until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Pramac Racing will retain its 2021 MotoGP underdog dream team for next year, after announcing today in news that comes as so surprise that it and Ducati have extended the contracts of both three-time podium finisher Johann Zarco and rookie sensation Jorge Martin for 2022.
The pair’s start to the season has been nothing short of exceptional, with Zarco finishing second three times, twice in Qatar and once at home in France.
With Zarco currently second in the championship and looking like Pramac’s best ever chance of finally securing its elusive first win, the news that Jack Miller will be retained by the factory team made the Frenchman staying at Pramac a given.
On the other side of the garage, Martin has already shown the talent that caused Ducati to sign him in the first place as it attempted to future-proof its rider line-up after a number of years of relying on poaching from other teams and manufacturers.
Though Martin was a pole position qualifier and podium finisher in only his second race in the premier class at Losail, we’ve since not been able to see his full potential due to injuries sustained at the Portuguese Grand Prix.
But the news of his 2022 deal is well-timed as he prepares to return to action at his home race this weekend at Barcelona.
“Johann and Jorge this year have inserted themselves very well in the Pramac Racing team,” said Ducati team leader Paolo Ciabatti.
“For this reason, together with Paolo Campinoti and Francesco Guidotti, we have decided to proceed with them into 2022.
“We will put at the disposition of both the official bikes for next season as well. We are certain that they will provide us with many satisfactions.”
Given the news that the 2022 grid is set to expand to eight Ducatis, it looks like for the first time ever that a manufacturer will supply five full-factory current-spec machines next year.
Both Pramac riders and Team Sky VR46 rider Luca Marini have all secured the same bikes as the factory line-up.
That will just leave Moto2 rookie Marco Bezzecchi (set to be announced this weekend as joining Marini at Valentino Rossi’s team) and Gresini Racing’s Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio (also news pending official confirmation) on older machinery.
