Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi offers brutally honest verdict on title slipping away
Ducati boss sets the scene for today's title-de♛cider

Ducati’s Davide Tardozzi is nꦫot kidding himself over the likelihood of the manufacturer’s star man winning the MotoGP title today.
Frances✨co Bagnꦬaia is at a 19-point deficit behind Jorge Martin before the season-ending Solidarity Barcelona MotoGP on Sunday afternoon.
Bagnaia must win the race and hope Martin finishes 10th or lower to retain th🍃e title. Martin only needs to finish in the top nine to win 🌳the title.
Factory Ducati star Bagnaia won Saturday’s sprint to avoid conceding his title a day early💮.
“That was the goal. To keep the championshiꦛp alive,” Ta✃rdozzi told TNT Sports.
“On Sunday we have no other choice but to win the race. But honestly, we know Jorge has the speed to control and brinꦿg home the poin꧂ts that he needs to win the championship.
“We are con𒐪f🌟ident about that but never say never, anything can happen.”
Tardozzi aℱdded: “Pecco ar🏅rived in a good mood, he was confident since [Friday] with the setting of the bike.
“He thinks he can win the races, he has 𓃲the speed.
“Everything can change with the medium tyre.”
Bagnaia, champioꩲn of the past two years, has the backing of the factory Ducati squad.
Although Martin w🍌ould represent a Ducati rider winning the title, he will take the #1 plate to Aprilia in 2025 if he wins today.
A Martꩲin win would also mean Ducati losing out to their own satellite team.
Pramac boss Paolo Campinoti said: “Yes, 🀅I could be happier, but I am happy enough!
“Most important tꦯhing is to not make a mistake, a♋nd finish the race.
“The problem he had was that the track was cold so he had probꦰlems [on Friday] with grip.
[On Saturday] he had less problems.”
Campinoti previewed his plans to celebrate on Sunday: “Nothing, I will party a lot! Th꧑en, on Monday, back to work.”
But on Monday, Campinoti’s team will exit Ducati and ꦐprepare to become a Yamaha satellite team in 2025. Even more reason for♏ Martin’s victory to become historic, if he can pull it off.

James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports🌳, to football, to F1.