This follows several reports, first published by Gazzetta dello Sport, that Ducati has chosen to promote Jorge Martin to its factory team seat for 2025. Ducati had already designated this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix as the location for its decision but had stated earlier this week that it would not make a statement. Martin and Marc Marquez have emerged as the front-runners for the seat alongside double-world champion Francesco Bagnaia in recent few rounds.

While championship leader Martin has further reinforced his position this year after finishing second in the standings in 2023, Marquez’s performance on the Gresini-powered GP23 has complicated Ducati’s decision. Martin says that his future with Ducati is dependent on a factory team seat, but Marquez’s speed in 2024 after only six rounds, combined with his marketing prowess, rendered the former possibility far from inevitable.

With Martin on the verge of clinching a deal to join the factory team, Ducati’s next step is to persuade Marquez to ride a factory bike at Pramac in 2025. However, speaking to DAZN, Marquez has ruled out this possibility: Ducati has not told me that I am not the chosen one. I am doing my best on the track because then I will have more options. But in any case, I will give my 100% on the racetrack and try to do the maximum and like this, I will have more opportunities or more chances for different seats.

Let’s see if we can continue in the same way as the last few races. Pramac is a good team, but it is not an option for me, because it is not. I am a man with clear ideas. What I want is the latest version of the motorcycle, and if possible, with an official team. If you have the official motorcycle, you have more support, and if on top of that, you do it with an official team, then still more, the Spanish racer added.

Marquez had previously stated that joining Pramac was not his preferred option, but he appeared to soften on the idea in recent weeks, given that it would still entail owning a factory bike. Marquez is said to have received an attractive offer from the Pierer Mobility Group (KTM/GasGas) for 2025, but it is unknown at this moment whether the six-time MotoGP world champion will leave Ducati to try to adapt to a second new bike in as many years.