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2024 silly season!
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I can imagine that might not be a bad thing.
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Looks like there is some friction with Luca where the academy & Ducati is concerned. Read this > The hidden paradox in Marini's move to Honda's MotoGP team
While Bezzecchi preferred to give up that GP24 to remain surrounded by those elements that give him the stability he needs to be competitive, it is clear that Marini has different priorities. In fact, it didn't sit well with the Italian that nobody thought of him when Bezzecchi said no to that Ducati from Pramac, which will go to Franco Morbidelli.
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A source from VR46's garage tells Motorsport.com: "Luca is going his own way. He's ambitious, and he's always maintained that his goal is to have a factory bike in a factory team. And he knows that, right now, that's not within his reach at Ducati. He is also very keen to prove that he deserves everything he gets, without anyone thinking that he gets it because he is the brother of who he is."
Last Sunday, Bezzecchi did not want to go into the question of who he would prefer to replace his team-mate. But speaking to Sky he did make a veiled hint at the current rift between Marini and the Academy.
"I don't want to imagine what it would be like not to have 'Maro' as a team-mate," he said. "We've known each other forever, even though he's not training with us now, because he's changed all his preparation and he's distanced himself a bit."
While Bezzecchi preferred to give up that GP24 to remain surrounded by those elements that give him the stability he needs to be competitive, it is clear that Marini has different priorities. In fact, it didn't sit well with the Italian that nobody thought of him when Bezzecchi said no to that Ducati from Pramac, which will go to Franco Morbidelli.
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A source from VR46's garage tells Motorsport.com: "Luca is going his own way. He's ambitious, and he's always maintained that his goal is to have a factory bike in a factory team. And he knows that, right now, that's not within his reach at Ducati. He is also very keen to prove that he deserves everything he gets, without anyone thinking that he gets it because he is the brother of who he is."
Last Sunday, Bezzecchi did not want to go into the question of who he would prefer to replace his team-mate. But speaking to Sky he did make a veiled hint at the current rift between Marini and the Academy.
"I don't want to imagine what it would be like not to have 'Maro' as a team-mate," he said. "We've known each other forever, even though he's not training with us now, because he's changed all his preparation and he's distanced himself a bit."
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Every rider on the grid think they are only 1 year away from greatness. If you don't believe in yourself then you will never be successful.
Ducati riders this year (so far)
1st Bagnaia 13 podiums
2nd Martin 8 podiums
3rd Bezzecchi 7 podiums
5th Zarco 5 podiums
8th Marini 1 podium
11 A Marquez 2 podiums
12 Di Giannantonio 1 podium
15 Bastianini 1 podium
While Marini has featured in the top 10 quite a lot this year, on paper there's other Ducati and non Ducati riders who deserve a 2024 Ducati. Going to Honda is a risk but staying at Ducati isn't going to get him a factory ride
Ducati riders this year (so far)
1st Bagnaia 13 podiums
2nd Martin 8 podiums
3rd Bezzecchi 7 podiums
5th Zarco 5 podiums
8th Marini 1 podium
11 A Marquez 2 podiums
12 Di Giannantonio 1 podium
15 Bastianini 1 podium
While Marini has featured in the top 10 quite a lot this year, on paper there's other Ducati and non Ducati riders who deserve a 2024 Ducati. Going to Honda is a risk but staying at Ducati isn't going to get him a factory ride
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Will Di Giannantonio get the VR46 seat or will it go to a Moto2 rider such as Aldeguer?
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DiGia is not a VR46 rider and also has failed to impress with the same exact Ducati VR46 is deploying. I'd go for younger talent, whether Arbolino or Aldeguer.
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This.
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I havent watched much moto2 but .... he was a class above in the last 2 races.
Diggia has shown in the last few months that he belongs in MotoGP, imo.
Aldeguer has had a brilliant run of four races but not much more. He's a great talent but I would wait for him to show some consistency before moving him up. Someone's career can easily be ruined by rushing them to the top level too early.
