RiderTua.com – It was revealed that according to news circulating there was a release clause in Gresini’s contract as a Ducati satellite team, Yamaha could take advantage of this condition. The team owned by the late Fausto Gresini has a contract with Ducati until the end of 2025, but the deal includes a clause that rival manufacturers can take advantage of if they are willing to pay a fee.
And currently Gresini is trying to convince Ducati to supply them with a factory spec bike in the 2025 season, so they can convince Marc Marquez to stay on the team. However, it is very likely that this wish will not come true.
Yamaha Can Take Advantage of Release Clause in Gresini’s Contract with Ducati
On the other hand, the Pramac and VR46 teams are in talks with Ducati to extend their contracts as satellite teams, which will end this year. Currently, Paolo Campinoti’s team has an option in their agreement to automatically renew and maintain the 2 factory specification bikes they have been enjoying. If Pramac chooses not to renew the contract, the factory bike will likely be handed over to Valentino Rossi‘s team, not Gresini.
The disclosure of the release clause in Gresini’s contract with Ducati will definitely be of concern to Yamaha. The Iwata-based manufacturer, Japan, is desperate to add a satellite team in 2025 and it appears their pursuit of a VR46 team is at a dead end. Yamaha also tried to woo Pramac, but was unable to compete with the competitiveness of the bikes the team currently rides.
Therefore, the Gresini team, which was equipped with the Desmosedici GP23 from last year, can be considered if Yamaha is willing to pay a fee to activate their release clause. Yamaha is actually a manufacturer with deep pockets (this is proven by the new contract that makes Fabio Quartararo the highest paid rider in MotoGP) but they don’t yet have a competitive engine.
In 2025, Gresini will still remain as a Ducati satellite team unless another manufacturer comes to bail. Apart from that, Gresini will definitely try to retain Marc Marquez, who is currently only under a 1 year contract.
Balancing a team’s future with the plans of their best driver can be tricky. For Ducati and Yamaha, the deadline for satellite teams to determine their future in 2025 is expected to be around the end of May or June.
