The year 2024 promises to be a hot topic in the MotoGP rider market, with several contracts coming to an end. Ducati has no rider committed beyond this year, including the two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia. The factory team seats are highly coveted, with two names being mentioned right away: Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati) and Marc Márquez (Gresini/Ducati).
Paolo Ciabatti, who is now involved in the manufacturer’s motocross project, believes that renewing with Bagnaia should be the priority: ‘The top riders have no contract for 2025; they all expire in 2024, including Pecco. I think Ducati’s priority will be to renew with him. He is a two-time world champion, a super-fast rider, and he was also able to manage a very serious situation after the crash [in Barcelona]. I think the market is very open’.
The Italian told Marca that he does not expect all the current riders to stay on Ducati bikes: ‘It seems difficult to me that all the riders can stay with Ducati in 2025. Jorge has also made it quite clear that if he cannot move up to the factory team, he will look at other opportunities, but that depends on the competitiveness of each manufacturer. If you give the riders a bike to win, even if they are not on the factory team, you have more chances that they will choose you. It will be interesting; I will watch a bit from the outside, but still a bit involved because racing is in my heart’.