Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma

Enea Bastianini or Jorge Martin? That is the question currently being mulled over by Ducati management as it looks to finalise its line-up for the 2023 MotoGP season. And on paper, the answer seems simple.

One has won three races, his latest triumph coming last weekend at the French Grand Prix, while the other has crashed in five of the first seven rounds and scored just one podium - though battled a nerve issue in his right arm during the Le Mans race.

Bastianini was a dark horse bet for a championship tilt coming into the 2022 season. The 2020 Moto2 world champion shone on occasions in his rookie season last year on the 2019-spec Avintia-run Ducati, scoring two podiums at Misano while mounting some excellent charges through the field to top results after lowly qualifying performances.

Armed with the 2021-spec Ducati that so nearly took Francesco Bagnaia to the world title last year and surrounded by a rejuvenated Gresini squad driven by a personal desire to honour its fallen namesake Fausto Gresini – who died at the start of last year after a battle with COVID-19 – Bastianini has been one of 2022’s stars.

Wins in Qatar, Austin and now at Le Mans have put him back into title contention after a rough patch at Portimao and Jerez, where he crashed out and finished down in 10th. Bastianini now sits just eight points off championship leader Fabio Quartararo after a French GP weekend where he was back to his best. Bastianini put his GP21 fifth on the grid and calmly – just as he did at Austin – worked his way forward through the field, before engaging in a brief tussle with Bagnaia in the latter stages.

He was handed the victory on a plate when Bagnaia made two uncharacteristic mistakes in their duel, running off track having out-braked himself – while also battling front locking throughout the race – at Turn 8 on lap 21 of 27, then crashing at the penultimate corner moments later.

After Bagnaia's win at Jerez, it seemed like the 2022 Ducati was now going to start overhauling the 2021. There, Bagnaia got everything to click and defeated Quartararo for his first win of the season. That fact still looks likely, after the GP22 was 1-2 in qualifying and Bagnaia broke the lap record. But Bastianini’s assertions that his bike isn’t that different to the official ones is ringing more and more true.

A third win of the season has put Bastianini back in title contention as the leading Ducati runner

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The 2023 rider market has now kicked into high gear following the shock announcement by Suzuki that it would be quitting MotoGP at the end of the year. Both Joan Mir and Alex Rins are two hot properties that will be attractive prospects to manufacturers, while the futures of two prominent names in Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro are yet to be firmed up. All sorts of rumours are flying around regarding other areas of the grid too.

PLUS: The seismic aftershock left by Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP

The rider market is hot, but Ducati will likely exist in its own bubble through all of this. It took the decision during the COVID pandemic to get rid of big money contracts and cultivate a philosophy of forming its own stable across its four teams.

With Jack Miller underperforming at the factory team, his days are numbered. He has been in talks with Honda about an LCR return, while new links to KTM – who previously offered him a deal back when Johann Zarco quit the marque midway through 2019 - emerged at Le Mans. Ducati will seemingly also offer him something, though it is aware it likely won’t be what the Australian is looking for.

“Actually, we always said we wanted to secure Jorge and Enea, and I think we are basically there,” Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti revealed to Autosport on the Sunday after the Le Mans race. “Obviously, we also wanted to see if we could continue somehow with Jack because Jack is a great rider, we love him and so on. And obviously I think we can offer him something which he might not consider as good enough for him and he might take a different direction.”

Ducati is aware of the fact acceptable options aren’t as plentiful to riders right now and now holds all the power when it comes to how it shapes its own line-up. Whether Bastianini or Martin get the factory team nod, Ducati is making it clear that they won’t get better deals outside of its stable, even if that means remaining in a satellite team

So, back to the original point posed at the start of this feature: surely it’s a simple choice for Ducati. Bastianini has to get the factory seat over Martin?

Well, despite the fact he languishes in 15th in the standings on just 28 points, Martin has already proven his world class in MotoGP since stepping up with Pramac Ducati last year. He is a desirable prospect to a rival manufacturer. At Le Mans, his manager was seen speaking to Honda as it appears Pol Espargaro’s days are numbered despite his claims this was simply “fake news” ahead of the Le Mans weekend. There have been suggestions earlier this year that Ducati had to consider it might lose Martin if he doesn’t get promoted to the factory squad.

Ciabatti isn’t convinced that the rider market is as open as it appears. In all likelihood, Quartararo will remain at Yamaha, Espargaro will remain at Aprilia, Joan Mir will go to Honda alongside Marquez and Rins will find refuge somewhere (he too has been linked to KTM). Maverick Vinales’ disappointing lack of results relative to his Aprilia team-mate makes his place look precarious, and the same goes for Franco Morbidelli at Yamaha despite the fact he has a deal inked through to the end of 2023.

Ducati doesn't believe the rider market will be as open as many expect

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Then there is what happens with several of the teams. Moto3 squad Leopard has expressed a desire to take Suzuki’s grid slots and partner with Aprilia, while RNF Racing has had links to Aprilia also.

Over the Le Mans weekend discussions turned to rider contracts and how they need to be improved by MotoGP. Many feel a base salary has to be introduced, with some riders – mainly rookies – on very low deals. But that isn’t unique to just rookies, with Mir’s manager Paco Sanchez confirming to Autosport in France that his rider’s initial offer from Suzuki before its decision to quit was “unacceptable” and less than his rookie contract offer. Even Aleix Espargaro has eluded to the fact his initial Aprilia talks left him “sad” as both parties were far apart on financial terms.

While these concerns are absolutely valid, especially in regards to riders getting more protection in their contracts, one can cynically look at this topic emerging just as the rider market is hot and options for many are scarce as being convenient timing.

Ducati is aware of the fact acceptable options aren’t as plentiful to riders right now and now holds all the power when it comes to how it shapes its own line-up. Whether Bastianini or Martin get the factory team nod, Ducati is making it clear that they won’t get better deals outside of its stable, even if that means remaining in a satellite team.

“I think any rider who is riding a Ducati today will think twice before going anywhere else,” Ciabatti told Autosport when asked if Ducati was worried its decision to promote one rider to the factory squad could alienate another. “Not only because the bike is very competitive. I think the overall package, the kind of technical support we give to all the independent teams, the fact that Gigi [Dall’Igna, general manager] goes to speak to all of our riders after they are done with the factory team, it’s something that I think the riders and teams appreciate a lot.

“On the other side, I don’t think there are so many opportunities – or good opportunities - left on the market. Obviously, we need to see what Honda will be doing. Apparently it looks like they don’t want to continue with Pol. And then it’s whether Aprilia wants to change its riders, which I don’t think. But then the factory teams, unfortunately because of the decision of Suzuki [to quit], there is not much else – maybe KTM. But I don’t see the market as so active and so stressful, so riders who can do very good results on a Ducati I’m pretty sure they will listen to a Ducati proposal before going somewhere else.”

The upcoming Italian GP at Mugello will be crunch time in the rider market for many and Ducati is clear that it wants things in place by the end of June. Whatever happens, it will be the one that ends up with a good deal regardless of who gets the spare factory team seat…

Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini would be worthy recipients of the second factory Ducati seat in 2023

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images