Danilo Petrucci will join Andrea Dovizioso at the factory Ducati MotoGP team for 2019, replacing the outgoing Jorge Lorenzo on a one year deal.
Petrucci has been in the frame for Lorenzo’s Duacti seat in recent weeks as rumours of the Spaniards departure have got ever louder, with fellow Pramac rider Jack Miller also in the frame for the seat.
However following Lorenzo’s confirmation at Honda earlier today, Ducati have now officially announced that Petrucci will graduate to the works team in an all Italian line-up.
Petrucci joined the satellite Pramac Ducati team for the 2015 season after several years of riding privateer CRT machinery in MotoGP.
Despite a largely quiet season, Petrucci caused heads to turn with an incredible performance during a wet British Grand Prix, taking the runner-up spot on the podium behind only Valentino Rossi.
“It goes without saying that for me, being part of the factory team is a dream come true,” said Petrucci. “It’s a great honour to become an official rider for the Ducati Team, especially for someone like me who started in Ducati as a production motorcycle test rider.”
Jack Miller will therefore remain with the Pramac squad for 2019, the Australian joined by current Moto2 championship leader Francesco Bagnaia on a pair of satellite Ducati’s.
It is not known whether Miller will receive up-to-date GP19 Desmosedici machinery next year in the same way Petrucci has the last couple of years, although as Miller is contracted to Ducati themselves rather than Pramac this is likely.
