Ducati will not finalize their 2025 MotoGP rider line-up during the Mugello event this weekend as previously speculated.
Despite widespread rumors that Ducati would decide who will partner Pecco Bagnaia next season by the Italian MotoGP deadline, they have postponed the announcement. Enea Bastianini, Gresini’s Marc Marquez, and Pramac’s Jorge Martin remain in contention for the coveted spot.
A Ducati spokesperson clarified to Motorsport, “We have never said that we are going to announce it at Mugello. What we have always said is that, from Mugello onwards, we will begin to outline what the decision is.”
Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna acknowledged the complexities involved: “The decision will come soon, but then contracts are always complicated and negotiations can take longer than expected. We will need time to apply the idea, make it a reality, and then communicate it to the public.”
Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali emphasized the quality of the contenders, telling Sky Italia, “They are all top-level riders, but we are confident that we will be able to find the right balance.”
As the Italian MotoGP marks the seventh round of the 2024 season, there is a three-week break until Assen, providing Ducati with more time to deliberate.
The decision has significant implications for the MotoGP paddock. Injuries have hampered Bastianini’s season, putting him at a disadvantage. Martin, who narrowly missed the championship last year. Leads the current standings and has stated he will leave Ducati if not promoted to the factory team in 2025.
Marquez, currently riding a year-old spec bike for an independent Ducati team, is pushing for a factory-spec bike next year. This decision also affects Pramac’s future partnership, potentially with Yamaha, and consequently impacts Ducati’s other satellite teams, Gresini and VR46.
The broader rider market eagerly awaits Ducati’s announcement, which will influence rider and bike availability for the 2025 season.
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