Ducati Drama: Bagnaia and Martin Set for Equal Showdown in 2024 MotoGP Title Race

Bagnaia and Martin: The 2024 MotoGP Championship Battle Now on Equal Terms

Ducati Plans to Provide Equal Machines for Both Title Contenders

The competition for the MotoGP championship between Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin is approaching its end. The last four races will provide an equal opportunity for the Ducati riders to showcase their skills.

In a repeat scenario from 2023, the current two-time world champion Bagnaia and Pramac's Martin are competing against each other for the championship title as they approach the last four races of the season.

Following the Japanese Grand Prix held last weekend, Bagnaia achieved his fourth double victory of the season, narrowing the difference between him and Martin to just 10 points, although Martin remains in the lead.

Martin is set to leave Ducati after the 2024 season to become part of the factory Aprilia team. This decision comes after he decided to leave his current team following their reversal of the decision to elevate him to the factory team alongside Bagnaia for the 2025 season.

Since that time, it has become unimaginable for Ducati to allow the number one position to possibly move with Martin to Aprilia. This has led to doubts about the type of support the Spanish rider might get during the latter part of the season.

Ducati has consistently asserted that it will offer equal backing to both Martin and Bagnaia, and recent information has reinforced this commitment.

As reported by es.motorsport.com, Ducati has halted any further development on the GP24 for the rest of the season. The final update, which involved aerodynamic adjustments, was introduced at Silverstone in August.

As the season approaches its last four races, four competitors have a chance to claim the championship mathematically. Regardless of the outcome, Ducati is assured of securing the title.

Ducati's commitment to providing equal equipment for both Martin and Bagnaia has surfaced shortly after Bagnaia revealed that he tested a new chassis at Misano and expressed his eagerness to use it in races at the earliest opportunity.

In Indonesia, Bagnaia described 2024 as a "championship of mistakes" after he crashed while leading the sprint against Martin.

According to Bagnaia, the 2024 Michelin rear tire has improved grip, which increases pressure on the front tire during braking compared to last year. This change is believed to be responsible for the many errors made by the top two riders in the rankings.

When questioned about solutions for the year 2025, Bagnaia mentioned: "I plan to request what I experimented with during the [Misano] test."

"The experience was excellent. The trial we conducted proved to be very beneficial. Unfortunately, I am unable to use it at the moment, even though it would be quite advantageous, as it is not yet available for all the GP24 models."

"I am unable to utilize it. It's a fresh chassis, and I believe it will be beneficial for everyone."

Looking back, this remark was the initial indication that Ducati had actually halted the development of its GP24.

According to contractual obligations, Ducati is required to offer updates for all its motorcycles. Since Martin and the entire Pramac team will be leaving the Italian manufacturer next year, it seems illogical to allow future competitors access to advancements planned for the Desmosedici.

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