MotoGP, Ciabatti: “If we were afraid of Martin he wouldn't have an official Ducati”

After fourteen rounds, the title of MotoGP champion seems increasingly within the reach of Jorge Martin, who in the last four rounds of the championship has managed to make up 59 points on the leader of the standings, Francesco Bagnaia. Thanks to a string of seven consecutive podiums, made up of five victories, a second place and a third place (in Grand Prix and Sprint races), the Pramac Racing team man has moved to just three points behind the rider from Piedmont, with only six rounds remaining until the end of the season.

Martin and his team believe in the title, but there are those who are convinced that Ducati might take the matters into their own hands, to prevent the Spaniard from getting his hands on the World Championship. A scenario forcefully rejected by Paolo Ciabatti. Speaking to AS, the Borgo Panigale Sporting Director was keen to reiterate that Martinator will be free to fight on equal terms with Pecco until the end of the year, despite racing for a satellite team.

“It's a team that has the same bike as the official team and official riders. If Ducati hadn't wanted them to be on the same level, they wouldn't have given competitive bikes to the Pramac team and wouldn't have hired the riders directly - explained Ciabatti - Many people ask me how it is possible for a satellite team to be ahead of the official team , but it is not a satellite team. We have seven Ducati men in their team. The sponsors are different, but the bikes are the same and the riders all have a contract with Ducati. If we were afraid of them winning, we wouldn't give them the treatment they get."

No intervention, therefore, to hinder Martin's run-up.

“Ducati has made an investment with this rider and this team. If you don't want something like this to happen, you don't put him on an official bike with all the development - reiterated the Sporting Director - The important thing is that a Ducati wins. Obviously for Tardozzi, who is the Team Manager of the official team, it is more important that the Ducati is from the Lenovo team, but this doesn’t matter to me, even though I realize that the factory team has responsibilities towards its sponsors. For this reason I would like Pecco to win, but if Jorge wins because he is better... he has an official motorbike and an official rider contract”.