Marco Bezzecchi
Ducati have lost MotoGP world champion Jorge Martin for the 2025 season. After missing out on a factory ride, he’s joined rival manufacturer Aprilia.
Ducati faced an almighty dilemma in 2024, with opinions split in the paddock. They had to choose between the title-bound Martin, and the legendary Marc Marquez.
Marquez had taken the shock decision to leave Honda at the end of 2023, joining satellite Ducati squad Gresini. Martin, meanwhile, rode for second-in-command Pramac.
The Spaniard competed with Francesco Bagnaia for the title, eventually sealing glory at the season-ending Solidarity Grand Prix. He became the first rider in the MotoGP era to take the title with a satellite outfit.
But Marquez was also hugely impressive on a year-old bike at Gresini. He finished third in the standings, taking two poles, three wins and 10 podiums.
With Bagnaia under contract, there’s only one seat available for the two superstar riders. Ducati went with Marquez, and the snubbed Martin decided to leave the stable.
Marco Melandri says Jorge Martin was told he’d be getting a factory Ducati seat
Speaking to Motosan, Marco Melandri claimed that Ducati had put Martin in a ‘very difficult’ position. They apparently told him he’d get the factory seat, only to go back on their word just one race later.
Melandri was surprised that the bosses in Bologna overlooked Martin. At 26, his prime years in the premier class may still be ahead of him.
But he accepts the ‘unique’ appeal of signing six-time MotoGP champion Marquez. That ‘name’ may have been the deciding factor in the end.
“From what I’ve heard, Jorge was told he would be in the factory team for 2025, but then they changed their mind after one race,” the former rider said. “It was a very difficult situation for him.
“Ducati has a complicated history with its riders, as seen with [Casey] Stoner, [Jorge] Lorenzo and others. I think we all expected Jorge, given his age and results, to make it to the factory team.
“However, I also understand that Marc Marquez is a figure who brings something unique to every race. He is unpredictable and has a name that weighs heavily.”
How Marc Marquez stunned Gresini MotoGP staff before Ducati promotion
Ducati chief Luigi Dall’Igna had access to the data of both riders before he made his decision. Perhaps marketing considerations came into play, but few would dispute that Marquez was deserving of the promotion in his own right.
Indeed, Dall’Igna saw something ‘amazing’ in Marquez’s telemetry before he signed off on the move. He looks ready to win the world championship again after his recent injury nightmare.
Gresini staff were inspired by Marquez almost instantly, and perhaps Dall’Igna anticipated that he could have a similar effect at Ducati. He’s unlikely to feel any immediate regret, with Martin and Aprilia not expected to compete for the title this year.
Like Melandri, Pramac chief Fonsi Nieto acknowledges that Marquez possesses a ‘beastly’ pull. That was enough to overwhelm even the world champion in the end.
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