The first part of this MotoGP season which promises, given the differences observed during the last Sepang tests, to be exciting, will also be of a certain intensity behind the scenes of the paddock which will be agitated by the transfer market. However, the opportunities to shop there have just been drastically reduced by this clarification from Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti: no place will be available on one of his Desmosedici. Which still makes three closed stables.
The Ducati will be eight this season on the MotoGP starting grid with as many riders on it and the Borgo Panigale firm is already specifying that if there is no defection in its ranks, no position will be filled in sight of 2023. Paolo ciabatti thus closes the door to a transfer market where the Borgo Panigale firm will not have any stalls… “ Ducati's intention is that we filled the factory team with our drivers. This means that we will not recruit anyone from outside Says Paolo ciabatti on Motorsport-total.
Ciabatti: “ the riders we have now in the group are the future of Ducati«
« The riders we have now in the group are the future of Ducati. This applies to the factory team as well as Pramac and independent teams » even insists the sporting director of Ducati Corse. It can not be any clearer. With eight motorcycles, Ducati has the widest range in terms of quantity. But alone five of these drivers are signed with the Italian brand. Fabio di Giannantonio is employed by Gresini. And VR46 relies on its own drivers with Luca Marini et Marco Bezzecchi. According to the source, Ducati spends approximately 4,3 million euros, excluding possible bonuses, for the five drivers for the 2022 season.
Ducati wishes to extend the contract with bagnaia before the start of the season in Qatar on March 6. However, we know nothing about who his teammate will be. Ducati wants to wait and see how Jack Miller develops, but also how George Martin et Enea Bastianini are mastering their second MotoGP season. Both are candidates for second place on the 2023 factory team. We have to decide which two drivers will form the factory team ", Explain Ciabatta that holds the top spot. " It will be these drivers who will guarantee us the best chances of winning the World Drivers' Championship ". And given the announced policy, there is no chance that we will find the names of Fabio Quartararo or Joan mir… Nor even, Peter Acosta ?
