Jorge Martin has reiterated his desire to secure the prized remaining seat alongside Pecco Bagnaia in the factory Ducati Lenovo Team as he gears up to attempt going one better in the 2024 MotoGP World Championship.
The Spaniard came of age during the 2023 season, reeling off 12 wins - three full-length, nine Sprint - to run Bagnaia a close second in the overall standings on the satellite Pramac Ducati GP23.
His upturn in form coincided with a desperately disappointing season for the rider who was chosen over him for the factory Ducati ride, Enea Bastianini, the Italian struggling with a variety of injury problems from the opening round in 2023.
The disparate fortunes put a spotlight on Ducati’s controversial decision to promote Bastianini from Gresini Racing ahead of Martin, who has made no secret of his claim that the 2023 factory Ducati seat had been promised to him.
For now, Martin is keen to prove he can beat the works riders to the 2024 MotoGP title to secure his spot alongside the already confirmed Bagnaia for 2025 and 2026.
“I am super happy, I think I am not in the best seat possible, for sure I would have signed already if it was Ducati factory, so that is the first target for the future but I feel good here and it is a good place to fight for the season but we shall see.”
Having mounted a title challenge from a back foot position after a poor start to the year, Martin says he comes into the 2024 MotoGP season feeling more confident on the latest evolution of the Ducati.
“I am happy to be here, last season was great but it is already the past, this is the present, so we have to work hard.
“Testing was good, I feel a bit better on the new bike, we are faster. We need more laps but I feel competitive straight away which is good because in previous years we have struggled a bit at the beginning.
“I am focused and I think I did a great job over the winter and I feel well prepared for everything.”
Bastianini isn't Martin's only rival for the vacancy alongside Bagnaia for 2025 with Marco Bezzecchi - who enters into his third season of MotoGP with the VR46 Racing team - and new Ducati recruit Marc Marquez expected to be in contention.
Meanwhile, one seat at Pramac Ducati is understood to have been secured for 2025 with Moto2 star Fermin Aldeguer understood to have already signed a three-year deal to join the Italian team.
