Ducati and Aprilia: defiance and silence after the KTM / MotoGP deal

The surprise was a success. The bilateral agreement with top MotoGP pilots Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastinani gives the MotoGP project of the Austrian company Pierer Mobility AG a decisive boost to the expected MotoGP title win.

At Mattighofen/Munderfing, conclusions were quickly drawn following the recent transfers of Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez. When the two supposedly top-tier pilots were committed to Aprilia and Ducati, Pierer Mobility Group management immediately pulled the two most valuable pilots from the transfer.

The reactions of Italian manufacturers to the all-out attack of the Austrians were different. Aprilia has gone neutral and allowed Viñales to pose with KTM Motorsport management until the end of the year and early, despite his existing contract. When SPEEDWEEK requested a statement on the factory driver agreement with KTM, Italy only responded with “no comment” with friendly emphasis.

The main thing for Noale now will be to quickly evaluate the remaining options in order to better occupy the place next to Jorge Martin. Trackhouse drivers Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez are suitable candidates. But Massimo Rivola will also hold talks outside the Aprilia stable. Former world champion Joan Mir and also VR46 racers Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi will fit into the chassis.

In Bologna, the departure of Ena Bastianini is being interpreted more strictly. Ducati Corse insists on the contract being in force and prohibits the factory driver from making any public statements or communications that show him an association with a manufacturer other than Ducati.

From a sporting standpoint, Ducati can handle change more easily than its rival from its country. The factory team was nominally unbeatable for the next two years with Pico Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, who collected eleven world championship titles between them.

But Bastianini would have been ideal as a defender at the back on another Desmosedici GP25. But the Italian prefers to play in attack. After getting nowhere with the idea, Ducati lowered the curtains on Bastianini's box.