2025 Silly Season

#22 said:

It's certainly plausible JP as long as Gresini don't go to Yamaha. It makes perfect sense in that he's in a team he knows, his brother is his team mate and he enjoys the atmosphere like you said. So getting the benefits of a factory team AND the atmosphere of a privateer team might be a very enticing combo.

The ONLY thing I see against it, is Ducati not wanting to see the #1 on a non factory coloured bike (even though Marc never runs #1).

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I don't see Gresini leaving. But I could see Pramac leaving due to losing a factory bike next year. I see a scenario in which Gresini is being given a bike for Marc next year so Pramac is angry and decides to pack up their toys and go to Yamaha. Leaving Gresini with both factory bikes. One for Aldeguer the other for Marc.

Guys I think we need to close this thread. We are stating opinions not supported by evidence. We don't want to make @warthog1 angry!

MdubSTYLIE said:

I don't see Gresini leaving. But I could see Pramac leaving due to losing a factory bike next year. I see a scenario in which Gresini is being given a bike for Marc next year so Pramac is angry and decides to pack up their toys and go to Yamaha. Leaving Gresini with both factory bikes. One for Aldeguer the other for Marc.

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Fair assumption, but remember that Aldeguer won't be on a factory bike. VR46 to replace Diggia?

MdubSTYLIE said:

Guys I think we need to close this thread. We are stating opinions not supported by evidence. We don't want to make @warthog1 angry!

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I am not reading that every rider pushes the front end as hard as Marc and Marc's saves are essentially repeated by every rider multiple times. I'll probably be ok.

#22 said:

VR46 to replace Diggia?

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He's 10th in the standings, only 5 points away from 8th place, there are a lot of other riders I'd ditch before him !

On paper I don't disagree, but there are external factors.
1. He was a last choice when Marini left due to basically no other riders being available.
2. A very likely condition of VR46 getting a factory bike (For Bezz) next year, will be that Ducati put Aldeguer on the second bike (This is assuming Pramac go to Yamaha).

I think aside from Alex Marquez, Diggia is bottom of the Ducati priority pile.

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/n...ducatis-second-factory-motogp-rider/10606069/

Interesting article, also cites Marquez as essentially saying he would drop Red Bull if it meant a factory Ducati ride. It also alludes to Bastiannini seemingly taking his future into his own hands and chasing an Aprilia ride.

Marc Marquez says he wants a factory team – what are his options?

But it was when quizzed on that prospect that Marquez gave away the biggest revelation of the weekend regarding his future plans, effectively telling Spanish media that he wasn’t just aiming for a factory bike, but a factory team.

“[Pramac] is a great team, which has factory bikes and has shown that it is capable of fighting for a World Championship, but it is not a factory team,” Marquez is quoted as saying.

“It is a good team... satellite, but it is not a factory team.”

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That's a huge revelation. It means, even with a factory bike, he won't be at Gresini next yr. It's Lenovo Ducati or KTM in my opinion.

Rumors saying Brivio is pursuing Mir for an Aprilia Trackhouse seat along with Joe Roberts, which means the current employed pair (Miguel and Raul) is out.

Silly season is spicy this year with the withering fortunes of Honda and Yamaha. Rather than making a step forward, they have taken a step backward, and are struggling to compete with the satellite bikes from all of the European manufacturers.

Ducati are in a tough situation, but they are generally quite diabolical when it comes to managing riders so they have a plan, I'm sure. Marquez is no spring chicken, if they put him on a factory bike, they run the risk of alienating the young riders who need to be coming through the ranks, particularly if they are not 100% confident that Bagnaia will be their guy for the 850cc formula. Personally, I think the admiration for Marquez could be a ploy to disrupt his negotiations with other manufacturers. Keeping Marc on a satellite Ducati is probably the best outcome for them. Second best would be having Marc leave for KTM which might block Martin's departure, and jeopardize KTM's recruitment program for young riders. Ducati surely realize that they need to

Aprilia are also in a tricky spot. Aleix is reaching the end of his career, and so far, Mav is leading the team. They need a young second rider who is factory material, but they need to get him on the cheap. It seems like Bastianini is there best bet. If Roberts maintains form, he will surely get the Trackhouse ride, with Liberty taking over. Mir to Trackhouse also seems legitimate, but he may be reticent to take a satellite ride at a manufacturer with limited budget.

At KTM, Acosta is surely moving up. Miller is out. Will Binder survive?

At this time, I'd guess that Miller and Morbidelli are out. Augusto Fernandez is out. Raul Fernandez will land on a satellite Ducati, and Oliveira may do the same, depending on the offers he receives in WSBK.

Anyway, the surplus of quality talent is necessitating grid expansion in MotoGP and WSBK. If they can't find a suitable place for all of the riders who are being trained, the talent pool will get shallower as riders drop out.

MichaelBolton said:

Da Ducati ad Aprilia: il mercato piloti entra nel vivo

La ricostruzione di Sandro Donato Grosso

sport.sky.it

Rumors saying Brivio is pursuing Mir for an Aprilia Trackhouse seat along with Joe Roberts, which means the current employed pair (Miguel and Raul) is out.

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It would be good to see some fresh blood. Raul has had his chance and while I'm an Oliviera fan, he has blown his chance on the 2024 Aprilia.

mylexicon said:

Silly season is spicy this year with the withering fortunes of Honda and Yamaha. Rather than making a step forward, they have taken a step backward, and are struggling to compete with the satellite bikes from all of the European manufacturers.

Ducati are in a tough situation, but they are generally quite diabolical when it comes to managing riders so they have a plan, I'm sure. Marquez is no spring chicken, if they put him on a factory bike, they run the risk of alienating the young riders who need to be coming through the ranks, particularly if they are not 100% confident that Bagnaia will be their guy for the 850cc formula. Personally, I think the admiration for Marquez could be a ploy to disrupt his negotiations with other manufacturers. Keeping Marc on a satellite Ducati is probably the best outcome for them. Second best would be having Marc leave for KTM which might block Martin's departure, and jeopardize KTM's recruitment program for young riders. Ducati surely realize that they need to

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Both Ducati and KTM are in a situation of embarrassment of riches. A nice problem to be in, in some ways.

mylexicon said:

Aprilia are also in a tricky spot. Aleix is reaching the end of his career, and so far, Mav is leading the team. They need a young second rider who is factory material, but they need to get him on the cheap. It seems like Bastianini is there best bet. If Roberts maintains form, he will surely get the Trackhouse ride, with Liberty taking over. Mir to Trackhouse also seems legitimate, but he may be reticent to take a satellite ride at a manufacturer with limited budget.

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I personally think, and have said this before, that factory Aprilia need 2 new riders. Mav has 1 or 2 good/sensational races a year that always seems to reignite peoples faith in him, but he's like a broken record.
Mir/Bastiannini would be a solid step up imo. Or even Martin if he doesn't get a Ducati ride.

mylexicon said:

At KTM, Acosta is surely moving up. Miller is out. Will Binder survive?

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Binder is the big question Marc (see what I did there?). Miller is out for sure, and will be lucky if he is offered a GasGas ride.

mylexicon said:

At this time, I'd guess that Miller and Morbidelli are out. Augusto Fernandez is out. Raul Fernandez will land on a satellite Ducati, and Oliveira may do the same, depending on the offers he receives in WSBK.

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I can't see Fernandez getting a Ducati. At present I think a satellite team would take diggia over him. He's a proven race winner on one whereas Fernandez has moaned for the last 3 yrs.

#22 said:

It would be good to see some fresh blood. Raul has had his chance and while I'm an Oliviera fan, he has blown his chance on the 2024 Aprilia.

Both Ducati and KTM are in a situation of embarrassment of riches. A nice problem to be in, in some ways.

I personally think, and have said this before, that factory Aprilia need 2 new riders. Mav has 1 or 2 good/sensational races a year that always seems to reignite peoples faith in him, but he's like a broken record.
Mir/Bastiannini would be a solid step up imo. Or even Martin if he doesn't get a Ducati ride.

Binder is the big question Marc (see what I did there?). Miller is out for sure, and will be lucky if he is offered a GasGas ride.

I can't see Fernandez getting a Ducati. At present I think a satellite team would take diggia over him. He's a proven race winner on one whereas Fernandez has moaned for the last 3 yrs.

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I think Miller will be recruited by Ducati to replace Bautista and SBK. I don't necessarily think it's the right move, but it looks good on paper, and Miller has a following for his jovial antics and offbeat personality. I think he will take the ride because he's ready to spend more time on his boat, and less time flying internationally. The only WSBK round outside of Europe is in Australia so that works, too, though Liberty will probably be making changes in that regard, particularly since the 1000s might not survive European emissions regulations.

Bezzecchi is in the most precarious spot, imo. He's a talented rider, but staying in the VR46 team on a GP23, and lining up with Diggia to face the Marquez brothers at Gresini, was perhaps not the greatest strategic decision. If he can't land a more competitive ride, his career could be heading for the dustbin. He's just beginning his prime, and he need something to show for it.

#22 said:

Both Ducati and KTM are in a situation of embarrassment of riches. A nice problem to be in, in some ways.

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I think Ducati is going to lose this over the spec bike situation. I am not sure why they want to take away one of pramacs factory bikes if the rumor is true. This will cause them to lose their wealth. The only way they can keep Martin is to give him Beasts seat. Marc just needs a factory bike I don't think it matters where he is. The pipeline with pramac is a good situation why upset the applecart?

mylexicon said:

I think Miller will be recruited by Ducati to replace Bautista and SBK. I don't necessarily think it's the right move, but it looks good on paper, and Miller has a following for his jovial antics and offbeat personality. I think he will take the ride because he's ready to spend more time on his boat, and less time flying internationally. The only WSBK round outside of Europe is in Australia so that works, too, though Liberty will probably be making changes in that regard, particularly since the 1000s might not survive European emissions regulations.

Bezzecchi is in the most precarious spot, imo. He's a talented rider, but staying in the VR46 team on a GP23, and lining up with Diggia to face the Marquez brothers at Gresini, was perhaps not the greatest strategic decision. If he can't land a more competitive ride, his career could be heading for the dustbin. He's just beginning his prime, and he need something to show for it.

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Bezz made it clear he is a VR man over a ducati rider. I don't know why they would offer him a better seat after making the decision to stay. He made his bed now he has to lay in it.

MdubSTYLIE said:

I think Ducati is going to lose this over the spec bike situation. I am not sure why they want to take away one of pramacs factory bikes if the rumor is true. This will cause them to lose their wealth. The only way they can keep Martin is to give him Beasts seat. Marc just needs a factory bike I don't think it matters where he is. The pipeline with pramac is a good situation why upset the applecart?

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While the manufacturers portray themselves as absolutists of speed and victory, they are calculating corporations who enjoy negotiation. If one manufacturer is dominant, and they field 4 factory spec bikes, every other manufacturer is aiming for 5th place. It's in the best interest of the sport and in the interest of other competitors for each manufacturer to run fewer factory bikes (generally).

Ducati don't really benefit from their bikes locking out the top 4-5 finishing positions, but their competitors care a lot. How can Ducati leverage this situation to improve their hand? 2027 regulations changes? Commercial rights payments? other concessions from the MSMA? I hope the press will uncover the accompanying benefit for Ducati.

MdubSTYLIE said:

Bezz made it clear he is a VR man over a ducati rider. I don't know why they would offer him a better seat after making the decision to stay. He made his bed now he has to lay in it.

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He acts like a member of the Valeban, but will he stay their forever? If Pramac leaves Ducati, I'm not convinced VR46 are next in line for preferential treatment. Maybe he is more loyal than motivated.

Apparently the purse strings are getting cut. As with everything, the penny counters ruin it.

Tardozzi - "Marc, are you happy?"
March - "No, not at all."

Danilo Petrucci thinks Marc will be on the factory Ducati next yr, because he believe Gigi Dallignia won't want to lose him to another manufacturer.

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/n...rquez-as-2025-motogp-decision-looms/10608279/

#22 said:

Danilo Petrucci thinks Marc will be on the factory Ducati next yr, because he believe Gigi Dallignia won't want to lose him to another manufacturer.

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/n...rquez-as-2025-motogp-decision-looms/10608279/

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If his name was Marco Marquezioso he'd already be on a factory Ducati.

Gresini boss has ruled out switch to Yamaha:

Gresini rules out satellite Yamaha switch

Pramac, on the other hand, are still an option for Yamaha it sounds like. Their option on Ducati expires at the end of July.

“Offer on the table” but Pramac refuse to rush crucial decision

Paolo Campinoti intends to “wait until the last second of the last day of July” before confirming whether his team will stay with Ducati or quit, Sky Italia report.


Pramac have been in “intense negotiations” with Yamaha over the past few days.

Yamaha have “put an offer on the table” to make Pramac their satellite team in 2025 and beyond, the report states.

There are reportedly big financial benefits to Pramac swapping Ducati for Yamaha.


But, Pramac will not rush their decision. Contractually, they have until the end of July to decide.

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