I think they want Marc on the factory bike.
I know we've got a long season and we're only at race weekend number 2. If you're Tardozzi and Gigi, watching Marc performing on a year old bike when everyone thought he was going to be off the pace due to lack of data, you have to be considering the possibilities of Marc on the factory bike. I think Jorge's hissy fit near the end of last season wasn't a good look for his chances. Now don't get me wrong I think Jorge is going to remain in the running regardless but if Marc is right up there by him on the GP23 when he's got the GP24, I don't see him getting the factory seat. He has to decisively outperform MM because he has the newest machine, and I don't think that's going to happen. Hence my earlier comment I think Ducati already knows.
Plus from a marketing standpoint, it's Marc. Just getting the 8-times world champion on a Ducati, albeit satellite team was a huge PR boost. "We make bikes so good that even the 8-times world champion will take our previous year's bike just to be on our bike."
I also think Marc is a little .... (laughingly) who plays games to .... with everyone from the riders to the media to the fans about what his actual capabilities are. Not convinced Jorge can handle the pressure especially if the standings turn into a dog fight between him and Marc.
But those are just my ramblings.
