Franco Morbidelli has officially signed with Pramac Ducati, where he will race in the 2024 MotoGP season alongside Jorge Martin. A few races ago, Alex Rins was signed away from LCR Honda to take the factory Yamaha rider's place. A switch to Pramac has been widely speculated around ever since it was revealed that he will be leaving Yamaha, where he has spent the previous five seasons. This was made clearer when Marco Bezzecchi opted to remain with the Mooney VR46 Ducati team rather than join Pramac. Franco Morbidelli, the runner-up in the 2020 MotoGP Rider Championship, the 2017 Moto2 World Champion, and the 2013 European Superstock 600 Champion will return the Italian flag to the Pramac Racing team's garage three years after Pecco Bagnaia's departure. The two Yamaha riders, Morbidelli and 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo, are now trailing the overall leader and defending champion Francesco Bagnaia by a significant margin.
MotoGP: Ducati's Luigi Dall’Igna Welcomes Morbidelli to Factory-Supported Pramac Racing
Paulo Campinoti, Prima Pramac Racing Team principal, commented on Morbidelli joining Ducati-sponsored Pramac Racing: "I am very happy that Franco is joining our family for 2024. I have an excellent relationship with him, and he has proven to be a champion on many occasions. I am confident that in our team, he will find the right conditions to fight for the positions he deserves."
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General Manager of Ducati Corse Luigi Dall’Igna said, "It is a pleasure for us to welcome Franco Morbidelli to our factory-supported Pramac Racing team for the upcoming sports season, riding an official Desmosedici GP. Franco is a rider of great talent and experience, and on more than one occasion, he has demonstrated his strength and speed. It's no coincidence that in 2020, he was the MotoGP vice-world champion, winning three Grand Prix races. We are confident that, together with the Pramac Racing team and thanks to our support, he will be able to show his full potential. We look forward to embarking on this new exciting adventure together."
MotoGP: Ducati's Door Closed for Marc Marquez?
The number of alternatives available to Marc Marquez for the 2024 season is narrowing. With Prima Pramac Racing's signing of Franco Morbidelli on Monday, another piece of the 2024 MotoGP grid puzzle was revealed. There has been much talk in recent weeks regarding the eight-time World champion racing for Ducati if he decides to quit the Repsol Honda Team, where his contract has one more year to run. There have been a few openings as of late, with Gresini Racing being the most widely discussed. Now that Franco Morbidelli is here, Marc can forget about working at Prima Pramac in 2024.
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Keep in mind that Marquez kept everyone on their toes by explaining at the Misano test that he has "plan A," "plan B," and "plan C" for the future and will reveal his plan during the Indian GP or the Japanese GP.
At the Misano test, Honda showed off the first 2024 prototype. Almost every aspect of the engine was the same as the one Marc Marquez had been using all 2023. To say the least, Marquez's comments didn't augur well for his future with Honda.
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