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

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If bagnaia would of had his balls out and make a move on martin, marquez might of overtook them both, but Prosecco was bagging of so MM only could get second place. Shame because this could have been a hell of a last lap showdown
 
What with Martin this year becoming more consistent, I was not going to be surprised at him being atop the podium. But, and I must have been crazy, for minute there I thought Marquez was going to settle for 3rd. But he was brilliant, and it was clean, and he really put Pecco in his place. Acosta while clearly very talented, is not bullet-proof.

Funny - about what has been speculated about the fire extinguisher incident, the longer the rumor sits with me, the truer it feels. Maybe just confirmation bias?
 
michaelm said:
That bloke Martin might have something to say about it, and it is hard to see how he can't be given the second factory Ducati seat, although he may have annoyed them with his public comments last season, and Bastianini hasn't exactly been terrible either. As has been said previously however MM on a KTM might worry them more than any other current Ducati rider.

Still early in the season with 37 points available per weekend though, and MM seems fully fit and may be capable of relentless consistency mode.
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I think the situation of MM or JM to the factory Ducati feels a bit difficult. I don't envy Gigi for being put in that situation at all since it was a situation largely of their own making in my opinion. I think the preferable outcome for Ducati would be to promote JM and give MM full factory support at either Pramac or Gresini. But MM seems intent on being on a factory team. I almost feel as if Gresini is a great place for MM and would be even better if he were given full factory support with a GP25.I don't know, riding for Ducati is a bit like Ferrari in that someone's head always feels to be on the chopping block as fortunes rise and fall from one race to the next. But maybe JM should consider that winning may not really be enough if Ducati feel the marketing value of MM is greater than anything, especially now as it's clear he's got the speed. JM might be better off elsewhere rather than being thrown into the proverbial shark-infested waters of Ducati. After all he shouldn't forget that Jorge Lorenzo was shown the door in quick order when they felt he wasn't doing enough.
 
JPSLotus said:
I think the situation of MM or JM to the factory Ducati feels a bit difficult. I don't envy Gigi for being put in that situation at all since it was a situation largely of their own making in my opinion. I think the preferable outcome for Ducati would be to promote JM and give MM full factory support at either Pramac or Gresini. But MM seems intent on being on a factory team. I almost feel as if Gresini is a great place for MM and would be even better if he were given full factory support with a GP25.I don't know, riding for Ducati is a bit like Ferrari in that someone's head always feels to be on the chopping block as fortunes rise and fall from one race to the next. But maybe JM should consider that winning may not really be enough if Ducati feel the marketing value of MM is greater than anything, especially now as it's clear he's got the speed. JM might be better off elsewhere rather than being thrown into the proverbial shark-infested waters of Ducati. After all he shouldn't forget that Jorge Lorenzo was shown the door in quick order when they felt he wasn't doing enough.
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Or more to the point Stoner who was responsible for their only title and most of their race wins at the time. Or Marco Melandri whom they sent to a shrink rather than having a look at their bike. Bagnaia has won 2 titles on the bounce for them and still gives every appearance of not feeling particularly secure. Man management has never been their forte.

A GP25 bike with Gresini with full factory support might be the best option for MM, great and undiminished though he looks he is still 31, and has been said previously spending his age 32 season learning a KTM is perhaps not a great option, and should he not be signed to ride a Ducati next season he could probably say goodbye to much in the way of further support from Ducati this season. Ducati’s ruthlessness may help him though, Gigi has shown he just wants the best rider, and having someone of MM’s stature further confirming his stature by winning a title on their bike would probably please Ducati management/ownership.
 
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michaelm said:
Or more to tge point Stoner who was responsible for their only title and most of their race wins at the time. Or Marco Melandri whom they sent to a shrink rather than having a look at their bike. Bagnaia has won 2 titles on the bounce for them and still gives every appearance of not feeling particularly secure. Man management has never been their forte.

A GP25 bike with Gresini with full factory might be the best option for MM, great and undiminished though he looks he is still 31, and has been said previously spending his age 32 season learning a KTM is perhaps not a great option, and should he not be signed to ride a Ducati next season he could probably say goodbye to much in the way of further support from Ducati this season. Ducati’s ruthlessness may help him though, Gigi has shown he just wants the best rider, and having someone of his stature further confirming his stature by winning a title on their bike would probably please Ducati management/ownership.
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Those examples from Ducati's past are another good reason as to why going to the factory team may not really be the sunshine and roses JM thinks it is. Certainly he'll get a nice pay bump if selected, but I can't see it being worth the potential headaches, especially as you said about Bagnaia not looking secure despite 2 titles. I think whomever they select, maybe it's going to be entirely about keeping Pecco under pressure to perform, and who would do the best job of this for the next 2 seasons?

Agreed about learning a KTM not being a great option. I think the KTM has a lot of issues that haven't really been fixed, and it's more of a case of having their day at the track than having a solid bike. Acosta has been flattering the KTM tremendously, more than even Binder ever was. But if I'm MM, I think remaining on a Ducati, preferably the latest spec would be the most logical decision. Ducati will be the bike to beat till the reset in 2027, so why even take a chance anywhere else?
 
JPSLotus said:
Those examples from Ducati's past are another good reason as to why going to the factory team may not really be the sunshine and roses JM thinks it is. Certainly he'll get a nice pay bump if selected, but I can't see it being worth the potential headaches, especially as you said about Bagnaia not looking secure despite 2 titles. I think whomever they select, maybe it's going to be entirely about keeping Pecco under pressure to perform, and who would do the best job of this for the next 2 seasons?

Agreed about learning a KTM not being a great option. I think the KTM has a lot of issues that haven't really been fixed, and it's more of a case of having their day at the track than having a solid bike. Acosta has been flattering the KTM tremendously, more than even Binder ever was. But if I'm MM, I think remaining on a Ducati, preferably the latest spec would be the most logical decision. Ducati will be the bike to beat till the reset in 2027, so why even take a chance anywhere else?
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It is rumoured he got paid more than Bagnaia last season due to win bonuses, perhaps like Stoner in 2007 to whom Ducati reputedly ended up paying a fortune having signed him as a one season place holder doubtless not expecting to pay many if any win bonuses.

Bagnaia also reputedly played hard ball for his new contract, as I would have thought he was entitled to do, which may have not endeared him to Ducati, and VW/Audi are now also reported to be putting the financial squeeze on Ducati, so more than a few variables possibly come into whom they sign.

The other thing is that Gigi is probably in a fairly good position to judge the relativity of the GP23 MM is on vs the GP24s the other 3 are riding, likely better than Pirro whom I would imagine can’t explore the limits of any Ducati as these guys can.
 
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Marc vs Pecco clean passes this year

Marc- 3

Prosecco- 0


Baggs is proper ...... this year. He's got nothing for the goat. It ain't going to happen but Martin and Marc are the best riders for the factory ducati seats.
 
Marc could just agree to ride for less than martin at the factory team in order to outbid him. He has enough money but not many years left. Maybe 2 championships or 3 at best if he manages to not fall on his right shoulder again
 
MdubSTYLIE said:
Marc vs Pecco clean passes this year

Marc- 3

Prosecco- 0


Baggs is proper ...... this year. He's got nothing for the goat. It ain't going to happen but Martin and Marc are the best riders for the factory ducati seats.
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I actually think Ducati jumped the gun when they re-signed Pecco.

MM and JM would be a sick lineup for 2025.

Pecco seems like he'd get on well at Aprilia.
 
Yeah thats bs, schumacher retired on his own terms, later coming back but choosing the wrong manufacturer at the time so ending his second career rather inglorious with only one podium in the second stint if I remember correctly

His only chance to shine was at Monaco when he qualified on pole but parked his car in rascasse

Difficult decision for ducati
But you cant fire the guy that just brought 2 championships at home

Martin deserves a place aswell as marquez. So if I were ducati i would wait as long as possible. The only thing thats for sure is that bestia will be sacked. Today was the last time he was second in the championship standing

Id rate 2x 13th to second slightly higher than pole, sprint and race win


I also predict the standings after the last round: martin, prosecco and marc will be on the first 3 places just not sure in which order and 4th will be acosta
 
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