Legends debate Bagnaia vs Martin scrap: “Ducati gave themselves a problem”

Three legends who know all about winning championships have debated the battle between Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin.

James Dielhenn

25 Oct 2023

Francesco Bagnaia, MotoGP race, Australian MotoGP, 21 October

With four rounds left, beginning at this weekend’s Thailand MotoGP, Bagnaia leads Martin by 27 points at the top of the standings.

Martin led for 24 hours in Indonesia before falling out of the grand prix, a reminder of how quickly things can change.

“It’s a little bit like last year, as well,” Casey Stoner, the two-time MotoGP champion and Ducati’s last winner 15 years before Bagnaia, said.

“Nobody seems to want to take the championship fight.

“Nobody has run away with it. We saw Pecco have a run of form, hit it early in the season. Recently Jorge has been running a fantastic pace.”

Troy Bayliss, three-time Superbike champion and a Ducati legend, said: “Martin seems like he’s got more forward momentum than Pecco.

“I guess Ducati have to look at themselves, and realise that they’ve given the satellite teams such good bikes that they’ve given themselves a problem!”

Jorge Martin, Francesco Bagnaia, Indonesian MotoGP, 12 October

Mick Doohan, who famously won five 500cc titles in a row, added: “Martin is on fire at the moment. He’s growing in confidence.

“He’s on a similar bike to Bagnaia, the same bike but a different colour. He made a small mistake in Indonesia.”

Martin crashed out, losing the championship lead which he earned by winning the sprint race a day earlier.

“I saw the crash,” Stoner said. “It wasn’t even a mistake.

“It was a little unlucky. He got dirt on the tyres. It could happen to anyone.

“The championship could look very different right now. But Pecco picked up the pieces and put himself back on top.

“You really can’t predict it, especially this far out. Not many people know what it’s like to lead a championship right down to the end, in the top category. It will be interesting to see who deals with it.”

Doohan added: “Martin, mentally I think he has the edge. Bagnaia doesn’t want to give away the championship that he won only last year.”

Bayliss said: “These situations are very stressful for everyone concerned, the teams and riders.

“But, on the other side, that’s what the crowd want to see. They want to see the races come down to a really close fight.”

Stoner noted a third possible contender, 73 points off the top: “Marco Bezzecchi could really find his form. He’s not too far in the distance, if something changes with the front guys.”