Johann Zarco was closely linked to joining the Ducati factory team for the 2021 MotoGP World Championship after Ruben Xaus announced that he was 99% sure not to stay with Avintia Racing for the next season.
The Frenchman has become a major contender for the Ducati seat, which Andrea Dovizioso will vacate after a great turnaround at the undreamt-of one-year Avintia Ducati GP19 in 2020.
Although initially not seen as an option for the Ducati factory team when he was parachuted into the Spanish team, several headline results – not least his pole position and podium in Brno – prompted Ducati to rethink .
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Avintia Racing boss Xaus has now announced that Zarco will leave his team for 2020 to be replaced by Moto2 leader Enea Bastianini.
The pieces of the puzzle come together for Ducati
Ruben Xaus confirms that @eneabastianini will join the #MotoGP with @realeavintia next year! #SanMarinoGP pic.twitter.com/7AUy565zfz
– MotoGP ™ (@MotoGP) September 11, 2020
Indeed, Ducati was originally considered unlikely to promote Zarco over protégé Pecco Bagnaia, but the Italian’s premature injury at Brno – which excluded him from three races in which his stablemate starred – means the company could play it safe by keeping it Pramac Racing, albeit on current generation machines.
In addition to Jack Miller on the factory Ducati and Tito Rabat in Avintia, Ducati still has four seats to confirm. However, it now appears that Zarco will be paired with Miller on the “red” motorcycles, with Bagnaia being accompanied by Jorge Martin while Rabat and Bastianini will compete on the Avintia.
Does Johann Zarco deserve a works Ducati rider for MotoGP 2021?
Without a doubt, Zarco was one of the standout performers of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship season and went a long way in reminding the world that he is after all a MotoGP pole position and podium winner and a two-time Moto2 World Champion.
However, he came into 2020 with doubts about his determination after a hot spell at KTM – which resulted in an early divorce and a less favorable reputation in the paddock – and a decision by Honda to choose Alex Marquez for him for that year can make it in regret this moment.
With something to prove, but without pressure to perform on the Avintia Ducati, Zarco had seldom got out of the headlines.
It would be a shame on Bagnaia, who has the pace to keep up with Zarco but was forced to put things on hold at an awkward moment. However, he will continue to pose a threat to the Pramac Racing machine.
A happy Zarco is a fast Zarco … but it remains to be seen whether the notorious pressure cooker environment of the factory Ducati team will take its toll.