2025 Silly Season

I've been on vacation for a week so have a lot of catching up to do it looks like. However, an interesting article here says now that Claudio Domenicalli (head of Ducati) has suddenly become keen to keep Marc, seeing how much media potential he has.

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/n...g-to-go-to-retain-marquez-in-motogp/10619078/

As others have said, the Pramac deal is not for 2 GP25's, which is why I think they are playing around a bit. If that is the case then it's easy (on paper). Put Aldeguer on the 2nd (yr old) Pramac, and give the 2nd GP25 for Gresini.

Faz said:

Yes,he does to aficionados of our sport but to the general population it’s still probably Vale. But if he does get the most ‘likes’ which translates to money why are Duc prevaricating about the situation? Imo Pecco is getting even better this year so am just thinking why upset the applecart which Jorge or Marc undoubtedly would.

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Why hasn't it happened yet? I think behind the scenes there is a major sponsorship mess.

WOW:

Not official yet, but:

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/martin-to-leave-ducati-marquez-join-factory-team/10619183/

Ducati has made the decision to bet on Marc Marquez at all costs for its factory MotoGP team, which will force Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini to leave the manufacturer, Motorsport.com understands.​

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#22 said:

WOW:

Not official yet, but:

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/martin-to-leave-ducati-marquez-join-factory-team/10619183/

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Fits with what I said the other day.

JPSLotus said:

Fits with what I said the other day.

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I've been out for a week, can you link your post?

#22 said:

I've been out for a week, can you link your post?

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Crap, of course I can't find it.

But I saw a tweet that said MM wasn't out of the running for a factory seat by the same person who predicted that he wouldn't go to Pramac.

No wonder that didn't announce their decision in Mugello. The fans would have burnt the place down.

MdubSTYLIE said:

No wonder that didn't announce their decision in Mugello. The fans would have burnt the place down.

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Pecco right now:

LoL imagine the head of Martin now.

I don't know what to believe anymore so I won't say anything about it until there's official confirmation. But I ponder if the news of Martín being the initial sure choice was a ploy by Ducati to see how the riders reacted to the news. Martín was perhaps too transparent in his initial mood this weekend after the news broke out. It could also be that the big wigs were less than impressed by Jorge this weekend, crashing in the sprint and failing to contain a downtrodden Enea. Or perhaps they changed their minds after Marc rejected the Pramac seat. Unless they announce something quickly this week, it's gonna be a long month with lots of clickbait stories out there. I eagerly await the "Ducati is actually gonna renew Bastianini" episode

MichaelBolton said:

I don't know what to believe anymore so I won't say anything about it until there's official confirmation. But I ponder if the news of Martín being the initial sure choice was a ploy by Ducati to see how the riders reacted to the news. Martín was perhaps too transparent in his initial mood this weekend after the news broke out. It could also be that the big wigs were less than impressed by Jorge this weekend, crashing in the sprint and failing to contain a downtrodden Enea. Or perhaps they changed their minds after Marc rejected the Pramac seat. Unless they announce something quickly this week, it's gonna be a long month with lots of clickbait stories out there. I eagerly await the "Ducati is actually gonna renew Bastianini" episode

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I think this is a done deal honestly. If only I could find the stupid post where I referenced briefly that Marc wasn't out of the running for the factory seat according to the same person who said he would not go to Pramac.

I do think once he rejected Pramac they panicked. But they should have realized MM would not go into that environment because of the Nieto issue. While I have no doubt about MM's ability to be professional, anyone linked to VR, I don't hold the same view about.

I think Gigi wanted Marc all along, but it was Domenicali who was the barrier like usual. Or perhaps Audi stepped in and said how things were going to go. Jorge is fast, but he isn't going to sell bikes and merchandise the way MM will unfortunately for him.

Can't even react to this without Ducati official confirmation, but I hope this is true.

JPSLotus said:

I think this is a done deal honestly. If only I could find the stupid post where I referenced briefly that Marc wasn't out of the running for the factory seat according to the same person who said he would not go to Pramac.

I do think once he rejected Pramac they panicked. But they should have realized MM would not go into that environment because of the Nieto issue. While I have no doubt about MM's ability to be professional, anyone linked to VR, I don't hold the same view about.

I think Gigi wanted Marc all along, but it was Domenicali who was the barrier like usual. Or perhaps Audi stepped in and said how things were going to go. Jorge is fast, but he isn't going to sell bikes and merchandise the way MM will unfortunately for him.

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Gigi has good judgement, but Donenicali is an arrogant fool in my view and if he makes a good decision either way it will be by accident.

Ducati don’t like their riders bargaining with them, and like Honda in their heyday think it is their bike that is winning even when this is not the case. I don’t think they liked Dovi bargaining, or Martin making semi ultimatums last season, and even Pecco held out for more money for his new contract. MM has been fairly diplomatic this year, as far as Ducati is concerned anyway, no complaints about the bike or about how Pecco has raced him, and I think has been genuine about being pleased to be competitive on their year old bike which they may also have liked.

If this does come to pass it will be for two major reasons imo, firstly because Gigi appreciates how well he has ridden a superseded bike, and Neil Hodgson’s thing about the factory team sponsors not wanting the limelight on a satellite Ducati team or another manufacturer when they have the chance to sign him. I have thought all along MM matching Valentino or even Agostini for titles won riding a Ducati would have appeal for them and perhaps even more so for Audi. Apart from Italian nationalism there is not much reason for Ducati to defuse the threat of MM to Valentino’s 9/7, he hasn’t really ever done much for Ducati except contribute to Pecco’s development. A casual observer might have mistaken him as being the manager of Pecco’s team last weekend, and I noticed that the yellow VR46 finery he was wearing in the pits included a Yamaha labelled cap, which I with others find totally bizarrre.

Pretty tough on Martin if it does eventuate, he is very good, but Pecco still looked a little better last weekend and I would favour him for the title over a whole season even with completely equal equipment which Jorge may not get if he does sign elsewhere.

MichaelBolton said:

I don't know what to believe anymore so I won't say anything about it until there's official confirmation. But I ponder if the news of Martín being the initial sure choice was a ploy by Ducati to see how the riders reacted to the news. Martín was perhaps too transparent in his initial mood this weekend after the news broke out. It could also be that the big wigs were less than impressed by Jorge this weekend, crashing in the sprint and failing to contain a downtrodden Enea. Or perhaps they changed their minds after Marc rejected the Pramac seat. Unless they announce something quickly this week, it's gonna be a long month with lots of clickbait stories out there. I eagerly await the "Ducati is actually gonna renew Bastianini" episode

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The thing is Bastianini is actually a good choice.

Sennas_Caress said:

That is not good news for Diggia, who could potentially lose his seat at VR46 to him if he keeps this development up.

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I just posted in the other thread that Digia has become a fixture in the top 10 going back to last year. Frankie has been getting better but he needs to keep it going and be more consistent. He should be getting to terms with the GP24. Bez isn't doing squat so far. I'll take Diggia right now.

Well that escalated quickly

Martin's about to get the map 8 special for the rest of the season

MdubSTYLIE said:

Martin's about to get the map 8 special for the rest of the season

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Fcking true, he lost his title chance this afternoon ...
Same map than Qatar sunday race last year