Ducati needs ‘miracle’ to lure in-demand Jorge Martin from KTM, Honda

The 2020 MotoGP World Championship may not have turned a wheel in anger as yet but teams are still looking ahead to the future with one prospect above all others seemingly well positioned to make his debut in 2021.

Moto2 rider Jorge Martin has been linked with numerous teams for the 2021 MotoGP season, most recently with Ducati who have earmarked him for a potential move into the Pramac Racing team in place of Jack Miller, who is expected to be promoted to the factory squad.

However, while Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti says Martin is certainly on Ducati’s radar, he doesn’t believe it is leading the race to sign the 2018 Moto3 World Champion.

Currently contracted to Red Bull Ajo KTM in Moto2, a strong campaign for the Spaniard could see him in line for a move into the top-flight with the Austrian firm next year. However, Guidotti believes Honda – with whom Martin won his Moto3 title – is also working hard to lure him back into its fold.

As such, he says it would be a ‘miracle’ for Ducati to secure his services for 2021.

"For sure, Jorge Martin is under the light of Honda because he won the title with them in Moto3 two years ago,” he told the official MotoGP website. “I know they were really upset that he left them to sign for KTM, but I think they would have him back.

“And KTM, I don’t know if they would release him. If Ducati will be able to sign Martin, I think it would be a miracle. They have to be very brave and smart to get him."

However, Guidotti says there are more riders on Ducati’s wish-list, including fellow Moto2 standouts Lorenzo Baldassarri, Enea Bastianini and Jorge Navarro.

"There’s Jorge [Martin], there’s [Lorenzo] Baldassarri, [Enea] Bastianini, Alex Marquez was on the list and Jorge Navarro. They are some of the interesting young riders. In the last few days, a lot of journalists have called me about Jorge Martin but, to be honest, it’s Ducati dealing with the new riders and as far as I know, it’s not done with anyone.”

With Miller set for a factory role in 2021, Guidotti says he expected Pecco Bagnaia will remain with Pramac Racing beyond 2020 despite an indifferent rookie campaign in 2019.

"For Pecco, I think we have to give him one more year so he can get more confidence with MotoGP. Even when we come back to race this year it will be very weird, so I think he deserves to stay with us."