Ducati has made the decision as to who will pilot the fourth Desmosedici GP24 in the field in the 2024 MotoGP season. Franco Morbidelli, whose Yamaha contract expires at the end of 2023, is moving to Pramac-Ducati.
There the Italian succeeds Johann Zarco, who is moving to LCR-Honda. Morbidelli will be Jorge Martin’s new teammate, who will also compete for the Pramac team in 2024. Morbidelli’s change has been apparent since the Barcelona weekend.
Morbidelli signed a factory contract directly with Ducati. This is valid for one year. “Franco is a very talented and experienced rider,” emphasizes Ducati Motorsport Director Gigi Dall’Igna, “who has proven more than once that he is strong and fast.
“It is no coincidence that he was runner-up in MotoGP in 2020 and won three Grands Prix. We are convinced that together with the Pramac team and our support he can realize his full potential.”
Morbidelli achieved promotion to the premier class in the 2018 season as the reigning Moto2 world champion. The Italian drove his rookie season in the then Honda customer team Marc VDS. For 2019 he moved to the then Yamaha customer team Petronas. He drove there until mid-2021, with the 2020 season being his most successful ever with three wins and the runner-up title.
When he moved to the Yamaha factory team in the summer of 2021 to take over the place of Maverick Vinales, who had moved to Aprilia, Morbidelli’s high expectations were not fulfilled. In 37 Grands Prix as a Yamaha factory pilot so far, he has only made it into the top 6 once, in Argentina 2023, when he finished fourth.
At Pramac-Ducati everything should get better for Franco Morbidelli
At Pramac-Ducati everything should get better for Morbidelli. Paolo Campinoti’s team will also receive the same Ducati specifications in the new season as those used in the factory team for Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini.
“I have a very good relationship with Franco, who has proven himself to be a champion on many occasions,” says Campinoti. “I am sure that he will find the right conditions in our team to come back and fight for the positions he deserves.”
Of the eight Ducatis in the MotoGP field, seven are now officially occupied with Morbidelli’s move to Pramac. It will be exciting to see who will drive the eighth Ducati in 2024, namely the second in the Gresini team.
According to the current status of the rumor mill, it will come down to either Fabio di Giannantonio or Marc Marquez. The latter scenario would be the most spectacular driver change for the 2024 MotoGP season. It would become possible if Marquez gets out of his Honda contract valid for 2024.