Alvaro Bautista has given his seal of approval to Marc Marquez’s move to the Ducati stable for the 2024 MotoGP season, adding that he hopes the eight-time World Champion will be promoted to the factory line-up next year.

The double WorldSBK Champion, who returned to track this week for pre-season WorldSBK testing at Jerez, was discussing Marquez’s high-profile switch from Honda to Gresini Ducati for 2024 with Spanish broadcaster DAZN.

Though the move sees Marquez ‘downgrade’ from a factory to satellite status by switching to the independent Gresini Racing team to race alongside his brother Alex Marquez, Bautista believes his presence will trigger more in-fighting within Ducati’s four teams.

"It's going to be interesting because there's going to be a lot of competition within the factory,” he said. “Between now and the middle of the season everyone will start to go with the knife between their teeth and there will be good fights.

“But I think Ducati can only be proud of this. There is surely jealousy within the Ducati organisational chart because it has always happened.

“I believe that there will come a time in the season where there will be a lot of tension because in 2024 almost all the riders end their contracts.”

Bautista goes on to suggest he wouldn't be surprised if Marquez's results on the year-old Gresini machine will be enough to earn him a factory spot as soon as 2025.

"I hope that in 2025 I will have Marc Marquez dressed in red with me at the Ducati presentation.

“Because that will mean that Marquez will be in the official team and that I will also continue in the official Ducati team in WorldSBK.”