CEO of the Bologna-based outfit Claudio Domenicali assessed that the Gresini and Pramac riders have not had the same opportunities so far, and therefore wants to give both of them more time before deciding who will partner Francesco Bagnaia for the 2023 MotoGP season
Ducati has not yet decided who Francesco Bagnaia's team-mate will be for the 2023 MotoGP season. CEO of the Bologna-based outfit, Claudio Domenicali revealed that the Italians want to give Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martín more time to show their true potential.
Last week Ducati made official the departure of Jack Miller, who signed with KTM to team up with Brad Binder for two seasons. The Australian's replacement, however, promises to be more protracted.
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Originally, Martin was the favorite for the vacancy, as Pramac is traditionally the source of the factory team's talent. Bastianini, however, stole the spotlight since, even with a bike from last year, he entered the title race and already has three wins in the season, more than any other rider. Jorge, on the other hand, is 12th in the standings with 51 points.
Ducati understands, however, that both riders did not have the same chance in 2022. In Domenicali's view, the GP22, Martin's bike, was not ready at the beginning of the year, which benefited Bastianini, who started the championship with a prototype ready to fight for victories.
In addition, the Italian manager also made a reservation in relation to the physical condition of Jorge, who had to undergo surgery on his right hand to treat a nerve problem, a consequence of a fall in Portimao in 2020.
Domenicali made it clear that Ducati wants to keep Bastianini and Martín in the future, and more than that, he assured that the two will have identical bikes in 2023, but announced that the Borgo Panigale brand wants more time to decide which of the two will be in the factory team.
"We want to have Bastianini and Martín with us in the future, they are two guys who are part of our plans and we are working on it," Domenicali told Italian website GPOne. "But I don't think it's the right moment to make all the evaluations, also because nobody has had the opportunity to express themselves fully," he followed.
"Jorge had an operation this week and his bike was not ready at the beginning, so let's give them some time," he warned. "In any case, both of them will have exactly the same chances next year, because they will have two totally identical bikes. From a sporting point of view, by starting the same way. From a technical point of view, too," he assured.
Asked when Ducati's decision will be announced, Domenicali replied: "It won't be in the next two races. We want to take a little more time. And the nationality will not matter. It will be an exclusively sporting evaluation."
MotoGP returns to the track on June 19 for the German GP at Sachsenring, round 10 of the 2022 season.GRANDE PRÊMIO is following all the activities of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship.