Famous Italian manager Carlo Pernat has not minced his words in criticising Ducati's decision to hire Marc Marquez. According to him, this acquisition, politically encouraged by Dorna, risks creating tensions within the team and harming the positive dynamic driven by the young riders.
Charles Pernat, a historic MotoGP manager and influential figure in the paddock, shared his exclusive analysis of the recent changes at Ducati. Known for having accompanied renowned pilots such as Loris Capirossi or, Andrea Iannone, he now manages the careers of Tony Arbolino et Enea Bastianini. According to him, the arrival of Marc Marquez in Ducati, after his departure from Honda, is a risky bet for the Italian team.
Marc Marquez, eight-time world champion, has joined Ducati for the 2025 season, taking the place left vacant by bastianini. However, Feathered believes that this choice has cost dearly Ducati in terms of emerging talent. By choosing Marquez, Dall'Igna lost all the young drivers he had trained : Martin, Bezzecchi and Bastianini. These riders grew up with Ducati and are now with competing teams like Aprilia or Yamaha »Says Feathered.
Although he recognizes the undeniable talent of Marquez, Pernat emphasizes his age and his recurring injuries: “ he is 32 years old and is not the same as before. He will certainly create problems in the team, I am sure. It was a legitimate choice, but risky »
Carlo Pernat: “ Dorna wanted Marc Marquez in 'Red', there is no doubt about it »
Feathered also highlights the impact that the arrival of Marquez could have on the current leader of Ducati, Francis Bagnaia. " Bagnaia is very strong, he has already won two titles and was playing for a third until the last race. But having Marquez around will not be easy. Marquez works a lot on the psychological level, which could create a tense environment within the team »
According to Carlo Pernat, bagnaia will have to prove his superiority against an eight-time world champion, a task that could distract him from his main objective: defending his title.
One of the most critical points according to Feathered is the departure of Pramac Racing, a former strategic ally of Ducati, now under the aegis of Yamaha . " Pramac was the strong arm of Ducati for 20 years, a team that trained young people and excelled in terms of communication. Campinoti, their owner, is the number 1 in communication in the paddock. The loss of Pramac is huge for Ducati, perhaps more than that of Martin »
Feathered also note that Ducati will be reduced to six motorcycles instead of eight for next season, which could weaken their overall presence on the grid.
According to Feathered, the decision to bring in Marquez in Ducati could also have been influenced by Dorna, the organizer of MotoGP. Dorna wanted Marquez in 'Red', there is no doubt about that. This attracts attention and boosts interest in the championship »
At the same time, Pramac continues to evolve with new projects. They will focus in 2025 on Moto2 with Tony Arbolino et Izan Guevara, under the direction of Alessandro Borsoi and Alex De Angelis. Feathered sees this development as a solid strategy to train new talents who could join MotoGP in the future.
Charles Pernat concludes on motograndprix with a dose of caution: " Dall'Igna has proven he can do whatever he wants, but recent choices could have long-term consequences. Ducati has bet on a champion, but at the expense of a structure and a generation of young riders. Only time will tell if this strategy will bear fruit. »
