Ducati opted againsꩵt trying to sign Marc Marquez nine years ago, a MotoGP paddock veteran claims.

In 2016, Marquez wrappe🧸d up his third MotoGP championship in his first four seasons in the class.

Ducati, meanwhile, experienced a ninth title-less year which prompted them to spend bi🌞g on the arrival of Jorge Lorenzo.

At this moment, veteran manager Alberto Veꦺrganiꩵ insists Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna was not obsessed by recruiting Honda’s Marquez.

“No, because in 2017 he took Lorenzo and not him,🦩” Vergani told .

“Ducati tried in 2016 but they wꦡere not convinced.

“However, Gigi remains th🔯e absolute No1. He is Ducati’s fortune. When Marc offered himself [at the end of 2023], he couldn’t say no.

“Because Dall’Igna lives off his satisfactions like a true genius does. G෴igi and Marc aꦫre two geniuses who found each other.

“It was not easy to leave Jorge Mart🌠in to go to Aprilia.

“On the eve of 🍨the Valencia test, Gigi said: ‘Marc did some inexplicable things with the GP23’.

“Dall’Igna knows bikes well. The Desmosedici is a child of his. This is why Gigi knows t🌜he performance of the Ducati peꦍrfectly, better than anyone else.

“He X-rayed Marc and opted for him.”

Marquez’s alliance with Ducati’s star man Pecco♕ Bagnaia in the official Ducati garage will be a key storyline for the 2025 season.

The talented pair have MotoGP’s best bike at their di🌞𓂃sposal.

The champion Martin, meanwhile,♔ must adjust 🎶to the Aprilia.