Pramac’s Pivotal Decision: Ducati or Yamaha? Five Key Questions as MotoGP Awaits the Verdict

Key Challenges Ahead for Pramac as They Ponder Ducati Departure

Significant concerns need addressing as Pramac reaches a decision point…

Pramac's choice to either continue their partnership with Ducati or switch allegiance to Yamaha carries a series of consequential impacts.

Pramac's existing agreement to serve as a satellite team for Ducati is set to conclude by the year's end.

Until the end of July, they possess an agreement provision allowing them to prolong their collaboration with Ducati for an additional two years.

However, they have not yet decided to utilize it and possess an appealing opportunity to team up with Yamaha in the coming year.

As Pramac deliberates on their next steps, other significant choices within the MotoGP paddock are on hold…

Who is in line for the 2025 Ducati factory models?

Should Pramac opt out and switch to Yamaha bikes the following year, a pair of factory-level Ducatis will become available.

Ducati will have two additional partner teams, VR46 and Gresini.

Valentino Rossi's squad stands to gain, as they are likely to receive the factory equipment should Pramac withdraw.

VR46 will move from using last year's models to the most current versions, marking a notable advancement in their partnership with Ducati.

Could Ducati's Edge Be Slipping Away?

The term 'Ducati Cup' humorously coined for current MotoGP, stems from the fact that this leading brand boasts the highest number of motorcycles in the competition compared to its rivals.

Ducati maintains that conditions are fair for everyone and they've managed to provide teams with the most favorable conditions, enabling them to expand their lineup to eight motorcycles.

In 2022, Pecco Bagnaia clinched his inaugural title, marking the end of a 15-year drought for Ducati.

Both the manufacturer and the riders gain advantages from having a large number of identical or nearly identical motorcycles by leveraging the data collected.

This season, for instance, Marc Marquez's switch to the previous year's Ducati model from a Honda has been facilitated by his capability to measure his performance alongside seven other competitors (three of whom are riding a GP23).

Should Pramac exit, Ducati would be left with only six bikes, halving their previous advantage over KTM and Aprilia in terms of the number of riders and motorcycles.

Aprilia's rise to victory in both grand prix and sprints this season, coupled with the dynamic pairing of Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi as their riders for the upcoming year, clearly positions them as a formidable competitor expected to consistently challenge for the lead.

Should Ducati lose a significant benefit due to the vast amount of data they are able to gather, there's a concern that they might find themselves being overtaken more frequently.

Is Yamaha able to accelerate its development process?

The issues Yamaha has faced since Fabio Quartararo's 2021 MotoGP championship victory extend beyond their reduced number of bikes in the competition.

Starting from the previous year, they have only had two participants in the competition.

Certainly, the insufficient data available to Quartararo and his teammate—previously Franco Morbidelli, and currently Alex Rins—has hindered their progress.

It's quite remarkable to witness a giant in MotoGP operating merely with two motorcycles, in contrast to Ducati's fleet of eight.

Should Pramac partner with Yamaha, it would signify a significant advancement in the Japanese brand's reconstruction process.

Receiving two additional motorcycles, along with comprehensive datasets, will enable faster advancements in the development of the M1. With the concessions rule in play, Yamaha has reasons to be hopeful.

This may not lead to an immediate comeback to the forefront, but it ensures that Yamaha has all the necessary components to gradually reclaim their former greatness.

Positive or negative developments for unemployed racers?

Pramac's transition from Ducati to Yamaha is set to significantly impact the MotoGP roster for the 2025 season.

Clearly, this will affect Franco Morbidelli, the present Pramac rider, whose contract is set to end this year.

Just last season, Yamaha let him go, and it appears unlikely that they will rehire him.

Hypothetically, if Pramac switches to Yamaha, Morbidelli might find himself without a clear place to go.

Undoubtedly, the empty VR46 position is likely beckoning to him.

Coming together again with his mentor Valentino Rossi, who is on the hunt for someone to fill Marco Bezzecchi's spot, it seems like an ideal situation could be in store for Morbidelli.

This could also imply that he might continue riding a standard Ducati, similar to what he's doing this year.

The individual at the heart of Pramac's significant choice might ultimately emerge as the greatest gainer.

Fermin Aldeguer's situation took an interesting turn when Ducati revealed they had secured the young Moto2 rider for his first MotoGP race in 2025. Curiously, they left out details on which of their teams he would join.

This is due to the fact that Pramac's prospects were (and remain) unclear.

Upon signing his contract, Aldeguer expressed his anticipation of joining the Pramac team in 2025.

However, should they decide to leave, Ducati will need to secure a different position for Aldeguer.

The confirmed roster includes Pecco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, which means Aldeguer will have to transition into either the VR46 or Gresini team.

Consequently, this choice also affects if he will be on a GP25 or a GP24.

Ducati will also need to make decisions regarding Aldeguer's future by 2026.

Aldeguer's representative confidently informed Mundo Deportivo that there's a firm two-year contract in place, with the possibility of extending for an additional two years.

"In his second year, Aldeguer is set to compete on the GP26, regardless of the circumstances," affirmed Aldeguer's manager.

Without the involvement of Pramac and considering the commitment to Aldeguer's contract, Ducati's choices become more limited.

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