The 2025 factory Ducati seat might b꧋e t❀he most coveted in the silly season frenzy which is already beginning.

Ducati ha🦩ve signed Francesco Bagnaia to a longer-term deal to remove speculation about his future, but his teammate for next season remains a hot topic.

Pramac’s Jorge Martin insists he will quit Ducati unless he gets the nod, whi🦄le Marc Marquez may be promoted if his Gresini adventure begins well.

But cඣurrent incumbent💃 Enea Bastianini is ready to offer a reminder of his talents.

His debut season in red was r🅘uined by a sꦜerious shoulder injury at the opening round a year ago.

An anticipated title challenge was nev♛er possible but Bastianini did rebound to win the Malaysian MotoꦍGP at the end of 2023.

Ahead of this weekend’s Qatar MotoGP, the season-opening round, Bastiaꦗnini said: "Finally, we're back on track for the first race of the season, and I'm thrilled to start in Qatar, where I secured my first MotoGP victory in 2022.

“In the last pre-season tests at Lu⭕sail, we were fast and competitive, so the conditions are favourable for a strong performance.

“Howeve𒊎r, the race weekend conditions will differ from testin🉐g, so we need to stay grounded.

“We'll work hard from the first round to kick off thi🐟s 2024 season on the right note."

Bastianini, in 2022, won the second-most am💞ount of races behind Bagnaia, while a Gresini Ducati rider.

After a year to forget he is determined to return to the title fight and clarify his 2025 f🐻uture.

His pace in Qatar is already hinted at. He was second-fastest on Day 2 of the preseason test be🐟hind Bagnaia. And third-fastest on Day 3, bettered only by Bagnaia and Jorgeꦫ Martin.

Teammate Bagnaia, champion in each of the past two sea🦄sons, said: "I'm excited to start my fourth season with the Ducati Lenovo Team! “We're kicking off in Qatar on a track that I like💞 and where we've had some good results in the past.

“During testing🦋, wꦅe were competitive both in race pace and time attack.

“I managed to set a great time,🐻 but the conditions were also rig🧸ht.

“The race will be d🧸ifferent: I expect many fast riders, and the competition will be intense.

“Neverthe🌼less, we're prepared, and I can't wait to hit the track on Friday afternoon."