Marc Márquez’s future outside of Repsol Honda still isn’t official, but on the sidelines of the MotoGP Japanese GP, Gigi Dall’Igna may have let slip an unofficial confirmation. The rider has been linked to Gresini, with a satellite Ducati bike.
Ducati Corse’s general manager said in an interview with Sky Sport Italia: ‘Marc has been one of the strongest riders in history. So, the fact that he strongly wants to ride a Ducati can only be pleasing. He has decided to leave Honda for an unofficial Ducati; if anything, this emphasizes that he wants our bike’.
When asked if this is a sign that Márquez has already made his decision, Dall’Igna poured cold water on it by stating: ‘This is what I’ve heard, but of course, it’s not official yet. I believe there are many things to be done, and I think it’s a complicated contract to break. In the event that he wants to break it, clearly… But it seems to me that these are the statements made. From our perspective, they are pleasing’.
Emphasizing that nothing is confirmed yet, the Ducati executive believes that if Márquez joins Gresini, it will be up to the manufacturer to manage: ‘The arrival is still to be defined; there is no official confirmation yet. But apart from that, we are focused on the ongoing championship, which still has many things to say. And we still have many races to go. Márquez is, for many reasons, a formidable rider: certainly, there is concern that he might somehow disrupt the balance within all the Ducati teams. But this may eventually be part of the game, and it will be up to us to handle the situation well’.