THE highly-rated Spaniard and former Moto3 champion Jorge Martin is set to join the Pramac Ducati MotoGP squad for the 2021 season.
Rumours of the switch from Moto2 to MotoGP have been swirling for some time, although it was thought by many inside the paddock that the 22-year-old would sign with Honda in a satellite role.
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The Honda interest was so strong in fact, it even prompted Pramac team boss, Francesco Guidotti to state, “If Ducati will be able to sign Martin, I think it would be a miracle".
Honda interest or not, Martin has indeed now signed for 2021 with a contract that is direct with Ducati and not the team he is riding for. He now joins exulted factory-backed company, with himself, Jack Miller, Andrea Dovizioso, Francesco Bagnaia, and Johann Zarco within the Ducati fold.
The move will see Petrucci leaving the Ducati team after spending the last five, fairly successful seasons with the Borgo Panigale outfit. It’s believed Petrucci will be shifting to the Aprilia team, while Dovizioso is still in negotiations for a new contract beyond this season.
The bike Martin will ride next year is confirmed to be a full-factory effort, as he’ll use the same spec of Desmosedici as Jack Miller.
Jorge Martin won the 2018 Moto3 world champion aboard the Del Conca Gresini Moto3 machine. He currently rides for the KTM-backed Ajo squad in Moto2 and the Austrian factory was thought to have an option on Martin's services for 2021.
