Valentino Rossi believes the departing Ducati MotoGP riders feel “betrayed” by the Bologna manufacturer who recruited Marc Marquez.

Previously, take a look at the 2024 Austrian MotoGP Schedule , the next series of races this season.

The 2024 Austrian MotoGP will take place next week, starting Friday, August 16, 2024. The race on Sunday (18/8/2024) will be broadcast live on Trans7 for free.

Speaking for the first time since the events that saw Ducati select Marquez to replace Enea Bastianini at the factory squad next season, with the two riders battling it out for the seat with Jorge Martin at Pramac, Rossi believes there has been a strong impact from the signing.

Martin’s approach was factory Ducati or no Ducati, with a later announcement revealing he would be joining rival manufacturer Aprilia.

Bastianini will ride for Tech3 GasGas for 2025, while VR46 rider Marco Bezzecchi also leaves the Ducati stable to join Martin at Aprilia.

Pramac and Ducati also ended their long-term relationship, with Pramac choosing Yamaha from 2025 on a long-term deal.

Rossi believes Ducati’s next factory rider should be one of the talents already in his team, rather than bringing in eight-time champion Marquez.

The MotoGP legend told L’Équipe: “I don’t really understand it. Ducati has an interesting system, with a pyramid that allows young riders to progress.

“So Pecco came in, and Martin and Marco Bezzecchi were waiting for him. And suddenly Ducati decided to bring in Marc.

“It’s natural that [the riders] feel betrayed. From one moment to the next, they were no longer considered, so I’m not surprised that they took Marquez’s choice as a joke.

“The consequence of that [Marquez’s signing] was the breakup of the alliance with Pramac.”

Rossi is confident that Bagnaia will be ready to face Marquez when the Spaniard joins the factory team, as Ducati has one of the best rider line-ups in recent MotoGP history.

“Pecco is ready,” he said. “He makes a difference and raises the bar.

He is a two-time [MotoGP] world champion and he is fighting for a third title, but I don’t think he needs Marc in the box to prove that he is number one.”

2024 Austrian MotoGP Schedule

Friday, August 16, 2024

– 14.00-14.35 WIB: Free Practice (FP) Moto3
– 14.50-15.30 WIB: Free Practice (FP) Moto2
– 15.45-16.30 WIB: Free Practice 1 (FP1) MotoGP
– 18.15-18.50 WIB: Free Practice 1 (FP1) Moto3
– 19.05-19.45 WIB: Free Practice 1 (FP1) Moto2
– 20.00-21.00 WIB: Practice (P) MotoGP

Saturday, August 17, 2024

– 13.40-14.10 WIB: Practice (FP2) Moto3
– 14.25-14.55 WIB: Practice (FP2) Moto2
– 15.10-15.40 WIB: Practice (FP2) MotoGP
– 15.50-16.05 WIB: Qualification (Q1) MotoGP
– 16.15-16.30 WIB: Qualification (Q2) MotoGP
– 17.50-18.05 WIB: Qualification (Q1) Moto3
– 18.15-18.30 WIB: Qualification (Q2) Moto3
– 18.45-19.00 WIB: Qualification (Q1) Moto2
– 19.10-19.25 WIB: Qualification (Q2) Moto2
– 20.00 WIB: Sprint Race MotoGP (14 Laps)

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Read also: Need the best workforce for your business? Find it here!

– 14.40-14.50 WIB: MotoGP Warm Up
– 16.00 WIB: Moto3 Race (20 Laps)
– 17.15 WIB: Moto2 Race (23 Laps)
– 19.00 WIB: MotoGP Race (28 laps)
Latest 2024 MotoGP Standings

1. Jorge Martin – 241
2. Francesco Bagnaia – 238
3. Enea Bastianini – 192
4. Marc Marquez – 179

5. Maverick Vinales – 130
6. Pedro Acosta – 122
7. Brad Binder – 114
8. Fabio Di Giannantonio – 104

9. Aleix Espargaro – 99
10. Alex Marquez – 92
11. Marco Bezzecchi – 61
12. Franco Morbidelli – 61

13. Miguel Oliveira – 51
14. Fabio Quartararo – 49
15. Raul Fernandez – 46
16. Jack Miller – 42

17. Augusto Fernandez – 15
18. Johann Zarco – 14
19. Joan Mir – 13
20. Takaaki Nakagami – 10

21. Alex Rins – 8
22. Dani Pedrosa – 7
23. Luca Marini – 2
24. Pol Espargaro – 0

25. Stefan Bradl – 0
26. Lorenzo Savadori – 0
27. Remy Gardner – 0