Tobias Mühlbauer
Formula 1 & Motorcycle Department
MotoGP and Formula 1, that’s my thing. I turned my passion into my job at MSM and have been there for you ever since when engines roar.MORE
Di Giannantonio stays: Morbidelli becomes teammate, Aldeguer to Gresini
As the Spanish newspaper ‘Marca’, which is well informed in MotoGP circles, reports, ‘Diggia’ has turned down a highly lucrative two-year offer from Yamaha for a factory-supported place at Pramac. Instead, he will now get the last remaining GP25 at VR46, as Ducati is only planning on using three current bikes.
It has been pretty clear for a while who his teammate will be. Franco Morbidelli would not switch to Yamaha with Pramac after his past, that much was certain. VR46 has already publicly announced that it is interested in the Academy rider. ‘Franky’ will replace Marco Bezzecchi, who has moved to Aprilia, and will ride the same bike in 2025 as this year, a GP24.
That leaves Fermin Aldeguer, who signed directly with Ducati in the winter. He was actually supposed to be placed at Pramac, but that is obviously no longer possible. Instead, he will be the successor to Marc Marquez at Gresini and thus the team-mate of his brother Alex Marquez, who recently extended his contract with the traditional racing team for two years. Both will drive a GP24.
Pramac-Yamaha without Ducati options: These drivers are still in question
This means that the pool from which Yamaha can draw for Pramac is getting smaller and smaller. Everything will probably come down to a combination of an experienced driver and a rookie. Among the experienced drivers, only Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira. Yamaha seems to be interested in Augusto Fernandez only as a test rider, but the Spaniard is probably eyeing a move to the Superbike World Championship anyway.
Since Trackhouse Racing and Aprilia are keen to keep Oliveira, Miller currently seems the most likely option. A Spanish rookie could be assigned to him. According to Marca, Yamaha is talking to Moto2 World Championship leader Sergio Garcia and his brand colleague Alonso Lopez. Ai Ogura and Joe Roberts are also MotoGP candidates, but probably not at Yamaha. Ogura could succeed Takaaki Nakagami at LCR Honda. Roberts, on the other hand, is the alternative at Trackhouse if Oliveira does unexpectedly leave.
What do you think? Did Fabio di Giannantonio make the right decision? Tell us in the comments!
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