MotoGP | Because Marquez is the key to Pramac’s continuity with Ducati

Pramac has until the summer to unilaterally renew the agreement which would see it remain the only team with direct support from Ducati – factory supported team – in 2025 and 2026. In the event of renewal, it would maintain the current conditions, with the two riders of his line-up contracted directly by the Bolognese manufacturer, and both would have latest generation Desmosedici GPs, identical to those of the two riders in the official garage.

This privileged position, which currently gives access to the best bikes on the grid, risked being overturned when Yamaha entered the scene and presented Pramac owner Paolo Campinoti with a very attractive offer, as the Japanese company is looking to take back his satellite team.

After receiving a refusal from VR46, which had always been Yamaha’s first choice as a future partner, the Iwata company started negotiations with Pramac.

“Our first choice was always VR46, but we couldn’t convince them. So plan B is Pramac, and we hope they accept the offer we made them,” a member of the Japanese team told Motorsport.com in Le Mans, who expects a response “immediately before or after Mugello (2 June). I don’t think we will be able to announce anything in Barcelona”, where the next Catalan Grand Prix will take place next week.

Pramac has, on the one hand, the possibility of remaining with Ducati in 2025 and 2026, with a term that expires in July. On the other hand, the advantages offered by Yamaha’s proposed route are interesting for a private team. On the other hand, the sporting aspect is very important, given the lack of competitiveness of the M1s.

The competition between Pramac and VR46 to become the closest team to Ducati was the main reason Campinoti sat down to listen to Yamaha’s offer. A move that he has seriously taken into consideration, as he realizes that he will hardly be able to maintain his current conditions with Ducati beyond 2026. This has stirred things up in Pramac, increasing the chances that Yamaha will return to having a partner team in 2025.

Another reason that has jeopardized the relationship that made Pramac the best team in 2023 and Jorge Martin the runner-up and current championship leader, is the Italian manufacturer’s firm decision to reduce expenses for its riders’ salaries. The hiring of Fermín Aldeguer, with a basic salary of around 300,000 euros, is the greatest example of this philosophy.

This change painted a gloomy picture for Campinoti, who saw himself with a view to 2025 with Franco Morbidelli and the rookie from Murcia, with the certainty of losing Martin, the fittest driver on the grid.

Fermin Aldeguer greets Marc Márquez in Portimao, the two Spaniards could coincide in Pramac in 2025

Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

If until last week Campinoti’s chances were 50/50 between staying in Ducati or leaving for Yamaha, something happened at Le Mans that brought his expectations of respecting the contract with the Borgo Panigale manufacturer to almost 95%.

Marc Marquez, who is in his first season aboard a Ducati from the Gresini team and who needed five races to reach the level of competitiveness of Martin and Pecco Bagnaia, despite riding a 2023 bike, left Jerez fifteen days ago declaring wanting to race for a factory team next year, and that the red was his favorite choice: “Pramac is a good team, but it’s not a factory team,” he said on that occasion.

In France, however, the Spaniard has reshaped his speech, opening the door to racing in a satellite formation, provided he can have the best material and the support of a factory. “Since I’m competitive, it’s clear that next year I want to try to have the latest evolution available. Whatever the bike and the colour, but the latest specification,” he said on Sunday, after pulling a another of his usual performances, recovering from 13th to second place. Ducati has already informed Campinoti that it is working on the possibility of adding Marquez to its roster of riders (he is now under contract only with Gresini) with a “pata negra” bike. Obviously, this changed the scenario overnight.

Budget for one rider only

With the new salary policy and the renewal of Bagnaia until 2026, Ducati has the budget to pay only two high salaries: that of the reigning champion, with a base of around six million euros, and that of its future neighbor in the garage . At just 26 years old and with a salary – paid by Ducati – of just under four million euros, Martin is not willing to lower his aim now that he is going through his best moment as a rider. The Madrid native has already communicated to the Rosse managers that after the Italian GP (2 June), if he does not have the contract with the official team on the table, he will sit down to talk with KTM, who has already shown interest in taking him back .

For Marquez, joining the factory team would mean having to give up most of his personal sponsors, as they are in conflict with many of those who paint Ducati red. What he would improve in terms of salary would be lost with his sponsors, some of which have important agreements and a multi-year relationship, such as Red Bull, Oakley or Allianz.

Having done the math and with Gigi Dall’Igna’s promise to receive the same treatment as the two official riders, Marquez’s change of speech at Le Mans could respond to this reflection. Furthermore, if we understand that Martin is considering continuing to ride a Ducati only if he is in the official team’s garage, that is the only formula the Italian manufacturer has to keep the two Spaniards. Otherwise, number 89 or number 93 will reinforce a rival.

Yamaha can’t find a dance partner

The big loser in this puzzle is Yamaha. One of the arguments used by the House of tuning forks to push Fabio Quartararo to renew was the articulation of the satellite team which was discontinued in 2021, not extending the agreement with RNF, which was linked to Aprilia. VR46’s rejection doesn’t leave much room for maneuver. Plan B is Pramac, from which a response is expected at Mugello. “There is no plan C. We hope that Pramac accepts our offer, which is very interesting. Otherwise, we don’t have an alternative in mind”,

a manager from Gerno di Lesmo’s team told Motorsport.com.

With all the scenario described above, it would not be unreasonable to think that Yamaha will be forced to continue in 2025 with only two M1s on the grid, despite the efforts of Lin Jarvis, its director, who wanted to leave his place with the two main portfolios (the renovation of the Quartararo and the recovery of the customer structure), closed.