When it comes to Binder I'm not feeling the love lately to be honest.
As for Miller, I'll be really surprised if he has a ride at all next year in MotoGP.
2025 Silly Season
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As for Miller, I'll be really surprised if he has a ride at all next year in MotoGP.
On form prior to this season it is probably Bezzecchi, whom the GP23 does not seem to suit. No fault in regard to him on Ducati’s part, he knocked back the Pramac seat, although his team owner may perhaps have been well informed about future uncertainty. He will probably go elsewhere, perhaps Aprilia, unless VR46 get a current model Ducati.
This all begs the question of how Pramac were going to pay MM, and perhaps they were expecting him to ride for them for nothing as well as having said publicly when he refused them last season that he was widely disliked among the Ducati fold by those associated with Valentino. I wonder why he didn’t want to ride for them ?.
I think if Pramac managed to sign Marquez, Prima would have gladly paid the bill. Insurance companies are loaded with cash.
That’s the thing though, if MM was playing politics I suspect he wasn’t alone. Double bluff or not, I imagine Pramac thought he had no serious alternative to signing with them. I am not sure what alternatives he really did have, KTM have denied any contact this year, but presumably Gresini and probably Aprilia, who I am sure wouldn’t have minded signing him or Martin. Signing for 1 year with Pramac for this season on a Ducati GP24 would I imagine have required Ducati’s consent, who would be wary without a longer commitment. There is always the possibility he genuinely was trying to rediscover his enjoyment of the sport with Gresini this year.
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I think he came into the season trying to rediscover is enjoyment and love for racing. I would say his goal also changed with regard to getting a factory seat once he realized he was competitive with the current season Ducatis on last year's bike. I think if the factory Ducati seat hadn't worked out, he'd have signed with Aprilia. But I guess we'll never really know unless he talks about it down the road...probably when he is no longer racing. I don't think Pramac was ever a real consideration because of the Rossi connection in that garage. Though for me it does beg the question of why Pramac didn't recognize this at all. For the people in the know, it seems they all knew Pramac would never happen, yet Pramac themselves actually thought it would.
Sure, pretty much my view. Fairly definite proof even this season that the inner Rossi circle is still not overly enamoured with MM as well.
We have a couple of posters now who are particularly well informed about matters in the Italian motogp scene who might be able to shed some light though.
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Marquez said he had 3 plans, which I think Were:
Plan A) Lenovo Ducati. Best outcome.
Plan B) Factory Aprilia. He’d have easily scored that seat if he tried
Plan C) Stay with Gresini. Fall back plan, but changes nothing and he could continue working with the same bunch of guys he’s clearly gelling with this year
None of the plans are bad, and he landed the best possible scenario
Plan A) Lenovo Ducati. Best outcome.
Plan B) Factory Aprilia. He’d have easily scored that seat if he tried
Plan C) Stay with Gresini. Fall back plan, but changes nothing and he could continue working with the same bunch of guys he’s clearly gelling with this year
None of the plans are bad, and he landed the best possible scenario
Aprilia plays down ‘American rider in an American team’ for MotoGP 2025
Massimo Rivola: “I don't think that will be the case"
Looks like R. Fernandez is safe, but I do think Mir might take Oliveira’s seat.
I was wondering more about what Pramac’s view of things was. Genuinely appreciate and enjoy the posts from you and Senna’s Carress btw.
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Frankly difficult to say what Pramac’s line of thought was/ is without understanding where they stand re: Ducati vs Yamaha. Marquez is obviously not an option with the Yamaha path, for more than one reason.
And thank you. Likewise.
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I would say it changed 7 laps into his first test.
So Fernandez, who has had 5 finishes inside the top 10 over the last 2 years, gets to stay?Aprilia plays down ‘American rider in an American team’ for MotoGP 2025
Massimo Rivola: “I don't think that will be the case"www.crash.net
Looks like R. Fernandez is safe, but I do think Mir might take Oliveira’s seat.
I am convinced Fernandez has .... pics of someone important in the paddock, to be still so highly rated.
Do Ducati see Martin as a threat on the Aprilia? He is younger and will be around longer. Perhaps they see Martin and Marquez equally as threats on the Aprilia but chose Marc precisely for his greater commercial appeal? I have no clue but it feels as if Marc was a better overall fit above and beyond on-track performance. :dunno:
Sure, that was my point. They weren't going to have to pay him much salary, and told him after he wouldn't sign with them for this season because they +/- Ducati wanted him to sign for 2 years that he was not well liked by more than a few people associated with Ducati because of Valentino and that they had other options anyway. Why would they then think they would be attractive to him for next season ?. Perhaps the deal was him being contracted to Ducati and Ducati paying for his bike, otherwise they were always off to Yamaha, which the lack of applicants for a presumed GP25 next year, and last year for that matter, would seem to suggest.
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Can you imgaine what Monster Lenovo and any other sponsors would have said if they gave Marc a factory support bike and he won the title? They would have been livid! What the .... are we giving you money for? Marc was the smart move regardless of what Martin has done. Whether or not Marc wins the title next year, Ducati and all of its sponsor can be happy knowing they blocked redbull and ect. from winning it. This was the move I don't feel bad for Jorge.
Now about Jorge. I feel like he really rushed his decision to sign with Aprilia. Whatever was said to him by Ducati that made him go over to Espargaros trailer shouldn't have made him go and sign a contract that night. Thats nuts. First Marc wasn't signed yet. Talk to Aprilia make demands to Ducati that you are going to walk. Talk to KTM get the most money you can by making KTM and Aprilia fight for you. Maybe Aprilia was the right choice but give it time don't make such a rash decision. He had the manufacturers other than Ducati in his palm. And he ...... the first girl he saw at the party. When he could have ...... any of them. I am not saying he will regret his decision but he sure didn't take the time to get the most he could.
This is kind of what I was saying when I said Marc seems like a better fit above and beyond on-track performance. Jorge is a bit short-sighted and impulsive, brash even. Maybe doesn't think things through.......................like my wife.
Maybe Marc has better people skills?
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I think Martin is a hothead at the end of the day and that's probably what Aprilia were betting on when they talked to him. Use the emotion of the moment to get him to sign, and sign he did. I felt like he gave up on Ducati too quickly, especially since before the weekend at Mugello began he seemed to be in good head space over it. Not sure but even Enea noped the .... out of there pretty quickly too. Then again who knows, maybe Ducati told him there was no way to keep him unless it was on a satellite bike, and we know he was never going to settle for a satellite bike. I think the Aprilia is faster than what Mav and Aleix have shown, I just don't know if it's fast enough to keep up with the Ducati bikes unless the track suits the Aprilia. Same with the KTM. Acosta has shown the bike is faster than what the other riders have shown, but it's still not fast enough. I would suspect that had a lot to do with MM if reports are true, not bothering to even talk to KTM.
