The MotoGP transfer market has seen a whirlwind of changes, with Marc Márquez’s move to Ducati taking center stage. In the latest DAZN Open Paddock program, former MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo shared his insights on the significant shifts in team dynamics and rider decisions.
Lorenzo expressed his surprise at the sudden changes, initially believing Jorge Martín was set to join Ducati’s factory team. First, because of the news about Martín with Aprilia. Then it was clear that Ducati was going after Márquez, after that Aprilia announcement. But surprised because I thought that it would be good for Marc to stay at Pramac with a 2025 motorcycle. But it is clear that his plan was much more ambitious ,”
Lorenzo emphasized how Márquez played his cards strategically, even going as far as asking Gigi Dall’Igna if he would stay at Ducati for the next two years. Lorenzo also highlighted Ducati’s original plan to keep all three top riders: Jorge Martín, Enea Bastianini, and Marc Márquez. However, Márquez’s firm stance shifted their strategy.“It is clear that Gigi and Ducati’s plan was to keep all three of them; Jorge in red and, if possible, Marc in Pramac. But Marc didn’t have that plan . “
“And he has played his cards by saying in the media, and also I suppose personally in private, that he was not going to Pramac; that he wanted red. Ducati has been scared, and the only option they had to keep Marc Márquez was to put him in red. And that “threat” of ‘if you don’t put me in red, I’ll leave’, has had an effect in the offices .”
The former champion also touched on Márquez’s resurgence and influence within MotoGP: Well, off the track it has been evident. When Marc Márquez has returned to fighting for victories, the MotoGP audience, also with Pedro Acosta in the category, has increased. I won’t tell you that he is at the level of Valentino Rossi’s good times ; But it is true that by far it is the most media-friendly ,”
“Ducati is seeing that he is 32 years old; that he probably has between two and four good years left. And he can retire in red, being a Ducati rider. Without counting, obviously, the results that he can give them . ” On the other side of the box, however, there will be Pecco Bagnaia who asked that his teammate not affect the atmosphere in the box. “ Translated: I don’t want a driver like Marc, I don’t want a fast driver who can beat me. That he doesn’t mean that Bastianini can’t do it. But at the level of sensations, it is scarier, at this moment, Marc Márquez . ”
