The rumors continue to swirl: Prima Pramac may choose a different path in MotoGP in 2025 after more than a decade and a half with Ducati, potentially becoming Yamaha’s satellite team. This shift could have significant impacts on multiple levels.
First and foremost, in terms of riders. Jorge Martín is confirmed to be moving to Aprilia. However, the future of his current teammate, Franco Morbidelli, is less clear. The Italian joined Pramac this year after challenging seasons with Monster Energy Yamaha, seeking to revive his career on the highly competitive Ducati Desmosedici GP24.
The start of the season was tough for Morbidelli. A training injury in January kept him out of all tests, forcing him to adapt to the bike and team during the Grand Prix events. Nevertheless, progress is evident, and Morbidelli is edging closer to top positions, seemingly justifying a contract renewal.
The question also hinges on his interest in such a renewal. If Pramac stays with Ducati, it appears to be the best sporting solution. However, in another scenario, would Morbidelli accept a return to a Yamaha YZR-M1 if the team switches to the tuning fork brand?
In this context, there could be other options for the #21 to remain on a Ducati: such as Gresini, where Marc Márquez is set to leave, or VR46 – amidst speculation that Aprilia might target Marco Bezzecchi if Maverick Viñales departs. However, Viñales’ departure from Aprilia is currently speculative. Additionally, Fermín Aldeguer is also looking for a seat in a Ducati satellite team, making seats scarce, especially without Pramac.
It could turn out that Pramac is Morbidelli’s only option to stay in MotoGP if it switches to Yamaha. Even if it’s not, returning to a Japanese bike might not be seen unfavorably. Yamaha has made progress this season, and Morbidelli has previously experienced the potential of a competitive YZR-M1 – he was vice-champion in 2020 with the satellite SRT team, securing three wins. Morbidelli’s performance decline with Yamaha coincided with the manufacturer’s struggles, resulting in a difficult-to-ride competitive bike.
Given the many changes within Yamaha’s structure, Morbidelli might be open to giving it another chance – even with a satellite team. The alternatives? MotoGP seats are limited, and as mentioned earlier, there are no guarantees of staying with a Ducati-linked team, and factory seats are increasingly limited.