marquez: His rise to power and the shuffling of all the cards since his arrival in Borgo Panigale have been extraordinary and tremendous. From his point of view, it is right to aim for the top. As a rider, he is extraordinary and after a few years of difficulty, he has got back on track as only the best know how to do and as Rossi did in Yamaha in 2013.
Staying in a satellite team for him clearly means being dropped to Serie B and would have meant going off the radar in a short space of time. He wants revenge, he wants to surpass The Doctor and now he also has everything to do it. As patriots, we obviously hope that this does not happen, but with the best bike and that inextinguishable fire that he carries inside, there will be real sparks.
“After the traffic light, unleash hell.” (Guido Meda)
