Jeez, I didn't even realized he was extended. DOH! I would love to see him on the podium more.
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Jeez, I didn't even realized he was extended. DOH! I would love to see him on the podium more.
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Rider decisions will need to be made early into the season so to prevent rival teams from poaching riders. At this point it looks like Acosta will be one to get an early factory contract for 2025 and then there's M Marquez
In regards with Ducati, Aprilia is interested in Bastainini so Ducati will need to make an early decision on the factory team.
Strange take...
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We know that Bagnaia is close to extending his contract. I believe Acosta to KTM factory is merely a formality, so those two are closed out.
Where I think we are going to see things drag out is the 2nd Ducati seat. Currently Bastianinni, Martin, Marquez and Bezzechi are contenders for that seat, depending on what you read.
If Bastianini performs, then at some point Ducati will have to .... or get off the pot with regards to options. If he doesn't, then Pramac in a straight swap with Martin, or Aprilia seem to be his options. Likewise if he is retained on the factory team, Where does Martin go? Aprilia? Repsol Honda? Even Yamaha if Fabio went somewhere else.
You are then onto Marc Marquez. I can;t see him going back to Honda for 2025. I just cannot see them getting competitive enough before contracts need signing. Again, another headache for Ducati is if He and Martin out perform the Beast, who do they pick for the factory?
As much as I dream about a Binder/Marquez lineup at KTM, I think that is virtually an impossibility now. KTM will not lose Acosta.
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I think anything short of winning the championship and the beast is gone. Even that will be tough since the decision will be made well before that. Martin would have to have a terrible first half of the season to lose that seat. If the beast is fighting for the championship after signing with another manufacturer his bike will be stuck in map 8.
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I think other factories will pay him well. Plus Ducati has a reputation of tossing riders quickly. I see him at Yamaha to replace Fabio or Aprilia with Fabio. I think it would be great to see him sign somewhere else and then win the championship. Although like I said, Ducati won't let that happen.
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I'm inclined to agree, it will be difficult for Ducati to delay signing the second factory bike which doesn't give Bastainini sufficient time to prove his value. I'll say its M Marquez vs Martin and the decision won't be based on just performance
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Augusto Fernández could well be in his last year in MotoGP. He needs to beat Acosta to get a lifeline like Fabio di Giannantonio
Seems that with Yamaha the last couple of years they are just going through the motions of improving the bike without actually doing so. Looks like this year is more of the same, regardless of which engineers they poach from Ducati or elsewhere and the semi brave face they put on for pressers. Every team announcement says something like we are slowly getting there or the gap is coming down or somesuch. It's not a winner's outlook. Imo, change should start t the top. If the factory wants to win, current team management should be shook up. If the factory doesn't seem to care, Fabio should be aggressively marketing himself elsewhere. There does not seem to be anybody in the ream with the will and determination to fight back to the top, except for Fabio. That alone would be reason enough for him to leave. Problem is, where would he go?
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If he wants a fat contract, there aren't many options other than Honda, which is in the same process Yamaha find themselves in¹. If he's desperate to win, there are two obvious seat choices: Pramac², and Aprilia. The jury is still out on Aprilia's chances as a WC capable bike, but it has proven it can fight for wins with a subpar (IMO) rider pair. I can't see KTM offering him a contract³ , and factory Ducati obviously has a wealth of riders with Ducati experience to pick from.
¹ I gotta say, I'm more convinced by Honda's efforts in the tests than Yamaha's
² Can't see Morbi doing well, and Jorge will leave for a factory seat, that leaves two seats free, one of them will most likely be occupied by newcomer Aldeguer
³ They already said years ago they wouldn't sign anybody without V4 experience after the Zarco fiasco
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Morbidelli is already on the back foot having missed the test that could of been used to familise himself with the GP24. With contracts likely to be signed early, that gives Morbidelli even less time to come up to speed on an unfamiliar bike.
I believe that two things are gonna happen.
First, a number of teams are gonna wait to see how certain riders do before making a decision to sign them for 2025 (and beyond perhaps).
Second, a number riders are gonna wait to see how certain bikes do before making a decision to sign on to ride them for 2025 (and beyond perhaps).
Two way street for many teams and riders in my opinion, how long the wait and see process goes on will be interesting to see.
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I dont see Morbidelli being at Pramac or even MGP in 2025. He was the slowest Ducati rider at the Valencia test, and with Aldeguer all but confirmed for the 2nd Pramac seat, I don't see them keeping Franco when there are so many better options available.
I think one key domino will fall, and quickly we will see the rest.
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Not groundbreaking news, but despite both parties admitting to wanting to stay together, Ducati are in no rush to renew with Bagnaia.
Ducati "in no hurry" to re-sign Bagnaia beyond MotoGP 2024
Ducati "in no hurry" to re-sign Bagnaia beyond MotoGP 2024
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This. It’s not like he has a better team to make a better offer.
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It boils down to the simple question. Does he want to win or does he want big money?
I suspect Mir's Repsol Honda seat is going to be a bit of Kryptonite (similar to the factory Ducati seat 10 or so years ago) in that some might see the appeal of a bigger (but not Marquez-esqe) salary and a 'factory' ride.
I suspect Mir's Repsol Honda seat is going to be a bit of Kryptonite (similar to the factory Ducati seat 10 or so years ago) in that some might see the appeal of a bigger (but not Marquez-esqe) salary and a 'factory' ride.
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He can use another manufacturer to get more money. Say if Yamaha lose fabs they could offer pecker the brinks truck. In return Ducati will have to match. Pecco's stock can't get much higher so for him it is better to demand high and sign. If he has a bad season his stock will fall. If say Marc, Martin, and Enea do better than him he could find himself in a bad place if not signed. Ducati could say take our offer or yeet.
