Shifts on the Grid: Pramac’s Expected Move to Yamaha and the Ripple Effects in MotoGP

Key Challenges to Address as Pramac Anticipated to Depart from Ducati

Several vital concerns need resolution, as Pramac is poised to make a decision…

According to Sky Italia, Pramac is purportedly set to switch from Ducati to Yamaha, a move that is expected to have several ripple effects.

Sky Italia has indicated that Pramac is expected to officially announce their decision in the near future.

Further significant choices within the MotoGP enclosure remain on hold…

Who will secure the 2025 Ducati official motorcycles?

Should Pramac finalize their departure and opt for Yamahas in the coming year, two top-tier Ducatis will become available.

Ducati will continue its partnership with two additional independent teams, VR46 and Gresini.

Valentino Rossi's squad is anticipated to gain, should Pramac exit, through acquiring the factory equipment.

VR46 is set to transition from using previous year's models to the most current-spec motorcycles, marking a notable upgrade in their position with Ducati.

Is Ducati at Risk of Losing Its Edge?

The so-called 'Ducati Cup', a playful moniker for today's MotoGP, stems from the fact that this leading brand has a higher number of motorcycles competing than any other manufacturer.

Ducati maintains that the conditions are fair and they have provided teams with the most favorable conditions, enabling them to expand their lineup to eight motorcycles.

This event marked Pecco Bagnaia's inaugural championship victory in 2022, breaking a 15-year drought for Ducati.

The producer, along with the riders themselves, gain advantages from the availability of numerous bikes that are either identical or highly similar, by leveraging the data they provide.

This season, for instance, Marc Marquez's transition to the previous year's Ducati from a Honda has been facilitated by his capability to compare his performance with seven other riders (including three others on a GP23).

Should Pramac exit, Ducati will be left with only six bikes, halving their current advantage over KTM and Aprilia in terms of both riders and motorcycles.

Aprilia's rise to victory in both grand prix and sprint races this year, alongside the anticipated pairing of Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi as their riders next season, positions them as a clear contender to consistently battle for the lead.

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

Is Yamaha capable of accelerating its development process?

The issues Yamaha has faced since Fabio Quartararo clinched the 2021 MotoGP championship extend beyond their limited number of bikes competing.

Since the previous year, they have only had two riders compete.

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

It's quite noteworthy how a leading MotoGP manufacturer has just two motorcycles in the race, in stark contrast to Ducati's eight.

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

Receiving an additional two motorcycles, along with comprehensive datasets, will enable accelerated advancements in the M1. Given the concessions rule, Yamaha has reasons to be hopeful.

This may not lead to an immediate comeback at the top, but it sets the stage for Yamaha to gradually reclaim their former greatness.

Is it a positive or negative development 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 team member whose agreement is set to end this year.

Just last season, he was let go by Yamaha, who probably won't consider rehiring him.

Theoretically, Morbidelli might find himself at a disadvantage if Pramac switches to Yamaha, as there wouldn't be a clear alternative for him.

Undoubtedly, the empty VR46 spot will likely be beckoning him.

Reconnecting with his mentor Valentino Rossi, who is on the hunt for a successor to Marco Bezzecchi, things might just fall into place ideally for Morbidelli.

This could also imply that he has the opportunity to continue riding a Ducati model straight from the factory, as he is doing currently.

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

The future of Fermin Aldeguer took an interesting turn when Ducati revealed their decision to bring the young Moto2 racer up to the MotoGP level in 2025. Curiously, they left out the detail of which team he would join.

This is due to the fact that Pramac's future was in doubt.

Upon finalizing his contract, Aldeguer expressed his anticipation of joining the Pramac team by 2025.

However, should they decide to leave, as is currently speculated, Ducati will need to secure an alternative position for Aldeguer.

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

Consequently, this choice also influences if he will pilot a GP25 or a GP24.

Ducati needs to make decisions regarding Aldeguer's future by 2026.

Aldeguer's representative confidently informed Mundo Deportivo that they possess a solid two-year contract, with the possibility of extending it for an additional two years.

"Regardless of the circumstances, he's committed to racing with the GP26 in his second year," affirmed Aldeguer's representative.

Without Pramac's involvement and obligated to fulfill Aldeguer's contract, Ducati faces limited choices.

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