RiderTua.com – Relations between the VR46 and Pramac teams are reportedly ‘strained’ as they each negotiate their own futures with Ducati. Valentino Rossi and Pramac’s Ducati team contracts expire at the end of 2024 and both are trying to renew with profitable agreements.
Meanwhile, Yamaha is ready to lurk behind. They are trying to convince one of the MotoGP satellite teams to join them in 2025 and beyond.
But a media that discusses MotoGP reports that VR46 is just one step away from signing a new contract to remain with Ducati. Despite Valentino Rossi’s personal history and his role as Yamaha brand ambassador, his team has made the decision to stay with Ducati. Their new contracts will be valid for 2025 and 2026 with the option to extend further, into the era of the new MotoGP regulations. However, with his new contract, VR46 failed to fulfill his desire to enjoy factory bikes. Instead, they will continue to use 1 year old machines.
Pramac Joins Yamaha? Must be decided before the Mugello
Pramac are considering an option in their current contract to automatically renew terms with Ducati for another 2 years. They have time until the MotoGP summer break to clarify whether they will activate the clause which means keeping the two factory bikes they currently receive. Currently Pramac rider Jorge Martin leads the standings with the Desmosedici GP24.
If Pramac chooses not to renew its contract with Ducati, then VR46 will likely be given a pair of factory bikes in 2025. The relationship between VR46 and Pramac has been strained meaning Ducati is open to all possibilities.
After failing to negotiate with VR46, Yamaha turned their attention to luring Pramac in 2025. But Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis needs immediate answers. “There is no hard deadline. There are no rules, nothing is certain. But in my opinion, the latest will be Mugello on May 31-June 2,” stressed the British racing boss.
“Before Mugello, everything has to be in order. The only difficult deadline we have is planning for the future when we make investments. If we talk about the budget, of course we also talk about making additional materials or not, June has to know everything. So more or less, that’s the time ,” concluded Jarvis.
Adding a third and fourth bike to the grid is a key part of Yamaha’s recovery plan, which includes extending Fabio Quartararo‘s stay with a fantastic contract worth 12 million euros per year and making him the richest rider in MotoGP at the moment.