I'm also skeptical whether Arbolino is ready to move up. He's been in the mid-pack in most of the races after the summer break.
Aldeguer has had a brilliant run of four races but not much more. He's a great talent but I would wait for him to show some consistency before moving him up. Someone's career can easily be ruined by rushing them to the top level too early.
I'm also skeptical whether Arbolino is ready to move up. He's been in the mid-pack in most of the races after the summer break.
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Yes second in the sprint, more evidence that Diga should have a ride. VR46 are set on getting a rider from Moto2 so the only hope Diga has is if VR46 fails to get a Moto2 rider
So where has he been up until this last part of the season? Other than the prospect of not having a ride, what has changed? I'm playing Devil's Advocate and asking questions I'd think any team boss would ask. Earlier in the year, Alex Marquez was showing promise though he got taken out by other riders in a few races. Digi was nowhere. If he gets a 2 year deal will he disappear again or keep riding as if his MotoGP life depends on it? Despite his results of late, Mooney/VR46 don't want him even though he's got the right passport. I may be alone in this thinking but that tells me something and it's not the line VR46 is putting forth about Digi "not fitting the profile" blah, blah, blah.
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It seems that Digi's best chance of racing next year is to become a Honda test rider but it won't get him a fulltime ride for 2025 ie do a Zarco
How much does the marketing of a rider play in to the decision making these days, there is a lot of money to be made on fan souvenires (i.e., hats, shirts, jackets, etc.). Perhaps choosing a young, good looking, guy like Aldeguer, who can also ride it appears, creates what is felt to be the "complete package" both on and off the track, to appeal to the younger fans (in particular females). Perhaps Digi does not fit such a marketing plan at his age (26), perhaps a younger rider with more marketing potential is what they really want.
My wife and I attended the Valencia race back in 2019, she is not a racing fan and couldn't care less if she ever goes again, but she did like and buy a VR46 shirt that she actually wears. The marketing got her to spend money, not the on track results.
I’m talking from memory of what I heard the commentators talk about, so it might be a bit patchy…
Apparently him and his race engineer just couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t getting anywhere, so they just went the opposite direction to all the other Ducati riders in terms of setup and that is where everything changed for him.
Thanks, I didn't hear them talk about this but I skimmed through some of the sessions.
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Looking at Digi's results;
1. He did badly in the first 13 races taking him up to and including Indonesia.
2. Then he did 3 medium races with one good result, a 3rd in Australia.
3. Then he did 2 bad results for the next 2 rounds.
4. And now he's done a fantastic result.
One can speculate on how the timing lead to his contractual demise, based on the number's above, here's some speculation;
1. No other team interested in Digi, existing team looking for a replacement
2. M Marquez is signed to Gresini, closing the door on Digi, gets a look by Honda due to recent results but overall results of the year make Honda continue to look
3. Good results are short lived putting a cap on VR46 interest who decide to go for rookie to grow.
4. Nothing to loose go for it, fantastic result but way too late, perhaps someone will say mmm.... we could do with another test rider
LOL, I bet there's enough holes in that to drive a mac truck thru
So where for Digi?
- MotoGP test rider
- Moto2
- WSBK
- BSB
- Retirement
1. He did badly in the first 13 races taking him up to and including Indonesia.
2. Then he did 3 medium races with one good result, a 3rd in Australia.
3. Then he did 2 bad results for the next 2 rounds.
4. And now he's done a fantastic result.
One can speculate on how the timing lead to his contractual demise, based on the number's above, here's some speculation;
1. No other team interested in Digi, existing team looking for a replacement
2. M Marquez is signed to Gresini, closing the door on Digi, gets a look by Honda due to recent results but overall results of the year make Honda continue to look
3. Good results are short lived putting a cap on VR46 interest who decide to go for rookie to grow.
4. Nothing to loose go for it, fantastic result but way too late, perhaps someone will say mmm.... we could do with another test rider
LOL, I bet there's enough holes in that to drive a mac truck thru
So where for Digi?
- MotoGP test rider
- Moto2
- WSBK
- BSB
- Retirement
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