Can Ducati ignore in-form Jorge Martin as rider decision looms?

Deciding who will be Francesco Bagnaia’s teammate in Ducati’s factory team in 2025 is turning into a real dilemma for the Italian team. At the center of this issue is Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin, who currently leads the world championship by a sizeable 38 points over Bagnaia. As Mugello approaches, Ducati faces a crucial choice that could determine its competitive future in MotoGP.

Jorge Martin has shown an impressive performance since the beginning of the season. Although he made a mistake in Jerez, he recovered quickly and extended his championship lead. “Martin is in the best form of his career and it was interesting to hear his comments over the weekend, saying ‘Ducati knows what I’m capable of’. He also basically said after the Sprint: ‘if I don’t they want me, I’ll take my talent elsewhere,’” commented Jordan Moreland, host of the Crash.net MotoGP podcast.

Martin’s consistency and performance make it hard for Ducati to ignore him. “How do you sack the guy who’s leading the world championship? It’s going to be a tough decision if they do,” said Pete McLaren, Crash.net MotoGP editor. Not only does Martin lead the championship, but he has also demonstrated an ability to recover and adapt that is essential for any factory driver.

However, the decision is not that simple. Marc Marquez, racing the year-old Ducati Gresini, has also shown excellent form. He is now just 2 points behind Bagnaia in the standings and shares third place with Enea Bastianini. Marquez, with his experience and ability, represents another strong option for Ducati.

Ducati is expected to announce its decision at Mugello, an event that is also a home race for the Italian team. “Mugello, a home race for Ducati, is the timeframe when we expect the rider decision to be announced. We don’t know if the decision has been made yet, but around Mugello is when it should be announced,” McLaren said.

The choice between Martin and Marquez puts Ducati in a challenging position. On the one hand, Martin is in unbeaten form and leads the championship. On the other hand, Marquez brings great experience and consistent results with a less competitive bike. Additionally, Bagnaia’s loyalty and current partnership with Bastianini are also factors to consider.

With all these variables in play, Ducati’s decision will be crucial not only for the 2025 season, but also for the future of the team in MotoGP. Will Ducati be able to ignore the in-form Jorge Martin? The answer to this question will be crucial to the dynamics of the championship and the trajectory of the team in the coming years.