Paolo Ciabatti has confirmed negotiations for Spanish rider Álex Márquez to join Gresini as of 2023. Spanish driver seeks new air after imminent departure from LCR
With the MotoGP rider market getting hotter and hotter, Ducati has confirmed existing negotiations to sign Spaniard Álex Márquez for the Gresini team for the 2023 season. The future of Álex's brother looks increasingly far from Honda, and has become a strong option for the Italians.
In an interview during the Dutch GP weekend, Ducati director Paolo Ciabatti mentioned that the team's rider announcements should happen by the end of August. The Italian team needs to define Pecco Bagnaia's new companion in the factory team, following the departure of Australian Jack Miller, who is packing his bags to ride for KTM in 2023.
"We said that we have to decide by the end of August who will be Pecco [Bagnaia]'s companion in the factory team, and which rider, between Enea [Bastianini] and Jorge [Martín] will be in Pramac with Johann Zarco," he said.
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Gresini currently has the duo formed by Italians Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Bastianini, the season's highlight, is not staying with the team, but he does not know whether he will ride for Ducati or Pramac in 2023, in case Jorge Martín moves up to the main team.
"We are discussing the final details of their renewal and they will have 2023 bikes, that is, equal treatment in terms of technical package. About the discussions between Álex Marquez and Gresini, we know there is the negotiation, but something more managed by the team than Ducati," he added.
Marquez has been racing for LCR since 2021, after being demoted from Honda's main team, in which he made his premier class debut in 2020. In the current season, he has 26 points and ranks 18th in the World Championship, with 7th place in Portugal as his best result. Without much understanding with the bike, Álex sees the Monegasque team negotiating with compatriot Álex Rins to take his place in 2023, making room to race at Gresini.
Qualifying practice for the Dutch GP of MotoGP at Assen takes place this Saturday at 9:10 a.m. (ET).GRANDE PRÊMIO is following all the activities of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship.