Pramac would consider Iannone reunion

If Pramac finds itself needing a new MotoGP rider for 2021 and Andrea Iannone is available, pending the outcome of his appeal against an 18-month doping ban, the satellite Ducati team would consider a reunion with The Maniac.

Team manager Francesco Guidotti explained that while Pramac is orientated towards developing young riders, there would be an element of unfinished business with Iannone, who recently expressed that he should never have left Ducati.

The #29 made his MotoGP debut with Pramac in 2013, remaining for two seasons before stepping up to the official Ducati team, where he went on to claim the factory's first victory since Casey Stoner before leaving for Suzuki and then Aprilia.

"We are mainly oriented towards young people and Iannone would be in his 30s, but historically we love him: if we were in a situation where we needed a new rider and he was looking for a motorcycle, it could be done," Guidotti told SkySport.it.

"Iannone was with us two years, in a very difficult technical situation... We were not able to make a podium and the desire to do something together has remained. If it ever happens that we find ourselves in the right conditions, nobody forbids concluding an agreement."

Nonetheless, even assuming that Iannone can get his ban reduced, a Pramac return would require either Jack Miller or Francesco Bagnaia leaving the team - perhaps for a seat at the official outfit – and Iannone to be given the nod over rising stars in Moto2.

Guidotti named Jorge Navarro, Jorge Martin and Xavi Vierge as 'interesting' riders in the intermediate category, while Aprilia has said it would like to retain Iannone in 2021.

"It is too early to make decisions, and they know they will have to wait," Guidotti said of contract discussions with Miller and Bagnaia.

"Of course, those who signed in January did 'bingo'," he added, referring to Maverick Vinales, Fabio Quartararo and Marc Marquez, who sealed their 2021 deals before the coronavirus struck.

Commenting on the rumours that Vinales had been a target for Ducati before renewing with Yamaha, Guidotti said:

"I understand they [Ducati and Vinales] were very close, but Yamaha did what they had to do: renew Vinales and promote Quartararo.

"It must be also considered that it is usually easier for a team to renew its own rider than to snatch a rider from another team. The Yamaha was also improving at the end of last season and in general it is difficult for Ducati to wrestle a rider from Yamaha or Honda."