The year 2024 promises to make waves in the MotoGP rider market, with several contracts set to expire. Ducati does not have any riders signed beyond this year, including two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia. The seats in the factory team are highly coveted, with two names already being mentioned: 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 do not have contracts for 2025, they all end 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 who 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 newspaper that he does not expect all current riders to stay with Ducati: ‘It seems difficult to me that all the riders can stay with Ducati in 2025. Jorge also made it quite clear that if he cannot move up to the official team, he will look at other opportunities, but that depends on the competitiveness of each manufacturer. If you give riders a bike to win, even if they are not in the official team, you have more chances of being chosen. It will be interesting, I will watch from the outside, but always a bit involved because racing is in my heart’.
