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It all happened on one afternoon in early June: Martin to Aprilia, Bastianini headed to KTM with Tech3, and Marc Marquez ready to don official Ducati red. The market rebus that has kept MotoGP in check for months has finally been resolved.
Of the latest transfer market events, we spoke with Alberto Vergani, who in addition to looking after the interests of Petrucci and Bassani is one of the most prominent and influential managers in the MotoGP and Superbike paddock.
"In the end, the boardgame of market Risk has been resolved," he started off, "for so many months we have been talking about who would flank Pecco Bagnaia, and now all we have to do is wait for Ducati's official announcement with Marquez after yesterday's one came from Aprilia with Martin."
Alberto, let's go in order. On the spot question: did you expect Marc Marquez in the factory Ducati team in 2025?
"Yes, and I had already anticipated it just to your magazine last December (HERE the interview). Martin is a great talent as well as Bastianini, but Dall'Igna was never going to let a champion of Marc Marquez's caliber, that is, an eight-time world champion, get away. Gigi's dream was to win the World Championship with Ducati and he fulfilled it and soon he will also fulfill his dream with Marc Marquez, which is to bring him to the factory Ducati after having relaunched him this year."
Can we say that in this whole affair Marc Marquez won?
"Of course and there was no doubt about it, Marc Marquez is the winner. But then again, he is the one who raises the bar, increases the show and the audience. You may or may not like him, but if Marquez is in the middle of it, MotoGP has a whole other appeal, and I think it showed this year. Then there are also commercial logics around him exactly like Hamilton with Ferrari."
Martin, on the other hand, has agreed a deal with Aprilia. Are you surprised?
"No, because Beirer would never have taken him back to KTM after Jorge decided to go to MotoGP on a Ducati. The priority was to bring Acosta to the factory team and maybe try for Marquez, but in the end KTM wanted to immediately promote Pedro for next year. And then also comes Bastianini with Tech3, I think it will be a great challenge."
You mentioned Enea, what do you think about this new challenge?
"Enea is a great talent and on Sunday he showed everyone his worth. I think in Tech3 he will be able to do really well, because KTM has a great growth project and we have seen that in the last few years. Also, in Tech3 he finds Giribuola as his crew chief with whom there is a special rapport. For more information just have a look at what they did together with Gresini."
Let's go back to talking about Martin: initially it looked like his move to Ducati factory was a done thing, then Marquez stepped up on Thursday.
"It's a bit curious how the story has evolved over the last seven days, and what happened only Ducati management knows. Certainly Thursday's press conference changed the balance and Marc played smart and cunning, putting Ducati in front of a choice. In the end he got what he wanted, which was the red bike."
What do you think of the role played by Dall'Igna?
"Gigi has revolutionized Ducati, and as long as he is at Borgo Panigale, the Rossa will win. In 2025 Ducati will have a super team of the highest level and I am convinced that Pecco will give his best, because having Marquez allows you to raise the bar even higher. With this move Dall'Igna has put Ducati back at the center of everything, strengthening the factory team and at the same time bringing back the satellite teams as a place for young talent to grow as it was until a few years ago."
And Campinoti, what will he do?
"I think Paolo is not happy with this whole thing and I can understand him, since he lost Martin and next year he won't even have Marquez. In my opinion he has to follow the trend and I think the thing to do is to choose Yamaha. In fact, Yamaha has rolled out a red carpet for him by also offering him a major financial treatment. I would say that this is the right time to choose a new challenge considering among other things that Yamaha is working so hard in terms of men to strengthen itself. And in the end it's the men who make the difference."
