Zarco: Factory Ducati 'dream', 'perhaps' with Pramac

There was a surprise addition to the rider line-up on day two of private testing at Misano.

Avintia Ducati's Johann Zarco, unable to ride a Desmosedici due to the MotoGP testing regulations, took to the track on a Panigale V4 Superbike.

Following the end of lockdown, Zarco has previously used the Panigale to get his mind and body up to racing speed with training sessions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Pôle Mécanique Ales Cevennes in France.

At Misano, Zarco spoke to SkySport.it about his 2021 options, saying that until Andrea Dovizioso re-signs for the Factory Ducati team it is "a dream that I don't want to forget, I want to keep it in mind.

"Who knows if starting the World Championship well, regaining confidence, maybe there will be a chance to take that place, if Dovizioso no longer wants to continue."

But the satellite Pramac team, which unlike Avintia has the latest Desmosedici equipment, also currently has a place free for next season. Rookie Jorge Martin is set to take one of the seats, with Jack Miller moving up to the factory squad and no decision yet made on the future of Francesco Bagnaia.

"The most logical thing for me would be to stay with Ducati, take a step forward perhaps with Pramac because they have the official bikes," Zarco said. "This would be the logical thing, but you also need to deserve it, we have to see the first few races."

The Frenchman has only completed two tests so far on the Desmosedici GP19 he will race this season, at Sepang and Losail. His next MotoGP outing is set to be the Official Wednesday test, just before the new season-opener at Jerez next month.

Zarco isn’t the only Superbike on track at Misano with the factory Ducati and Kawasaki WorldSBK teams present this week, alongside race riders from MotoGP's Concession manufacturers' Aprilia and KTM, plus the Ducati and Suzuki test teams.