“As everyone knows꧃, we confirmed Enea for the official team at the end of August,” Ducati sporting director Paolo Cဣiabatti told MotoGP.com during the Malaysian GP weekend.

"It’s true with Martin’s current level of performance it’s a reality we should consider. But no decision taken obviously, but let’🧔s see. We cannot ignore this level of performance [by Martin]..."

Coincidence or not, Bastianini, who has been sidelined by inju♛ries twice this season, then delivered by far his best weekend as a factory rider.

The Italian followed team-mate and title leader France🌟sco Bagnaia home for fourth in the Sprint, then brilliantly won the Sunday grand prix, also his first podium appe🍒arance in factory red.

ꦓAlthough Martin rides for Pramac, like Bastianini, Bagnaia and Johann Zarco he is contracted directly to the Ducati factory, simplifying the possibi💯lity of a switch.

“We are very happy that everyone is talking about us, and about our riders!” said team manager Davide Tardozzi, responding to the rider switch rumours on TNT Sports.

“The truth is that the riders belong to Ducati.

“They have Ducati contracts�🌺�. Honestly, we can do what we want.

“We decide thꦐings, we can change things, we can r🌌e-change things, everything can happen.

“In this moment, we have no talk about it.

“We📖 never ha⭕d doubts about Enea. He suffered from his injuries.

“[Why] was he at the back?… Obviously becauseꦆ he ꦦis injured.

“Sometimes they want to try to do too much.

“One of the key points was Friday night. Pecco ♎helped him. This makes a huge difference in 🦩Enea’s attitude.”

Asked for his opinion, Bagnaia said it would be ‘not fair’ for 💛Bastianini to lose his factory seat given his injury-ravageᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚd season.

M🍒artin said he would be "proud if I continue in Pramac next season, but for sure if Ducati wants me to join with a r🍸ed bike I will be super happy also.”

Since Martin’s factory move is only thought to be a possib📖ility if he wiཧns the MotoGP title, which would be a first for a satellite team rider, Bastianini will have extra incentive to help Bagnaia in his quest for a second premier-class championship.

Bagnaia starts this wee💜kend’s penultimate round in Qatar with a 14-point lead over Martin, with 74 points still available.