With Martin and Bagnaia locked in a good championship battle, rumours have been swirling for a number of weeks that the previous may step as much as the manufacturing facility Ducati squad subsequent season.
Bastianini, having received 4 races in 2022 on a year-old bike, was chosen over Pramac’s Martin to exchange Jack Miller at Ducati’s manufacturing facility squad for this yr.
However the Italian has had a troublesome yr, lacking eight grands prix in whole as a result of two accidents, which severely restricted his time to adapt to the 2023-spec Ducati, previous to his comeback victory on the Malaysian GP final weekend.
Throughout the Sepang weekend, Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti advised motogp.com that selling Martin was a chance regardless of Bastianini having a contract with the manufacturing facility for 2024.
“As everybody is aware of, we confirmed Enea for the official workforce on the finish of August,” Ciabatti stated.
“It is true with Martin’s present stage of efficiency it is a actuality we must always think about however no resolution taken clearly, however let’s have a look at. We can’t ignore this stage of efficiency.”
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Crew, Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Bagnaia, who was third within the Malaysian GP, feels Bastianini deserves a second likelihood on the Ducati manufacturing facility squad and believes Martin’s present state of affairs at Pramac is not sensible to vary.
“I already stated on Thursday what I really feel,” Bagnaia stated at Sepang when requested concerning the topic. “I really feel that Enea deserves one other chance for what occurred all of the season.
“He by no means had the prospect to know properly this bike, and when he was beginning to perceive one thing he crashed once more in Barcelona.
“So, for me, all people wants one other alternative. And contemplating the outcomes that Jorge is having at workforce Pramac, which is a manufacturing facility workforce with totally different colors, I do not see this transformation.
“I believe it is higher for Enea and for the workforce too for Enea to stay in the identical workforce.
“Completely Jorge is doing an excellent job, it is incredible what he’s doing. However I believe Enea deserves one other chance.”
Bastianini stated over the Malaysian GP weekend that he was not feeling pressured by Martin rumours, having made a breakthrough with the setting of his Ducati improved nook entry, which finally helped him to his win.
