The elements that will determine who will be Ducati’s second factory MotoGP rider

Ducati has two MotoGP rounds now in 2024 to choose from a list of three – Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini – as to who will be its second factory team rider next season, something which will be highly influenced by economic factors, sponsorship and the individual will of general manager Gigi Dall’Igna.

If we consider that all three candidates have sporting arguments to end up in the red suit in 2025, the previous elements are probably less obvious than raw speed, but no less important for the Borgo Panigale brand. Ducati is immersed in a process of cost containment imposed by parent company Audi.

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This environment of ‘austerity’ led the Italian manufacturer’s executives to have to define their priorities, with Francesco Bagnaia’s renewal as the most immediate objective. With the two-time world champion’s future resolved, the next two folders are the selection of the rest of the riders who will race under factory contract – with special attention to the one who should become Bagnaia’s team-mate – and the set-up of the satellite squads.

Bastianini, Martin and Marquez are going through different moments in their respective careers, and that leads them to value certain things over others. Bastianini, on paper the one who is at the biggest disadvantage, is in his second season in the factory garage and, for one reason or another, has not lived up to Ducati’s expectations after it opted for him instead of Martin two years ago. The #23 rider has already made a move with a view to his future and Aprilia would be happy to take him on.

Martin, for his part, has already made it clear that it will be Ducati’s works team or nothing at all, as he considers his time at Pramac to be over and believes he deserves a place in a factory squad. After the disappointment he suffered two years ago in being passed over for the factory team, having finished runner-up in the standings last year and starting this season better than anyone else, championship leader Martin does not know what else to do to make Ducati choose him.

And then there is Marquez with all he can bring, both on track and in the media. The sporting performance will be the key to knowing who ends up next to Bagnaia, but it will not be the only factor.

“We are trying to give all the riders the best possible material to put them in the best possible frame of mind for the upcoming races, which are crucial for…