The Gresini team would like to continue with Marc Marquez and provide him with a factory Ducati – Ducati won’t make a decision until after Mugello
In the tug-of-war for the second place in the Ducati factory team, there was no clarity in Barcelona either. And there will probably be no announcement at Ducati’s home race in Mugello either. The only thing that is clear is that Enea Bastianini’s chances have diminished. It will probably come down to a duel between world championship leader Jorge Martin and former champion Marc Marquez.
“The decision is just as difficult as it was at the start of the season,” commented Ducati Sporting Director Mauro Grassilli at GPOne. “We have already laid the foundations and are on the right course. But there will be no announcement at Mugello.”
The Gresini team would prefer to continue with Marc Marquez. The eight-time world champion gave the private Ducati team a big boost and attracted a lot of attention. If Marquez continues to ride for Gresini in 2025, this will help the team around Team Principal Nadia Padovani to continue to grow.
“Our plan A is to keep Marquez. But we also have other ideas,”
Battle of the Ducati teams: Gresini wants to overtake Pramac
The perfect scenario for Gresini would be to get factory material from Ducati and keep Marc Marquez with it. “Gresini has always pursued the goal of becoming the reference team for a manufacturer. I don’t know whether this is feasible sooner or later. We can draw on a lot of experience. It would be the next step to get factory machines,” confirmed Michele Masini.
“We have a contract with Ducati for 2025. The collaboration is very intensive and works very well. The relationship is growing and we are currently in our third year together,” said the Gresini team manager.
Marc Marquez gets on better with the 2023 Ducati than brother Alex
Marc Marquez has yet to win a race. But compared to the other riders with the 2023 Ducati, the former champion clearly stands out. “He was the only rider to come from a different bike,” compares Masini. “The current bike is his first Ducati. His approach to adapting to a motorcycle, the set-up and everything else is completely different. “
On the other side of the pits, things are not going quite so smoothly at the moment. Alex Marquez is struggling to match last season’s form. “It’s been difficult for the riders on the GP23 so far. The bike has a lot of potential, but it is very sensitive when it comes to set-up,” explains Masini.
“Like the other riders, Alex also has different feelings. In areas where he was very strong, he now has a different feeling. We have to try to get closer. We have to unlock the Alex of Jerez in all races,” says Masini, setting out the goal for the rest of the season. Whether Alex Marquez will also ride for the Gresini team in 2025 is currently uncertain
