Sunday’s British Grand Prix gave Ducati loads of causes to rejoice as Enea Bastianini led an unimaginable 1-2-3-4-5 consequence for the Italian producer. All its eight bikes completed inside the highest 10 for less than the second time in historical past, with the highest-non-Desmosedici rider ending up nearly 10 seconds off the tempo.
However whereas there was a temper of celebration contained in the Ducati camp, its bosses would have been all too conscious that they now have an enormous downside to cope with within the second half of the season. Whereas the end result of producers’ and groups’ championships is already a given, the combat for the riders’ combat is large open – and just one contender will proceed with Ducati subsequent yr.
Bastianini’s double success at Silverstone propelled him to 3rd within the standings, 49 factors behind new championship chief Jorge Martin after the Pramac rider completed second on Sunday. Whereas 26-year-old Bastianini has been taking part in down his prospects of a title problem, it can solely take a couple of extra performances like final weekend for the outgoing Ducati manufacturing unit rider to have an effect on the championship’s future – and that is the place issues might get sophisticated for the Italian producer.
The 2024 championship is at the moment finely poised between Bastianini’s team-mate Francesco Bagnaia and Martin, with solely three factors separating them on the prime of the desk. After Martin’s Sachsenring crash from the lead, many had been fast to write down him off from the combat, citing his fall for instance of him cracking underneath strain.
However the occasions of Silverstone proved all that discuss of Martin taking part in second fiddle to his Ducati stablemate was untimely, and even Bagnaia will not be immune to creating unforced errors. In spite of everything, we’ve seen him give away large outcomes a number of instances in his profession, together with within the first a part of 2024.
The percentages are nonetheless in opposition to Martin with half the season nonetheless to go, however he has undoubtedly bought what it takes to mount a severe title problem. Equally, whereas Bagnaia might have been off-colour at Silverstone, he will likely be again subsequent trip in Austria, a observe the place he scored a double win from pole final yr.
A fall from Bagnaia within the dash confirmed he is not proof against the errors which have hindered Martin
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
Martin and Bagnaia’s shut battle, and Bastianini’s onslaught from third, put Ducati in a predicament now that the championship is again after the summer season break. There is no such thing as a denying that the Borgo Panigale marque is starting to position all its weight behind its protege Bagnaia; the potential of Martin profitable the title and taking the #1 plate to Aprilia would merely be unacceptable to Ducati.
Bastianini really did Bagnaia a favour at Silverstone by stopping Martin from dealing an excellent greater blow to him within the factors desk. However at some other race, Bastianini might find yourself taking factors off Bagnaia and permitting Martin to increase his benefit.
Think about a state of affairs the place Martin is main the race and Bagnaia is sitting third, with Bastianini separating him. Within the first a part of the season, Martin and Bagnaia had been normally left to squabble amongst themselves as they remained in a category of their very own, however Bastianini’s improved kind has now added one other dimension to their championship combat.
Within the absence of group orders, it appears fanciful that he would voluntarily surrender a possible win simply to please an employer that did not contemplate him for a 3rd time period on the manufacturing unit group
Ducati will likely be hoping that there isn’t a third particular person at play in the course of the title run-in, however what would occur if Bastianini is standing in the way in which of Bagnaia profitable a 3rd straight crown in Valencia? Till now, Ducati has maintained that it will not impose any group or producer orders in MotoGP. As a substitute, it has opted for a softer route by merely asking its riders to behave sensibly on observe.
It is undoubtedly the suitable strategy to make use of and retains issues truthful on observe, nevertheless it’s additionally true that Ducati does not precisely have some other possibility. With Bastianini leaving for Tech3 after 4 seasons inside its fold, Ducati can not probably anticipate him to adjust to any order to maneuver apart and cede to Bagnaia.
Even when Bastianini’s title problem by no means materialises attributable to a scarcity of consistency, he wish to go for particular person race wins within the last 10 races and finish his Ducati profession on a excessive. In spite of everything, he’s at the moment on the quickest bike in MotoGP and the KTM mission he’s becoming a member of subsequent yr is within the midst of a significant overhaul.
Whereas his relationship with Ducati did not break down in the identical method as Martin’s over its U-turn to signal Marc Marquez, Bastianini is nicely conscious that his bosses did not give him sufficient time to point out what he’s able to after accidents blighted his 2023 marketing campaign. Within the absence of group orders, it appears fanciful that he would voluntarily surrender a possible win simply to please an employer that did not contemplate him for a 3rd time period on the manufacturing unit group.
Bastianini will not be inclined to heed group orders if Bagnaia is behind him in upcoming races
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
So how does Ducati handle this case? In signing Marquez, it has given up on two prime riders in Martin and Bastianini, in addition to its long-standing satellite tv for pc group Pramac. This implies it’s successfully left with only one horse on this yr’s title combat, whereas nonetheless having a duty in direction of Bastianini and Martin, who’ve spent their total premier-class careers with the marque.
It is a tough state of affairs to be in and Ducati wants to determine the best way to handle its riders within the last 10 rounds of the season. Whereas it might’t take a step that may instantly influence the fortunes of Martin, or Bastianini for that matter, it have to be conscious that it now must put Bagnaia’s pursuits at its centre.
Ducati can solely hope that Bagnaia will be capable of repeat the shape that allowed him to overturn a 39-point deficit in a matter of weeks earlier than the summer season break, whereas additionally reducing down on the form of errors that made his life robust in every of his title-winning campaigns to this point.
In spite of everything, there may be much more at stake than the largest prize in bike racing. Having produced a motorbike as dominant because the GP24, it will be a travesty for Ducati to observe Aprilia carry the distinguished primary plate subsequent yr.
Martin will depart for Aprilia, however will he accomplish that with the #1 plate?
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs
