THE highly rated Spaniard and former Moto3 champion Jorge Martin will join Pramac Ducati’s MotoGP squad for the 2021 season.
Rumors of the Moto2 to MotoGP move have been circulating for some time, although many in the paddock thought the 22-year-old would sign with Honda in a satellite role.
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Honda’s interest was so great that it even prompted Pramac team principal Francesco Guidotti to say: “If Ducati can sign Martin, it would be a miracle.”
Honda interest or not, Martin has actually now signed a contract for 2021 that will be made directly with Ducati rather than the team he rides for. He now joins an enthusiastic factory-backed company with himself, Jack Miller, Andrea Dovizioso, Francesco Bagnaia and Johann Zarco within the Ducati group.
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The move sees Petrucci leaving the Ducati team after spending the last five fairly successful seasons wearing the Borgo Panigale outfit. Petrucci is believed to join 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 as a factory performance as it will use the same Desmosedici specification as Jack Miller.
Jorge Martin won the 2018 Moto3 World Champion on board the Del Conca Gresini Moto3 machine. He is currently driving for the Ajo team supported by KTM in Moto2 and the Austrian plant should have an option for Martin’s services for 2021.