Ducati Signs 18-Year-Old Moto2 Star Fermin Aldeguer to Factory Contract
In a surprising move, Ducati announced earlier this week that they have signed 18-year-old Moto2 star Fermin Aldeguer to a aldeguer-as-one-of-the-fastest-of-new-era/” title=”Bagnaia hails future Ducati MotoGP rider Aldeguer as “one of the fastest of new era””>factory contract for the next two years with an option for two more. This news has caused quite a stir in the MotoGP world, with many wondering which team Aldeguer will race for.
Mauro Grassilli, Ducati’s new sporting director, addressed the speculation on Thursday in Portugal, stating that it is up to Pramac to decide whether or not Aldeguer will race next season in the Italian manufacturer’s satellite team. This hints at a potential termination of the partnership between the two teams at the end of this year.
While Ducati has an automatic renewal clause for 2025 and 2026, Pramac has the option to terminate the contract at the end of this season. This would prevent Aldeguer from joining Paolo Campinoti’s team, which has been Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna’s intention from the beginning.
The message from Ducati’s headquarters was clear – they are not responsible for announcing Aldeguer’s fate for 2025 at this time. However, in a recent interview with Kosport Magazine, Gino Borsoi, team manager of Pramac, exclaimed, “Obviously!” when asked if he would like to have Aldeguer on his team next season.
Aldeguer himself stated on Thursday that he takes it for granted that he will ride with Campinoti’s team next year. However, sources within the Pramac garage have revealed that the team has the power to end their partnership with Ducati for the next two years if they receive an interesting offer from another manufacturer.
Both Yamaha and KTM have reportedly held meetings with the executive of the Campinoti formation, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Aldeguer’s future.
Pramac Faces Decision to Continue with Ducati or Partner with Yamaha
The matter must be resolved before the summer break, as Ducati has set a deadline for their satellite team with whom they maintain a close collaboration. While Pramac has an exit clause in their contract with Ducati, sources within the team have expressed their satisfaction with the partnership and their intention to continue together.
It would be difficult to understand why Pramac, after achieving such a favorable status as a ‘semi-official’ team, would give that up to go with Yamaha. Logic points to the fact that this role fits better with the VR46 team owned by MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, an ambassador of the Iwata brand.
The Tavullia-based team, after a brilliant 2023 season, has lost some prominence this year and is now internally debating the decision to continue with Ducati or to partner with Yamaha.
Pramac entered the MotoGP world championship in 2002 racing Honda bikes. In 2005, they moved to race with Ducati by partnering with the D’Antin Racing structure, starting a long trajectory of comings and goings in the championship. In 2018, with Jack Miller and Danilo Petrucci in its ranks, Pramac became the best independent team.
With the arrival of Gigi Dall’Igna at Ducati, Pramac became a partner team, with Miller and Francesco Bagnaia in its garage. The engineer’s intention was to have more information and riders on track to develop the Desmosedici. Since 2020, Pramac has enjoyed bikes identical to the factory team, and its riders – Bagnaia, Miller, and lately, Jorge Martin, Johann Zarco, and Franco Morbidelli – have signed contracts directly with the Bologna manufacturer.
Future of Aldeguer and Pramac to be Decided Before Summer Break
As the MotoGP season heats up, the future of Aldeguer and Pramac remains uncertain. With Ducati’s deadline looming and potential offers from other manufacturers, the decision must be made before the summer break. While Pramac has the power to end their partnership with Ducati, sources within the team have expressed their satisfaction and intention to continue together.
Short Resume:
Ducati has signed 18-year-old Moto2 star Fermin Aldeguer to a factory contract for the next two years with an option for two more. However, it is up to Pramac to decide whether or not Aldeguer will race next season in the Italian
