The Italian Grand Prix is fast approaching and it's an event that Ducati absolutely does not want to miss. There will therefore be announcements, concerning both the drivers but also the satellite teams. The Pramac case is a formality but then it is discussed between Gresini and the future Aramco VR46 team based on Avintia. Foundations on which GP19s already rest. So, a formality for logical continuity? Davide Tardozzi does not agree.
Davide Tardozzi has the rank of team manager within the Red Army and is therefore familiar with strategies and negotiations. These are in full swing while the big meeting at Mugello for the Italian Grand Prix arrived. It will be at the end of this month. And we must decide, among other things, who the partners will be for the period from 2022 to 2026.
Pramac will be there, zarco also without doubt and with Jorge Martin who already has a lease until 2022 in his pocket. All with state-of-the-art machines. After that ? That's the whole question. Gresini looking for motorcycles like the next structure Aramco VR46. And these two don't play in the same league. Thus, if Fausto's children would happily be content with Desmosedici from past seasons, this is not at all the case for the flock of Valentino Rossi. Who have already made it known that they want the latest generation models. That they can afford it.
A check from the sheikhs, however, is not everything and does not guarantee avoiding failure. Davide Tardozzi thus warns about the Gazzetta Dello Sport : " not only is the signature missing, but many details are missing. Other houses make their offers. To date there is nothing signed, discussions are ongoing with VR46 and Gresini Racing and both are in dialogue with other manufacturers. There are a thousand things to put in place ».
Ducati Tardozzi: “it seems absurd to me to think of eight factory motorcycles”
The concern, apparently, is the possibility of having eight motorcycles. Which would mean that Ducati would adopt both Gresini and Aramco VR46. Tardozzi specifies that it is not the number that calls attention. But what should be put in the stands… “ There are ongoing negotiations, three years ago we had eight motorcycles. That doesn't mean it's going to happen. It seems absurd to me to think of eight factory motorcycles, it doesn't make sense. We gave Martin a factory bike this year, but the factory bike is for taking the last tenth. A rookie doesn't need a factory bike ».
And on the subject of discussions, there is the subject of bastianini, linked to Ducati and currently at Avintia which should theoretically no longer have its place under a VR46 awning having the means of its policy, necessarily oriented towards its academy. Not to mention the frontal impact with Pramac, the always ally, in the case of a supply of the next GP22s. So yes, we are far from formality given everyone's requirements.
Meanwhile, Aprilia will certainly make an offer to Gresini while Yamaha has already made his own at the VR46, with a unbeatable price for its M1s currently paid at a high price by Petronas which nevertheless put them on the top of a podium six times in 2020.
