Ducati has determined to halt improvement of its 2024 MotoGP bike because the title battle between Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia enters the ultimate part.
With 4 occasions to go within the championship and 10 factors separating Martin and Bagnaia within the standings, Ducati has halted the event of the GP24 in order that the pair can combat for the title with the equipment they already know.
Bagnaia took his eighth win of the 12 months and fourth double at Motegi final Sunday, finishing an ideal weekend. After arriving in Japan with a 21-point deficit, the Italian recovered 11 factors in a single occasion, confirming that the battle between him and the Spaniard is extra open than ever.
Whether or not it’s due to the equality between the 2, contract commitments or a easy query of honest play, Ducati has determined to halt the event of the Desmosedici GP24.
Motorsport.com understands that the final new improvement got here at Silverstone, two months in the past, and that was a fairing on the decrease sides of the bike.
Even supposing Martin will go away the Borgo Panigale model on the finish of the season to affix Aprilia in 2025, the Bolognese producer’s executives have continued to insist that the Spaniard can have precisely the identical instruments he had earlier than his departure, to combat for what could be his first MotoGP title.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Workforce, Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Picture by: Dorna
Bagnaia’s and Martin’s agreements with Ducati are similar, no matter their pay, and this may be extrapolated to Enea Bastianini and Franco Morbidelli, the opposite two GP24 riders. That implies that any enchancment that one in all them receives have to be out there to the opposite three.
Exactly for that reason, probably the most related parts that Ducati examined within the collective check held final month at Misano will not be integrated on the GP24, however instantly on the GP25.
“At Misano, I examined a brand new chassis, which neither I nor Jorge will be capable of use this 12 months. Mainly, as a result of it is an evolution that Ducati ought to be capable of supply by contract to all of the riders who trip the GP24, however sadly, there usually are not sufficient elements,” Bagnaia advised Motorsport.com.
“Our bike [his and Martin’s] will keep as it’s till the top of the season. And it is a pity as a result of it is an essential step ahead, which might most likely assist to make a distinction. However Ducati was all the time clear about that, and the 2 bikes would be the identical till the top. This chassis would be the place to begin for subsequent 12 months’s Ducati.”
Ducati claims to offer equal remedy to the 2 primary title contenders, however that’s clearly restricted to this season. Martin’s transfer to Aprilia meant that he didn’t check the chassis in query on the Marco Simoncelli circuit.
In reality, neither he nor any member of Pramac, which can change to Yamaha bikes subsequent season, was in a position to enter the Ducati’s storage, one thing that was customary in testing.
Requested instantly in regards to the confidence he has in Ducati to maintain its promise till the finale in Valencia, Martin mentioned: “Ducati is backing me 100%. My bike is ideal and I am satisfied that it’s going to keep that method till the world championship is over.”