Round 5: 2024 Michelin Grand Prix de France - Le Mans Bugatti Circuit

mtf20 said:

Hello everyone, I just discovered this forum couple days ago and it seems to be cool !

To bounce back of GP25 issue, i think it's a very difficult choice for Ducati because they know what MM does on the GP23. He's way faster than the others. For those who think like Pirro, you just have a look on Q2 this year, laptime record hold by the GP23 are beaten by 3 or 4 tens by the same riders on GP24 this year.
I understand Gigi's embarrassement because he knows that if he gives a GP25, but not red, to MM, the factory team will lost the 25 championship. In the same way JM proved he deserved the sit he wants. Sadly for him in this case, he's not italian.

Click to expand...

michaelm said:

MM might be an exception whom they wouldn’t mind winning on a satellite bike with strong hints they are supporting him fully, firstly to have a guy who would then be fully in the conversation with Rossi crown his career on their bike, and also because having someone of his stature win on a satellite Ducati when he wasn’t even competitive on a Honda would be good publicity anyway. Fully acclimatised from the getgo he might be a fair chance on a GP24 next year regardless, which would say less for their bike and more for him in any case.

Click to expand...

mtf20 said:

I agree, even if I think no one else needs to be proven the gap between Honda and Ducati, ask Marini. According to me, I'm sur MM will have a GP25 next year, remains to see the color...

Click to expand...

p4p1 said:

I have a sneaking suspicion that regardless of what team he rides for next year the most prominent colour will be red. They may be kicking themselves if Martin wins and all the photos they have of Martin winning this year are on a purple bike with purple leathers rather than being predominantly red.

Click to expand...

MdubSTYLIE said:

If Martin signs with another manufacturer I wouldn't be surprised to see his bike start to have mechanical issues every now and then.

Click to expand...

michaelm said:

Maybe, maybe not, he won’t get updates though.

Click to expand...

Keshav said:

Either way, Martin must know he’s painted himself in a corner. If he leaves Ducati for another brand, he’ll have to learn a new bike. If he stays on a satellite team, he’ll look like he blinked. Seems like he’s thinking he has the championship in the bag, and is basing his demands on that premise. The pressure he puts on himself in that regard, has great potential to affect his riding this year. Thus far, he’s seemed much less impulsive than last year. But flapping his gums to the press that way, is not a good sign. Just saying, hubris can be a bitch.

Click to expand...

MdubSTYLIE said:

I will be that tough on him because he has proven to be the same ilk as Rossi to me. If I ask myself how his comment can benefit him and I can find a reason I will go with it. Like a snake oil salesman. I'm not falling for it. The fact that Rossi also said it is more reason for me to think he has the yellow shades on and a voice in his ear. There were signs that Rossi was who we thought he was since the beginning and I say the same about Pecco.

Click to expand...

mylexicon said:

When Rossi used the press as a bully pulpit, it rarely exploded in his face. Also, if Ducati reduced the number of satellite bikes or made them slower, Pecco's sensei and his team would have been adversely affected. Bagnaia's remarks were very un-Rossi-like in their lack of sophistication and lack of self awareness.

Pecco doesn't strike me as a big picture thinker who discusses motorsports concepts with the team bosses in between sessions. I think a GPC conversation may have spilled into his pit box, or maybe someone on his team reminded him that he needs to be the fastest of an 8 bike data-sharing armada to retain number 1 status. Perhaps the press provided a prompt, and then conveniently omitted the context.

Anyway, my point is that Bagnaia's remarks were very un-Rossi-like because they exploded in his face, and they would have been harmful to the VR46 organization. Does anyone actually get mad at Wile E. Coyote?

Click to expand...

michaelm said:

Maybe, maybe not, he won’t get updates though.

Click to expand...

michaelm said:

Ducati seem happy to have their riders at odds with each other and to have quite a number of them competing for wins, which while admirable is untraditional and I agree with Bagnaia not the best way if your object is to have your number 1 factory rider win the title. Martin or a more experienced Acosta riding a KTM might challenge this strategy particularly if KTM can improve there bike a little.

Click to expand...

#22 said:

Aprilia also don't have a title sponsor and offered Quartararo 'only' 4 million euros. There is some doubt that they have the financial prowess to be consistent championship challengers.

Click to expand...

#22 said:

I've read they are 'happy to continue with their two riders'. If true, they deserve what they get imo.

Click to expand...

#22 said:

I've read they are 'happy to continue with their two riders'. If true, they deserve what they get imo.

Click to expand...

mtf20 said:

JM has something more in pure speed than other Ducati riders, maybe as "crazy" as MM in one lap. But the latter he's quite wise in this early season... The Alien doesn't reach his maximum potentiel on this GP23. I would like to put my coin on him for this year championship but I remember how Pecco needed team orders to win on Fabio and the strange end of last year season with this rear tyre Martin had in Qatar...
However, as fast as Martin is, I don't think he could be a danger for the title if he leaves.
To me, Quartararo and Acosta are the only threats for Ducati, only regarding the talent, but the first one is riding a 250 YZ and the shark still needs to learn a bit. Pedro will win races it's undeniable but i'm not sure this KTM is strong enough to fight for the championship (rear tyre management during the long race is a weak point to me).
The Aprilia seems to be more competitive but there are still reliabilty troubles which scares (MV gearbox this year), and i'm not sure the "stop and go" style that Martin adopts could perfectly fit. Anyway, I see a big potential in this bike, for the moment and I will not be surprised if Martin will jump on it in the case of he doesn't get the red handlebar next season (and if he doesn't change side).

Click to expand...

michaelm said:

Sure, you are likely correct about both Martin and KTM.hoing forward.

Maybe these aero bikes can just let go capriciously, but I suspect that it is more that both he and Bagnaia have a tendency to throw their bikes down the road. Imo it doesn’t require a conspiracy for him to have been given a dud Michelin rear, this is something Michelin semi specialise in, and I doubt Ducati Corse could influence which tyre a Pramac rider was given, certainly not theoretically and probably not practically.

Click to expand...