Clearly, the move of Marc Marquez from Gresini Ducati to the official team of the same brand will have had much more significant collateral effects than his move last year from Honda to the Italian satellite team. Judge for yourself: Enea Bastianini left for KTM via Tech3, Jorge Martin in exile with the officials of Aprilia, a brand which also recovers Marco Bezzecchi and, last but not least: Pramac which puts an end to a two-decade alliance with the coat of arms of Borgo Panigale to support the Yamaha cause until 2031. End of series? Not quite …
Because it is not all to have awarded the services of Marc Marquez. You still have to build a team around him. Which means finding a chief mechanic who suits both the new driver and the staff. Ducati. We therefore need a consensual man. Santi Hernandez, his accomplice since his beginnings was on the list, but too marked Marquez, he will stay with Honda. Frankie Carchedi, his current pair in the Gresini box was not selected either, having a Gresini contract and having never been on the staff Ducati.
This last parameter, important for Gigi Dall'Igna is on the other hand that of Marco Rigamonti. Rigamonti helped Andrea Iannone to take Ducati's first victory under Gigi Dall'Igna in 2016, before moving to Suzuki with "Joe the Maniac". When Iannone left for Aprilia, Rigamonti reappeared with Johann zarco at Avintia in 2020, the duo continuing together at Pramac in 2021 and 2022.
Marc Marquez: “ I am joining the best team and I know that Gigi Dall'Igna's staff will provide me with the best elements to make the most of this opportunity »
Rigamonti was recalled to the factory team Ducati to join the new recruit bastianini last season after Bastianini's Gresini team leader, Alberto Giribuola, formerly team leader of Andrea Dovizioso, has moved to KTM. bastianini et Mark Rigamonti won the 2023 Malaysian Grand Prix during an injury-disrupted season and are currently fourth in this year's world championship, one place behind Marquez.
On this situation, revealed by motorsport, the eight-time World Champion commented: “ It’s Ducati’s decision. For what ? Because I arrive in the best team and with the best bike in the field of the last two years, especially because they won with Pecco. So I know that Ducati, Gigi's staff, will provide me with the best elements to make the most of this opportunity. They made a big decision by making me join the official team, and they will give me the best tools they think ».
And he ends: “ the only guy I asked for was the mechanic Javi who was the one who followed me from the Repsol Honda team to Gresini. This guy will come with me. But the rest of the team will be a Ducati decision ».
