Marc Marquez has provided insights into why he turned down an initial contract clause from Ducati. Next year, Marquez will transition from Gresini to the factory Ducati team, a move that is already causing ripples in the MotoGP world.
Initially, Ducati had offered the factory team position to Jorge Martin, currently riding for Pramac. The offer included a unique clause: if Marquez won the championship this year, he would automatically be promoted to the factory team, displacing Martin. While Martin agreed to these terms, Marquez did not.
Marquez clarified his decision to AS, saying, “It’s simple. The main reason is that to earn your place on the track, you need to have the same tools, and currently, I don’t have them.” He pointed out that while his Gresini bike is a year-old Ducati model, his competitors, including Martin, Pecco Bagnaia, and Enea Bastianini, are racing with the latest-spec machinery. Despite this, Marquez emphasized that this disparity wasn’t an excuse for his performance. “I’m proving that I can be competitive,” he asserted.
Marquez also highlighted that he was not interested in switching from one satellite team to another, making it clear that moving to Pramac, which could have met his expectations with a GP25, was not an option. Furthermore, he mentioned the importance of his long-standing sponsorship commitments, stating, “Athletes not only have sports contracts but also other agreements with sponsors who have supported me throughout my career. A multinational closes its contracts in September for the next two years, and they cannot wait. It was unfeasible.”
This firm stance by Marquez forced Ducati to rethink their initial decision and ultimately reshuffle their lineup for the coming years. As a result, Martin will be moving to Aprilia for the 2025 season, while Marquez steps into the coveted factory Ducati seat.
The remainder of this year’s championship, currently led by Martin, will unfold with the added intrigue of these significant future team changes. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as Marquez and Martin navigate their respective paths towards their new teams.
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