Politicking is all good, everybody does it. A multi world champion certainly can make a move that is to his benefit while jockeying for a ride. I have never faulted anybody for that kind of thing. I don’t see it as a ......... on MM’s part. Martin just wound up outmaneuvered this time.
What I hope happens is that both Aprilia and Martin pull out all the stops to challenge. It is the kind of thing that will motivate a young and talented rider to improve.
Somebody (JPS or 22???) just brought up Prost and Senna in 1988. There are parallels, but Prost was well established in that team and Senna was the younger up and comer. Prost did not veto Senna. This time Marquez arrives on board as the elder statesman. They both have something to prove, as was the case in 88. It is going to be interesting.
Coincidentally last night I watched an hourlong YouTube feature on the McLaren MP4/4, which was arguably the Ducati GP 24 of its day in F1. What struck me the most was how the chief designer Steve Nichols, along with the chief mechanic and another designer, took great pains to stress that everything was done as a team. It certainly seemed like it at the time.
It remains to be seen how the team thing will play out at Ducati next year.
