DUCATI WILL LET ITS RIDERS RACE FREELY IN MARQUEZ’S TITLE FIGHT

Ducati will allow its riders to race freely rather than impose team orders to support Marc Marquez in the MotoGP title fight, according to a report citing senior executives led by general manager Luigi Dall’Igna.

The decision matters because Marquez’s contest with Aprilia’s Jorge Martin is finely balanced, with only two points between them. Marquez is 108 points ahead of the next-best Ducati rider, Fabio Di Giannantonio, and has been the leading Desmosedici in eight of the past 11 races. But Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia have collectively taken nine Grand Prix podiums this season, making them potential factors in the remaining rounds. Bagnaia is ninth in the standings, while Alex Marquez is two places ahead of him.

All three are due to leave Ducati at season’s end: Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez are reported to be joining KTM, while Bagnaia is heading to Aprilia. The report says there is no indication that their departures will affect their loyalty to Ducati. Had the manufacturer chosen to favour Marquez, VR46 could have faced an especially striking dilemma: Di Giannantonio races for Valentino Rossi’s team, and Marquez is pursuing a record that would take him beyond Rossi’s seven premier-class titles.

Marquez played down the need for such assistance at Phillip Island, saying that only riders who “don’t have the speed” need team orders.

Aprilia, meanwhile, has not ruled out asking its satellite Trackhouse riders, Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura, to help Martin or Marco Bezzecchi. Bezzecchi could also be asked to support Martin if he falls out of contention. However, MotoGP preview-show commentator Jack Appleyard said the possibility had been dismissed in conversations during the Indonesian weekend, with Aprilia potentially considering intervention only for the final two races in Portugal and Valencia, depending on the championship situation.

Appleyard also questioned whether Ducati’s riders would move aside for Marquez. “Maybe Fabio Di Giannantonio [could help Marquez], but racing in VR46 colours, I don’t think we’re going to see him moving out of the way!” he said. Alex Marquez, by contrast, would naturally want to help his brother, Appleyard suggested, though he was unsure whether the upcoming venue would suit him. Sepang could offer a better opportunity, given Alex’s strength there.