The name of Mauro Grassilli does not yet spontaneously appeal to you, but it will quickly become commonplace since he is the one who succeeds Paolo Ciabatti at Ducati as sporting director. A function which will be under pressure in this season where the transfer market will be unbridled to better outline the contours of the MotoGP grid in 2025 and beyond. The newcomer had his warm-up with the renewal of Pecco Bagnaia which would not have been a formality. So imagine what awaits him with Jorge Martin, Marc Marquez, the VR46 and Fermin Aldeguer…
The year 2024 started with a bang for Pecco Bagnaia with a resounding victory in Qatar Grand Prix and the crowning of this success with a contract extension at Ducati. Although this renewal seems self-evident, Mauro Grassilli, the new sporting director, revealed that the negotiations were more complicated than expected. “ I naively thought that signing with Bagnaia would be a formality. But in reality, I had to delve deep into financial details, which was a whole new experience for me,” he confides to Motorsport.com.
Gigi Dall'Igna had expressed his impatience to close the deal during the presentation of the motorcycle, but finalizing the agreement with bagnaia required hard work. Grassilli shares his apprehensions: “ there was a point where I doubted I could close the deal before the season started. It was a real challenge, but fortunately we found a solution satisfactory to all parties."
Beyond the signing of Bagnaia, Grassilli looked at the future of the team Ducati. “ The decision regarding our pilots does not rest solely on me. Of course, I contribute to the discussion, but for the moment, my role is rather modest. The main thing was to secure Bagnaia before the first race. We have now chosen to take our time and observe the performance on the track before making any further decisions."
Mauro Grassilli sets the tone of the negotiations: “ the current economic situation requires us to be careful with our spending »
The presence of Marc Marquez at Gresini Racing also caught the attention of Grassilli. " Marc has proven his worth and has undeniable charisma. Although I haven't known him personally for long, he strikes me as a genuine and friendly person. This is definitely a driver to watch closely."
As for George Martin, whose contract expires soon, Grassilli recognizes his exceptional talent. “ Martin can choose the direction he wants for his career. He has always expressed his desire to stay at Ducati. However, the current economic situation requires us to be careful with our spending."
The fate ofEnea Bastianini remains uncertain. Grassilli supports him despite a difficult year 2023 marked by falls. “ We chose him for his potential, even if he hasn't had the opportunity to fully demonstrate it yet. This year is starting better for him, and it is crucial that he rediscovers the pleasure of running."
Concerning the VR46, Grassilli admits that renewing the partnership is proving complicated. “ This agreement must be aligned with our current budgetary constraints. We are still looking for a solution."
Finally, Grassilli evokes the interest in Fermin Aldeguer, a young Moto2 talent. “ We are in discussion with him and we are getting closer to an agreement. His future at Ducati looks promising."
