Ducati’s decision to turn away MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin in favor of keeping their factory lineup intact has raised some eyebrows, but both Ducati and Martin have left the door open for a possible future reunion.
Speaking at the Campioni in Festa celebration in Bologna on Tuesday, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali expressed admiration for the Spanish rider and suggested that a return could be in the cards in the future. “We love Martin, we parted on great terms, and who knows what the next two years will bring. His return to Ducati? Why not, he is a strong rider, and we are always looking for strong riders,” Domenicali told Sky Sports.
Martin, who joined Aprilia after his stint with Ducati, echoed these sentiments, hinting that a return to Ducati might happen down the line. “I can only thank Ducati. Maybe in the future, we can get back together,” Martin shared during the same event. He reflected on the challenges of not staying with Ducati, noting, “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to put everything together to stay in Ducati next year. But it was nice, for sure. For me, it would have been a dream, but we didn’t succeed.”
Looking ahead, Martin expressed confidence in his new team, Aprilia, and his potential in the sport. “For the future, I think Aprilia has great potential. Even though I won title, I feel there is still a lot more I can achieve in this-sport,” he said.
Regarding his departure from Ducati, Martin acknowledged the brand’s role in his development. “I’ll miss the Ducati bike at the beginning, as I’ll be riding a different one. But with time, I’ll see what I’m missing. I’ll take with me the experience of having fought with very strong riders like Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] and having learned a working method that will help me in the future.”
At the recent Barcelona MotoGP Test, Martin, riding for Aprilia, finished 11th, 1.056 seconds behind Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), while Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and new factory teammate Marc Marquez were 3rd and 4th fastest on a preliminary version of next year’s GP25.
Domenicali also praised the new Ducati team lineup, with combination of Bagnaia and Marquez, who collectively hold nine MotoGP titles. While acknowledging the potential of this duo, he also admitted that managing such a dynamic pairing could prove challenging. “They are two mega champions; there will be natural difficulties in managing such a complex team. They are like supersonic planes—difficult to drive but with unrivaled speed. The potential is crazy,” Domenicali added.
As Ducati and Martin continue to make their mark in MotoGP paddock, both parties seem open to a future collaboration. Leaving fans to wonder if the pair could reunite after Martin’s time at Aprilia.
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