Danilo Petrucci joins Pramac Ducati

Pramac Ducati has confirmed it will replace Andrea Iannone with current Ioda Racing rider Danilo Petrucci in the 2015 MotoGP world championship.

Petrucci has signed a two-year deal with the Italian-based squad and he will partner South American Yonny Hernandez next season.

Pramac Ducati had kept Iannone’s seat vacant for a month while it waited to see if Scott Redding would be tempted to ride a Desmosedici following the collapse a factory Honda deal with Fausto Gresini.

Redding was able to clinch a factory RC213V slot with the Marc VDS Racing squad and Pramac had also had talks with Dominique Aegerter, Johann Zarco and Eugene Laverty.

But MCN learned during last weekend’s Motorland Aragon race in Spain that Petrucci had emerged as the favourite and the 23-year-old’s two-year deal was announced this morning.

Petrucci’s signing means Ducati’s line-up in 2015 will feature three Italian riders, with Andrea Dovizioso and Iannone already under contract to the factory team.

Petrucci, who is in his third year with Ioda and riding Aprilia’s ART machine this season, said: “I am very happy to have reached an agreement with Pramac Racing, a team that has shown great care and ability to promote the growth of young riders.

“I am also proud and extremely motivated for the chance to ride a Ducati, especially in light of the relationship of mutual respect that has developed these recent years with the Borgo Panigale.

“And this is for me a great start and I will try to give everything to make the most out of this opportunity for which I thank Pramac Racing. I also wanted to thank Giampiero Sacchi for giving me the opportunity to start racing at the highest level in MotoGP.”