A close ally of Jorge Martin has conceded t🍰hat Ducati’s decision to pick Marc Marque🍨z is “understandable”.

The factory Ducati team opted to overlook Martin, who eventual💛ly became MotoGP champion, last year.

It means the champion will instead ride ri𝔍val machinery for Aprilia, while Marquez steps into the factory Ducati squad.

"It was a difficult moment for him,”🌄 Pramac sporting director Fonsi Nieto told  about Martin’s snub.

“I always say that Jorge has had three difficult moments in his MotoGP career: the crash in Portugal, which completely broke him and he even thought about reᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚtiring; the election of Enea Bastianini; and the election of Marquez.

“I think those have beeꦐn the most difficult points an♛d he has known how to overcome this and take it as motivation, and it is not always that easy.

"Ducati is right now in a moment of glory and th🐷ey will continue to fight to win. But, of course, it has not been easy for them to decide to lose a rider like Jorge, world champion.

“But we are talking about Marc Marqueℱz, eight times world champion, with a big pull. It may even be understandable🐷 that they chose Marquez.

“With Marc you always have to count beca🃏use h🅘e is one of the best riders in history.

“Since he stepped on a circuit in the championship, you can count on him for📖 the 🎃title, always.

“It will be a good fight between🉐 Pecco Bagnai෴a and him, with the Ducati.

“I hope Jorge is also fighting with them.”

Pr🗹amac’s Nieto saw Martin topple Bagnaia, the factory Ducati’s star man and reigning champion, as an in🃏dependent team rider.

“To beat a monster like Ducati on a one-to-one basis in this way has been something spectacular,” Nieto sa🦹🅰id.

“It has more ܫmerit to have achieved꧂ it as a satellite team.

“A⭕t Ducati, th😼ey are the factory, there are many more people working.

“But we were better, more united, believing that we could win the championship from winter trainin🐠g.”