Why Pramac holds the key to its MotoGP future with Ducati and Aldeguer’s fate

Earlier this week ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix, Ducati announced it had signed 18-year-old Moto2 star Fermin Aldeguer to a factory contract for the next two years with an option for two more, but didn’t say what team he would race for.

Ducati’s new sporting director, Mauro Grassilli, who replaces Paolo Ciabatti this year, assured on Thursday in Portugal that it was up to Pramac whether or not Aldeguer would race next season in the Italian manufacturer’s satellite team – hinting that the partnership between the two teams could be terminated at the end of this year.

The Bologna-based manufacturer explained that despite having an automatic renewal clause for 2025 and 2026, Pramac had the possibility of terminating the contract at the end of the current season, something that would logically prevent Aldeguer from joining Paolo Campinoti’s team, as has been Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna’s intention from the outset.

The message was not spread by chance. On the contrary, the offices of Bologna wanted to make it clear that it was not up to them to communicate the fate of Aldeguer for 2025 at this time, even though in a recent interview with Autosport, Gino Borsoi, team manager of Pramac, exclaimed: “Obviously!”, when asked if he would like to count on the young Spaniard next season.

The rider himself said on Thursday that he took it for granted that he will ride with Campinoti’s team next year.

From here, Autosport understands that Pramac has in its hands the decision to end that link with Ducati for the next two years, in case of receiving an interesting offer from another manufacturer.

In that sense, both Yamaha and KTM have held meetings with the executive of the Campinoti formation.

The matter must be resolved before the summer break, given the deadline set by Ducati with its satellite team with which it maintains a closer collaboration.

“It is true that we have an exit clause and it is also true that it has not yet been executed. But we have been with Ducati for many years and we are very comfortable and happy with this partnership. We have talked, we have agreed and, almost 100%, we are going to continue together. All that’s missing is the announcement,” said a source from the Pramac garage, conveying a message of absolute calm.

It would be very difficult to understand that Pramac, after achieving such a favourable status as a ‘semi-official’…