Category: Marc Márquez

TNT Sports MotoGP expert Gavin Emmett believes Fermin Aldeguer’s move to Ducati could spark the “silliest of silly seasons”, with speculation over the futures of Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez.

His move up to MotoGP could mean a big reshuffle at Ducati.

Aldeguer is expected to join the Pramac team, which could mean Martin is on the move, perhaps to Ducati’s factory seat alongside Bagnaia. There’s also been talk that Marquez could get on the second factory bike, a spot which is currently held by Enea Bastianini.

“Jorge Martin will not be at Pramac next year, whatever happens. The team have said that. He has said that. The question then is, and he has said it himself, ‘will I be in red next year?’ That is where he’s aiming. He’d love to be in the Ducati factory red.

“The question is, do Ducati want that enough to sign him now and get it done?

“They’ve got to keep Bastianini sweet at this stage of the season and they have Marc Marquez in the wings, and if there’s anyone else that lights up this year, they want to have that potential there. So are they going to move quickly enough for Martin to put him in red? I don’t know.

“Franco Morbidelli looks unfortunately like a dead man walking at the moment. He’s got a big year ahead of him after having missed all the pre-season to prove what he’s capable of, because we all know that he has some potential.

“It’s going to be a bit of a long jam. Marco Bezzecchi is hoping to step up onto a factory bike and you’ve got Fabio Quartararo apparently wanting to ride a different bike from the Yamaha.

“There’s so many unknowns. That’s why this silly season will be the silliest season ever.

“So what it means for Ducati is they can push these decisions down the road. The fact is everyone wants to be on their bikes. Is that going to be enough for Jorge Martin? He wants to be wanted, wants to become someone’s factory rider. So it makes it a fascinating time in terms of contracts getting signed.”

Marcquez joined Ducati in the off-season after ending his 11-year relationship with Honda.

This weekend he returns to the Portuguese Grand Prix, which is the track where he got his most recent MotoGP pole at the start of the 2023 season.

Emmett thinks Marquez could put himself firmly into the conversation for the Ducati factory seat next season with a strong showing in Portugal.

“If he wins here and in Austin [at the next race] then he makes it very tough for Ducati and their sporting directors and CEO.

“Would you not want Marc Marquez, the biggest name in our sport on your bike? You think you’d be mad to say you don’t want him.

“There’s every possibility he could win in three weeks’ time and that would set tongues wagging. It will be interesting to see. I mean if you’re behind that Ducati team, however much you’ve got Bagnaia in there, you still want Marc Marquez on your bike, I believe. But obviously the results will have to come first.”

Marquez took fourth place on the opening race of the season in Qatar, which was won by defending champion Bagnaia.

Emmett is not ruling out Marquez challenging for victory in Portugal, a track where the “riders seem to be able to make the difference”.

“I don’t see why not. He gets on with this place because it is a rider’s track. You see it is a quirky place. He just seems to get on with those kind of things.

“I think the opening round would have given him a lot of belief that he can mix it again. Fourth place in the race, what a platform to build on.

“Expect the unexpected and that’s what we love about MotoGP. I couldn’t tell you. I can’t tell you who’s going to come out on top. The logical money always says go with Bagnaia. But thankfully MotoGP is not that logical.”

Asked what other riders he will be looking out for, Emmett added: “Keep an eye maybe on Miguel Oliveira.

“He’s just struggling to get on with the new Aprilia but he has won here in the past when we first came here during Covid, and he did that on the KTM, so he is someone who knows the track inside out. Because it’s a rider that can make a difference, that inside track knowledge here and there, who knows whether that pays dividends for him, but I would keep an eye on him.

“And [Maverick] Vinales did do well on the Aprilia last year. He’s the outsider.”

The announcement of Aldeguer’s move to Ducati comes shortly after Pedro Acosta’s MotoGP debut in Qatar.

There is plenty of hype and excitement around 19-year-old Acosta, who won Moto3 and Moto2 titles over the last three years.

Emmett thinks Aldeguer also has the potential to be a future star of the sport.

“Obviously it’s huge news for him,” he said.

“He’s been on everyone’s radar for MotoGP for a while. He stepped into MotoGP as a 16-year-old and was instantly impressive. He was really quick, really early on.

“Ducati wanted to get ahead of their rivals, because you know that other manufacturers would have been trying to get that signature and he’ll be seen by many as a rider that can rival Pedro Acosta in the future.

“So he’s got a long projection, a long future ahead of him in the top class. What it does to him at this stage is take a bit of pressure off. He’s got a MotoGP contract already.

“But I suppose that also be hanging over his head and if he doesn’t do well then people all year will be going, ‘hang about, he’s got a MotoGP contract next year’. So it adds pressure in another way. But I think it’s great for him and great for Ducati, they’ve got their prospect that they’re going to put their weight behind into the future. And he’s another exciting young talent.”

As for how he compares to Acosta, Emmett added: “He beat Pedro to the last four races of last year. And it was all just dominant. So he’s got potential.

“They started on the same race tracks around Cartagena with the same race school. That’s got a beautiful symmetry to it and it’s got a great back story. These kids have grown up together in Murcia and have worked their way through to this level.

“But I think Acosta has more name and pedigree at this moment in time because he won the Moto3 championship at the first attempt and won Moto2 in his second season.

“I think Acosta will be seen as that generational talent but Aldeguer has definitely got a bright future. And actually he’s a slightly taller rider and maybe MotoGP might suit him a bit more.

“But he still has things to prove this year. He showed what he could do at the end of last season when the stars aligned for him. But I still think he has his work cut out to become champion this year. I don’t think he’s going to be a cakewalk like it almost was for Acosta last year.”