MotoGP champion Pecco Bagnaia says Ducati has already had the possibility to tip the scales in his favour within the 2024 title battle – and has elected not to take action.
Bagnaia, representing the Ducati works staff, goes up in opposition to satellite tv for pc Ducati rider Jorge Martin in a head-to-head for the title for a second straight yr, though this time there’s much more incentive for Ducati to need to see Bagnaia prevail.
Martin, having been missed for a works staff promotion in favour of Marc Marquez, is leaving the Ducati camp in favour of an Aprilia transfer subsequent yr, and would doubtless have the primary plate on the Aprilia RS-GP ought to he triumph this yr.
It has led to a debate over whether or not Ducati would make a concerted effort to make sure the title stays ‘in-house’ – and a forceful transfer on Martin by Bagnaia’s team-mate Enea Bastianini at Misano added gasoline to the hearth.
Now, Tech3 Gasoline Gasoline rider Pedro Acosta has helped hold the matter within the highlight – as a part of his self-admitted want to see extra spice and extra of a needle in what he and most others acknowledge has been a really cordial title battle.
Prompted by MotoGP to place in a query for the Australian Grand Prix Thursday press convention, Acosta requested Bagnaia and Martin about Ducati interference within the riders’ championship.
Bagnaia instantly met that query with a delighted “I hope!” – however his subsequent reply, in addition to his previous document of by no means having publicly requested for staff orders or favouritism, made it clear that was a joke.
“I feel in the event that they wished to assist me in a roundabout way, already in Misano I may have one thing higher than what’s already our package deal,” he identified.
“As a result of we tried a brand new chassis, and the chassis shouldn’t be prepared for everyone, so we’re not utilizing it.
“Additionally as a result of it is extra right that it’s like this. I feel Gigi [Dall’Igna, Ducati general manager and tech chief] was all the time clear on that, as quickly as I began using with Ducati. And extra within the final two seasons.
“The manufacturing unit groups [all] have the identical package deal, nothing extra, nothing much less. If I’ve one thing new, all people has one thing new. I feel it is a totally different technique in comparison with others, nevertheless it’s the technique that put Ducati [to where it is right now]. Now Ducati is so aggressive for that motive, for that technique.
“I do not suppose – and I do not consider – that one thing will change for [the season finale in] Valencia.”
The “technique” referenced by Bagnaia is probably going Ducati’s famed reliance on data-sharing between its bikes, which is aided by retaining as a lot of them as doable as shut in spec as doable.
As for the chassis, he had spoken about it earlier than, describing it as being prime of his wishlist for 2025 because it was “tremendous good” within the Misano check between the 2 grands prix there.
“Unluckily I am unable to use it proper now, could possibly be a very good assist,” he mentioned final month. “However they don’t seem to be prepared to provide that to all of the 4 GP24s so I can’t use it.”
Martin, for his half, refused to get drawn in on the query of Ducati favouritism – not suggesting it but additionally hardly ruling it out.
“I do not know. For me, I am unable to management that, so I will not deal with that. I’ll deal with using,” he mentioned.
“I hope for certain no, I hope no, however I’ll deal with what I can management, that’s using at my 100% and attempt to be quick.”
