In recent days, there have been rumors about a possible promotion of Jorge Martín from Prima Pramac to Ducati as early as next year’s MotoGP season – in exchange for Enea Bastianini.
Speculation denied by #23’s manager, Carlo Pernat, who emphasized to Motosan.es that his rider has a valid contract after the option was exercised: ‘Bastianini had a two-year contract with Ducati. In the first year with the factory team and the option for the second year, which ended on August 30. The decision to continue with the factory team or go to Pramac depended on Ducati. On August 30, Ducati renewed the option and officially stated in writing that Bastianini would be part of the factory team in 2024. As his manager, we are waiting for an official legal document confirming that an email with the contract was sent. Therefore, next season, in 2024, he will be part of the factory team’.
With Martín currently fighting for this year’s title, an immediate promotion to Ducati’s factory team cannot be ruled out entirely. However, Pernat issued a warning about the implications for Bastianini and said he would reject such a scenario: ‘Lenovo [title sponsor] or Ducati may decide differently. But they should come to me first and give me an official document. Because if Ducati changes its mind, I will have problems with my sponsors because my contracts with sponsors are based on media exposure. If you don’t go to the factory team, you will have less exposure. So it can be a legal problem. They should come to me at the end of November and tell me that they have changed their minds, and I would say no because I have an official document’.