I am as completely happy as anybody to bask within the sensible 2024 MotoGP title combat, however I am unable to assist considering how 2025 and its greatest storyline has been ruined considerably within the course of.
As a impartial it was nice to see Jorge Martin show the doubters fallacious and beat a manufacturing unit Ducati rider over the course of an entire season.
However now Martin is off to Aprilia.
I perceive the choice. As soon as Ducati confirmed Marquez and Bagnaia, Martin knew he would not be within the manufacturing unit crew no matter he achieved this yr. And although certainly had he accepted staying as a satellite tv for pc rider Ducati would have discovered him a 2025 bike someplace regardless of its cut up with Pramac, he would nonetheless have been successfully solid exterior and stored out of the principle crew for a 3rd time.
He deserved extra and he ended up proving it.
In need of a miracle, his 2025 bike will not be going to be ok to win the title, so Martin is taking part in the lengthy recreation for the brand new guidelines in 2027 – whether or not that’s by staying with Aprilia or impressing there and incomes a transfer to a different manufacturing unit for the brand new period.
However the reigning champion’s doubtless absence from the title combat means everyone seems to be a loser in 2025.
Even when the title combat between Marquez and Bagnaia is a captivating one, if Marquez wins, individuals will justifiably say, ‘nicely, Martin already beat Bagnaia honest and sq. on a satellite tv for pc bike. This isn’t particular. Marquez wanted to beat Martin’.
That will be a horrible method for Marquez’s profession comeback arc to achieve its conclusion. By the accidents, the excruciating resolution to depart Honda, proving himself on a year-old bike this yr after which – doubtlessly – tying a bow on all of it with a 2025 title, to say on the finish ‘he did it in opposition to weaker competitors than he may have’ would simply be unhappy and would take away from the accomplishment.
Martin deserves to be on the perfect bike subsequent yr. You might argue that it’s his selection that he isn’t given he opted to depart the Ducati fold of his personal volition however that will be lacking the purpose.
I’ll cease in need of saying we’re lacking out on the battle of the ages in a Martin/Marquez title combat. As a result of 2024, the one factor that has been missing for the impartial is a little bit of needle and perhaps that will have been the case once more with Martin vs Marquez.
Bagnaia and Martin have ridden like gents extra befitting of a ‘duel at daybreak’ bygone period, somewhat than producing the WWE-style cleaning soap opera battles social media now craves.
Someway although I feel Martin may droop his self-control in a year-long combat with Marquez, who has managed to encourage animosity in a number of of his rivals – most famously Valentino Rossi.
However now we would by no means know. Given what Martin has achieved this yr, he deserved a shot at taking down Marquez on the sequence’ finest bike. And we deserve the prospect to observe that.
As a substitute, we’re getting Marquez vs a well-beaten Bagnaia, who might nicely take the motivation of this yr’s defeat and switch it right into a spur, however it feels Marquez is getting the weaker rival given what we have seen in 2024.
And if Martin will get a title-contending bike in 2027, Marquez can be 34 by the top of that season, doubtless previous his finest type.
Marquez’s accidents and Honda’s decline meant we spent years feeling we’d by no means see a correct title combat face to face between the 2010s legend and the perfect of the 2020s technology. His Ducati transfer created hope which may occur in spite of everything.
Now his subsequent title will most likely nonetheless have an asterisk.
