Zarco leaves PRAMAC

2023-08-20 16:00:13

Just a few minutes after the end of the Austrian Grand Prix, the PRAMAC Ducati has released a press release to announce the goodbye of Johann Zarco at the end of the season. The 33-year-old will leave the team owned by Paolo Campinoti after having competed with its colors for the last three seasons, achieving a total of 12 podiums on the Ducati satellite of the transalpine team.

Zarco, who in the past has already ridden for Yamaha, KTM and Honda, will start a new professional path at LCR Honda next year, an announcement that is expected in the next few minutes and that will allow the French rider to keep his place in the MotoGP World Championship.

As Johann himself explained on Saturday afternoon at the Red Bull Ring, “Honda offers me an interesting project” and so “I would be proud to provide you with good information with my experience and perseverance in developing the bike. They have offered me a two-year contract with the option of a third.”

Ducati, for its part, only offered Zarco “a one-year contract”, and it was not entirely clear that it was in the MotoGP paddock: “They prefer to have me in the Superbike World Championship in the future. That could be an option, but as long as I remain competitive in MotoGP, I don’t like that idea.”pointed out the Frenchman.

This Sunday, after making his departure from PRAMAC official, Zarco commented that “I have spent four years with Ducati, three of them with the Pramac team, and I am very happy with what we have built and achieved together. In 2021, I finished the championship in fifth place, achieving my best result in MotoGP, but my goal is do even better this year. At the end of this season, I will leave with a smile because the team and Ducati have given me a lot, and together we have fought for really important achievements”.

“Next year I will face a new challenge”tells in relation to his future in the LCR Honda Team, “But for now I want to conclude this championship with my team in the best possible way. I thank my entire team, Ducati and all the people who have worked alongside me during these years we have spent together. The ultimate goal remains climb to the top of the podium and proudly sing the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, together with Paolo Campinoti, whom I sincerely thank for all the support he has given me since day one”.

For his part, the director and owner of the PRAMAC team, Paul Campinotihas also thanked the French pilot for his dedication throughout these three seasons together: “Throughout three fantastic years together with Johann, the team has taken an important step forward, thanks in large part to his immense talent. This progress has led him to be the current leader of the MotoGP championship. For this reason, I can only express my regret that he will not be part of our family in the next season, but I wish him all the luck in the world in his future projects, now I can only enjoy working with him until the end of the championship, expecting great things from him. one more time”.

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The departure of Johann Zarco is an excellent news for Franco Morbidelli; The still Yamaha rider will get on a Ducati next year, although it remains to be seen if it will be Zarco’s own bike or if he will join the ranks of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team to replace Marco Bezzecchi, to whom Ducati has offered an official GP23 in the PRAMAC team together with Jorge Martín.