Current KTM Ajo Moto2 rider Jorge Martin looks set to replace the outgoing Jack Miller at Pramac Ducati in MotoGP next year, if reports are to be believed.
According to Autosport, Martin has signed a deal to join the official Ducati satellite outfit-defecting from his current manufacturer affiliation with KTM.
The Spaniard is currently contesting his sophomore intermediate class campaign, his first on a Kalex chassis after contesting ’19 with KTM’s own before the Austrian marquee shuttered the programme ahead of this season.
Martin’s decision to leave KTM behind has likely been made due to a lack of options within the manufacturer in MotoGP, with Pol Espargaro and Brad Binder set to remain at the factory team for the foreseeable future, while Pit Beirer recently confirmed that KTM were keen to continue developing Miguel Oliveria and new signing Iker Lecuona at the Tech 3 satellite squad.
Ducati meanwhile were interested in signing Martin-as well as fellow Moto2 racer Enea Bastianini- following the promotion of Miller into the factory team to replace Danilo Petrucci, who now has to rely on a potential Aprilia deal should he want to continue his stay in MotoGP.
The Italian marque ultimately plumped for the ’18 Moto3 champion though, meaning he will join Francesco Bagnaia at Pramac for ’21.
Martin has yet to win in Moto2 ahead of his MotoGP graduation, the Spaniard initially struggling to get to grips with KTM’s tricky chassis, although he made a breakthrough in the closing stages of the campaign- scoring four top six finishers in the final five races, with a best result of second after battling team-mate Binder for victory in Australia.
