P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Marc Marquez suiting up in Ducati red in MotoGP would be an instantly iconic image – but the price to pay would be too high for Ducati.
After another weekend of MotoGP action at Barcelona’s Montmelo circuit for the Catalan Grand Prix, the competition to become a factory Ducati racer in 2025 has narrowed to Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez, with Enea Bastianini falling behind.
Ducati’s smartest play seems to be promoting Martin to be Pecco Bagnaia’s teammate next year to retain both Martin and Marquez, who have made their requirements for staying clear.
Martin desires factory status, driven at least in part by ego, while Marquez prioritizes closing the performance gap to the GP24 and reclaiming his winning ways.
For Ducati, ensuring Martin secures a factory seat for the next two seasons is crucial, as failing to do so may risk losing the talented rider altogether, potentially leading to a PR disaster.
As the situation stands, the most sensible move for Ducati is to prioritize Martin to maintain a strong lineup and team dynamic moving forward.
