The 27-year-old Italian joined Ducati Pramac in 2015 and last year he agreed to a one year contract extension despite being approached by Aprilia, as they sought a replacement for Sam Lowes. Although he has not yet taken a grand prix win, the Italian has achieved five podiums with his current team.
Either way, Pramac has been looking for a Petrucci substitute, and it emerged at the beginning of the month that the team is in advanced negotiations with Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia from Moto2. The agreement would see him taking his countryman’s place at Pramac to enter the Moto GP grid in 2019.
The Italian clarified in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport that he and Pramac will go their own separate ways after 2018, and that he will seek a transfer to a factory team, either Ducati or Aprilia.
He said: “Paolo Campinoti and I are aware: he took me out of hell, but we knew that this would be our last year together.”
“I have a contract with Ducati, I have an option that expires in June to step up to the factory team. Otherwise, I am a free agent.”
“This is the dream, but I think everything will be decided in the first races and I do not think this is very fair.”
“In 2017 there was a strong temptation to go to Aprilia, riding for another Italian team was very appealing, but I did not want to be ‘divorced while we lived together’.”
“However, after seven years in MotoGP, the dream is to be a factory rider.”
