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.
Round 5: 2024 Michelin Grand Prix de France - Le Mans Bugatti Circuit
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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...
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.
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If Martin signs with another manufacturer I wouldn't be surprised to see his bike start to have mechanical issues every now and then.
Maybe, maybe not, he won’t get updates though.
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His bike will only have one map. Map 8.
If Marc goes to the factory team it will put massive pressure on Martin as soon as it is announced. It's probably save to assume that the GP25 will still be the best bike in the field. If Jörg is forced to leave for another manufacturer he'll know that 2024 is probably his only chance at the title for now.
This is the fast grow up year for Martin. And for Bagnaia for that matter as well. No more unprovoked falling off the bike while leading. Tall order maybe but it’s gotta happen. They have both been in this game long enough now. Acosta and soon others nipping at their heels. Things moving fast in this new age of MotoGP.
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?
Yes he is probably more like Stoner who was prone to saying the first thing which occurred to him than like Rossi, but although Valentino was very canny for most of his career I wouldn’t say a certain Sepang press conference was without explosive consequences for him, or that everything he has said since then has been inconsequential.
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.
MM I find difficult to read, he seems to mostly tell the truth but not without guile. His current strategy for the future is opaque to me but if it at least partly involves relying on his riding talent as would seem to be the case probably not totally unsound, He sacked his long term manager and I am uninformed about any replacement (EDIT Looked it up, Jaime Martinez, formerly head of motorsports marketing for Red Bull).
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He won't need them if he can string podiums all season.
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).
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Rumor: with Liberty’s purchase of MotoGP, Trackhouse may step up and spend? They apparently have really deep pockets. Sign an American like Roberts to the team and inject $ into the Aprilia effort to secure a factory spec bike for him and a fat enough contract for a top rider on the factory team? Warning: this is based upon nothing but my imagination.
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.
Martin and KTM going forward.
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