Suppo predicts “a big fight” between Ducati riders in 2024

The 2024 season of MotoGP has not yet started, but the transfer market is already talking. While the majority of Ducati riders' contracts expire at the end of the year, Livio Suppo believes that the challenge for the front men of the Italian manufacturer will not be easy.

“Their bike is the best, so all the riders will want to stay, assures the Italian. However, KTM and Aprilia will continue to grow, and Yamaha and Honda dealerships should give them plenty of room to maneuver. They could close the gap significantly by mid-season. The transfer window would then be completely different. »

Although the former team boss does not see the divorce between the double MotoGP world champion, Francesco Bagnaia and his team happening anytime soon, he expects the fight for the second handlebar of the Reds to be intense between the riders from the Ducati fold, and does not exclude any candidacy.

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“I'm sure Ducati will first try to keep Pecco [Bagnaia], He continues. He’s a double world champion, he’s the main man at Ducati. Therefore, I assume there will only be one place available in the factory team and there will be a big fight for it.

George Martin already said he wants to be a factory driver in 2025, he then recalls. This means that if by mid-season, KTM, Aprilia, Honda, or Yamaha have already closed the gap, Jorge will be interested in them. And who knows what will happen with Marc Marquez? He will be competitive, so in theory he will be of interest to the Ducati factory team. This means they will lose one of the others, it really won't be easy to deal with. »

Suppo also believes that the three personalities mentioned will cause problems for the Bologna team in managing their potential rivalry. The task therefore promises to be difficult for Gigi Dall’Igna, and his new right-hand man, Mauro Grassilli.