Jorge Martin set for Ducati MotoGP seat

Jorge Martin will move up to the MotoGP class next season, with a place at the Pramac Ducati team.

The former Moto3 world champion currently rides for the KTM-backed Ajo squad in Moto2 and the Austrian factory was thought to have an option on Martin's services for 2021.

That option, combined with rumoured MotoGP interest from Honda, led Pramac team manager Francesco Guidotti to recently state. "If Ducati will be able to sign Martin, I think it would be a miracle".

But the miracle has now happened, with Ducati sources confirming to Crash.net that the 22-year-old is set to join Pramac.

At first glance, it would appear the highly-rated Spaniard - who claimed two podiums during his rookie Moto2 campaign – will be a direct replacement for Jack Miller, who is stepping up to the Official team next season.

However, Miller's team-mate Francesco Bagnaia is yet to be confirmed as remaining with Pramac for 2021.

Ducati currently has five riders - Andrea Dovizioso (Official team), Danilo Petrucci (Official team), Jack Miller (Pramac), Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac) and Johann Zarco (Avintia) - under direct factory contract.

Martin now joins Miller in having a Ducati contract beyond 2020 (Tito Rabat's contract is with Avintia) and also becomes the first rookie on next year's grid.

Petrucci has already acknowledged Miller's move means he will need to leave Ducati, and is being linked with Aprilia, while team-mate and triple title runner-up Dovizioso is still in negotiations over a new contract.

Pramac will again join the Factory team in having the latest-spec Desmosedicis for both of its riders next season, with Avintia remaining on GP19s.

Meanwhile, the disrupted nature of this year's world championship means KTM wants to keep all four of its existing MotoGP riders - Pol Espargaro, Brad Binder, Miguel Oliveira and Iker Lecuona - for 2021, but there are rumours surrounding Espargaro's future.