Breaking news
MotoGP
Martin, Bastianini in contention for 2021 Pramac ride
Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini have emerged as leading candidates to earn a MotoGP graduation with Pramac Ducati in 2021, should Jack Miller move up to the factory team next year.
Rachit Thukral Germán Garcia Casanova
Published: May 24, 2020, 9:04 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Although Ducati’s primary concern is to secure a contract extension for Andrea Dovizioso, with talks currently stalled over how much the Italian would earn, the Italian manufacturer is also working on finalising Dovizioso’s teammate for next year.
It appears likely Danilo Petrucci will be dropped from the factory team after two seasons, with Miller taking his place on the back of his 2019 campaign that featured five podium finishes, including three in the last six rounds.
Should Miller make the move to the senior Ducati squad, it will open up a place at satellite outfit Pramac, as Petrucci is unlikely to return to the team he rode for between 2015-18.
Instead, Ducati is believed to be interested in recruiting a Moto2 graduate, with Martin and Bastianini understood to have been shortlisted for the second seat at Pramac.
Bastianini finished 10th in the standings while riding for the Italtrans team in his maiden season in the intermediate class last year, while 2018 Moto3 champion Martin (KTM Ajo) finished three points and one position behind in 11th.
Martin, in particular, is believed to be a hot property in the MotoGP rider market, with both KTM and Honda also believed to be interested in securing his services for 2020.
“If MotoGP teams think of you, it’s because you’re doing something right,” Martin told the MotoGP website.
“The Ducati is a bike that, due to my current riding style, I could better adapt to. The KTM is a bike that forces me to brake super late, stop it and open the gas early.”
Pramac boss Team Manager Francesco Guidotti admitted that Martin is being targeted by other manufacturers and that it would be a “miracle” for Ducati to sign a deal with the Spaniard under that kind of competition.
“There’s Jorge [Martin], there’s [Lorenzo] Baldassarri, Bastianini, Alex Marquez was on the list and Jorge Navarro,” Guidotti told MotoGP.com. They are some of the interesting young riders.
"In the last few days, a lot of journalists have called me about Jorge Martin but, to be honest, it’s Ducati dealing with the new riders and as far as I know, it’s not done with anyone.
"For sure, Jorge Martin is under the light of Honda because he won the title with them in Moto3 two years ago. I know they were really upset that he left them to sign for KTM, but I think they would have him back. And KTM, I don’t know if they would release him.
"If Ducati will be able to sign Martin, I think it would be a miracle. They have to be very brave and smart to get him."
Francesco Bagnaia’s contract with Pramac Ducati will end after the 2020 season, but the 23-year-old is expected to be retained by the squad next year.
"For Pecco, I think we have to give him one more year so he can get more confidence with MotoGP,” Guidotti said of the 2018 Moto2 champion. “Even when we come back to race this year it will be very weird, so I think he deserves to stay with us."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Honda rubbishes Pirro's "shameful, inappropriate" allegations
Next article Lorenzo returns to racing in Silverstone Virtual GP
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Rachit Thukral
Why aerodynamics will become "even more important" under 2027 MotoGP regulations
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
16 min
Why aerodynamics will become "even more important" under 2027 MotoGP regulations
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC
Monza
2 h
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
More from
Enea Bastianini
The Pirelli test row shows why MotoGP riders need a stronger voice
MotoGP
MotoGP 1 mo
The Pirelli test row shows why MotoGP riders need a stronger voice
Enea Bastianini joins Trackhouse for 2027 MotoGP season after Tech3 exit
MotoGP
MotoGP
Aragon GP
2 mo
Enea Bastianini joins Trackhouse for 2027 MotoGP season after Tech3 exit
More from
Pramac Racing
Jack Miller explains pitlane outburst: "We look like w***ers"
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
13 d
Jack Miller explains pitlane outburst: "We look like w***ers"
Toprak Razgatlioglu going through a "difficult time" after shoulder surgery
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
16 d
Toprak Razgatlioglu going through a "difficult time" after shoulder surgery
Jack Miller says Australian GP cancellation “tough to swallow”: “It is pissing me off”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Australian GP
19 d
Jack Miller says Australian GP cancellation “tough to swallow”: “It is pissing me off”
Latest news
Why aerodynamics will become "even more important" under 2027 MotoGP regulations
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
16 min
Why aerodynamics will become "even more important" under 2027 MotoGP regulations
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
2 h
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe