P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ducati was generally regarded as being somewhere between reluctant and uninvolved as Marc Marquez’s move to satellite team Gresini played out. Everything that applied then remains valid now – but the spectre of Marquez in Ducati red is starting to add up
Throughout much of 2023, the transition of Marc Marquez to Gresini gained momentum and eventually materialized into reality, with Ducati, the manufacturer of his MotoGP bike for the year, being perceived as somewhat hesitant or detached from the situation. While there were talks of Ducati potentially approaching Marquez directly for a factory-supported bike, the Gresini agreement was ultimately seen as an independent decision by the privateer team, with Ducati’s general approval but not actively pushing for it. As a result, even if Marquez excels on a privateer Ducati, he may not be the top priority for the factory team due to other competitive factors. Despite Marquez’s exceptional skills, Ducati has seen success without him, focusing on riders like Pecco Bagnaia. There is a financial aspect to consider as well, as rival manufacturers could offer more lucrative deals to Marquez following his departure from Honda in 2024. The possibility of Marquez joining Ducati continues to gain credibility, with figures like KTM team manager Francesco Guidotti and former MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo expressing support for the idea, influenced by factors such as Marquez’s preference and mutual respect with Ducati’s key personnel.
