Franco Morbidelli’s Ducati Contract and the Future of MotoGP Riders for 2024

Jakarta –

Franco Morbidelli’s contract with Yamaha will expire at the end of the 2023 season. Director of Ducati Corse, Paolo Ciabatti, said that Valentino Rossi’s student is also on the radar of the Ducati racers in the 2024 season.

Next year, Ducati will still have eight motorbikes on the track. However, the six riders of its satellite team will be out of contract at the end of the 2023 season. Now the Borgo Panigale manufacturer is managing its riders.

Ciabatti said he was impressed with VR46 Mooney Racing racer Marco Bezzecchi. He deserves a factory spec bike. But according to the rules, only four riders are allowed to use the latest factory-spec motorbikes, automatically Bezzecchi has no choice but to move to Prima Pramac Ducati.

“Bezzecchi deserves a factory bike,” Ciabatti told Sky quoted Crash, Friday (30/6/2023).

“We have to understand how it can be managed in 2024 considering there will only be four factory bikes,” he explained.

Bezzecchi really wants a factory-spec motorbike, but still stays on the VR46 Mooney Racing team. Currently the Valentino Rossi racing team uses a motorbike a year older than Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco.

“Having a factory motorbike is a dream, but I want to be here with Mooney VR46,” he said.

“The people here are the key to my success, without them I would not have done these things. Entering the Ducati satellite team is also fine, I always want my team to be with me,” he explained.

Gresini Racing’s seat slot is likely to change. Ciabatti said there was no certainty for Fabio Di Giannantonio’s fate.

“Alex Marquez is confirmed (remaining at Ducati Gresini Racing) although there has been no announcement for next year,” said Ciabatti.

“Fabio Di Giannantonio has been given a certain time to decide whether we will extend the contract or not,” he continued.

MotoGP racer manager, Carlo Pernat, has offered several names to fill Gresini Racing’s slot, Moto2 racer Tony Arbolino. But interestingly, Ducati is even considering Franco Morbidelli, who appears far from being competitive with Yamaha.

“[Manajer] Carlo Pernat is running for Tony Arbolino,” Ciabatti confirmed.

“And we spoke with VR46 for Franco Morbidelli. In the paddock there was also talk that he could replace Toprak in Superbike,” he explained.

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(riar/dry)

2023-07-02 00:05:27
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