I did not see that coming! Really thought Martin had the Ducati ride in the bag. I am guessing either Ducati have placed more economic kudos for the company by hiring Marquez and possibly some big hitting sponsors (probably a given now he will get the ride) or Aprilia made an offer to Jorge that they just couldn't or were not prepared to match. Enea's performance is worthy of a top team but ultimately money talks and if MM lands the job it will however mean the Bologna wallet will have to be prised open a lot more, and I am sure the bean counters have projected their forecasts to senior management, in that it will reap them benefits in marketing potential alone, never mind on the race track.
Please don't moan then when your service bill goes north with an increase in Ducati parts if the above is true.
At least we know the goat debate is all but over now and it ain't the man who cant win for toffee unless he's given the fastest bike
Surprised to hear you talk that way about Baggy. He was never close to the goat (other than in a brotherly way obvs)?
Not sure of your argument there. The Honda is shite and is generally last 4 places each race, unless they crash. Marquez knew they have been left behind. The Yamaha is also shite. The KTM and Aprilia only work at some tracks, not all. My money is on him being Champion next year. He's not far off Martin and Bagnaia now and he is on last year's bike.
Not denying that (yet) but he'll still have only done it on the fastest bike. Same as he did when he won his titles with thee 'onda.
At the moment on a 2023 bike on race days, MM is seemingly the only rider on a 23 spec machine able to come close and in brief moments match the 2024 machines. His brother, Morbidelli, Digi and Bezzechi aren't even close, some of whom are on the later spec machines. Given the opportunity to ride the latest tackle, it would seem a reasonable assumption to say that he'll have the potential to equal if not better Bagnaia. If KTM up their game (and not by much), aside from his new team mate, I think the biggest thorn in MM's side will be Pedro Acosta and possibly Martin, if Aprila improve their consistency at the top of the time sheets.
I mentioned yesterday that digi won on a Gresini last year, wonder why they’re struggling so much this year…
Fact of the day: Aleix (3), Rins (3) and Maverick (1)are the only non-Ducati riders to win a race since Miguel Oliveira on a KTM at Japan in 2022. Bearing in mind there’s been two races every weekend for the last 2 years that’s some dominance.
When MM was winning on a Honda, our local dealer always had loads of 93 shirts on the sale rail every year. Not sure outside of Spain, MM has much following, especially with younger faster guys like Acosta and Peco being more marketable.
Been watching a bit of the FIM Junior stuff in the Algarve today. More overtakes on the last lap of the Junior GP race than there was in the whole of the 2 hour f1 shit fest. Worth a watch if you have TNT. (Stacey O'Gorman the pick of the brits again)
