Ducati team principal Davide Tardozzi admits the team faced “heartbreaking decisions” over its 2025 MotoGP line-up, resulting in the loss of newly-crowned 2024 world champion Jorge Martin
Ducati team principal Davide Tardozzi has admitted that the team faced “heartbreaking decisions” regarding its line-up for the 2025 MotoGP season. These decisions led to the unexpected departure of newly-crowned 2024 world champion Jorge Martin. Despite his historic season win, Martin will now race for Aprilia in 2025, marking a dramatic turn in his career and Ducati’s strategy.
Jorge Martin secured his first world title at the Gran Premio della Solidaridad, the final event of the season. In a tense race, Martin took a solid third place, behind rival Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, who won the race but was 10 points behind the championship. Although his performance cemented his place in the sport’s history, Martin’s relationship with Ducati came to an end soon after. Just days after being crowned champion, Martin confirmed his move to Aprilia, making his debut with the team in Tuesday’s post-season testing.
Martin was initially intended to be Bagnaia’s teammate on the Ducati factory team. However, Ducati shocked the motorcycling world by offering that seat to eight-time world champion Marc Marquez. Marquez previously turned down a seat on Ducati’s satellite team Pramac, triggering a series of changes in the rider market. This decision caused a domino effect on the grid: Martin and Marco Bezzecchi moved to Aprilia, Enea Bastianini signed with KTM and the Pramac team switched allegiance to Yamaha.
Reflecting on the tumultuous selection process, Davide Tardozzi said: “Ducati had the ‘Fab Four’ this year, but we were forced to make some really difficult decisions. Unfortunately, Martin and Enea chose to leave to pursue new opportunities at rival factories. It’s a shame, but these situations are inevitable in this highly competitive sport.”
Despite the significant departures, Tardozzi remains confident in Ducati’s ability to maintain its dominance in MotoGP. “Ducati will be strong next year. We have a solid team and we need to prove to the fans that we made the right decisions,” he said. The arrival of Marc Marquez to the team promises to intensify the championship fight, while Bagnaia will look to regain the title.
In 2024, Ducati celebrated unprecedented dominance, taking the top four spots in the championship standings with Bagnaia, Martin, Bezzecchi and Bastianini. This success cemented the Italian brand as the force to beat in MotoGP. “Ducati is the real winner this year, with riders finishing first, second, third and fourth in the championship. It is a reflection of our hard work and dedication,” said Tardozzi.
Jorge Martin’s next chapter with Aprilia adds a new dimension to the 2025 championship. While Martin could wear the prestigious number one with his new factory, Tardozzi emphasised Bagnaia’s resilience and potential to regain the throne. “Pecco wore the number one for two years because he deserved it. He is a champion and will fight for the title next year,” concluded Tardozzi.
The 2025 season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent years, with significant changes in teams and increasingly fierce competition. Ducati, now under the critical gaze of fans and analysts, will have to prove that the decisions taken this year were the right ones to secure its future at the top of world motorcycling.
