Ducati Avintia fires Abraham to hire Zarco
The Ducati-Avintia team has just suddenly separated from Karel Abraham, yet in possession of a contract for 2020 … The reason for this unappreciated layoff of the Czech rider? The arrival of Johann Zarco on an Italian MotoGP alongside Tito Rabat ! The misfortune of some makes the happiness of others? Explanations.
Will Johann Zarco bounce back on a Ducati MotoGP in 2020 after riding a KTM for six months, a Honda for three races and a Yamaha in 2017 and 2018? Not to mention the Suzuki briefly tested in June 2016 ?! In any case, this is what the turn of events suggests since the Valencia GP, where the French double Moto2 world champion had a long discussion with Ducati….
- MNC special file :
- MNC special file :
Contacted by the leaders of Bologna the day after his fall on the Honda in Valence, Johann was offered the handlebars of a Desmosedici 2019 within the private structure Avintia. An offer initially deemed unattractive by the French, judging that the Spanish team was not a "top team" and that it would be a "mistake to go there"…
Not confident in Avintia’s ability to offer him a good bike, Johann Zarco was then moving towards a return to Moto2 at Marc VDS in place of Alex Marquez – who, let us remember, was instead of Lorenzo. But Ducati upped the ante to make the offer more attractive !
Ducati courts Zarco, the only rider to have raced four different MotoGP
The Italian brand first announced increased support for Avintia to reduce its image as a second-class satellite team, in which the pilots must participate financially and significantly. Ducati would then have given Johann the assurance of having a competitive motorcycle (the GP19) and the reinforcement of three experienced technicians.
Another prospect potentially put in the balance: that of integrating in 2021 the official Ducati team, since Petrucci and Dovizioso will then be at the end of their contract. But "Petrux" has little chance of being renewed if it does not improve its results (6th in 2019), while "Dovi" (2nd) plans to hang up after three consecutive years in the shadow of Marquez…
- MNC of August 1, 2019 : Two more seasons at Avintia for Rabat
There remains a major problem: the two current Ducati Avintia riders – Esteve "Tito" Rabat and Karel Abraham – have a formal contract and absolutely do not plan to give up their place to Johann Zarco !
Abraham out, Zarco in ?!
But at Avintia, the contracts seem to have only an essentially symbolic value: talk to the French Christophe Ponsson, ousted by Jordi Torres during his! Today it is Karel Abraham who has the bitter experience: the pilot "check" was served his dismissal last Friday through the lawyer of his team…
It is therefore the end of the career among the elite for the son of the owner of the Brno circuit, who ends this 2019 season in 24th place as the last permanent driver in the general classification … In 2080, the n ° 17 had finished 23rd and climbed to 14th in best form in MotoGP (2011 and 2012).
"I still do not understand because I had signed a contract", laments Abraham before adding that even if his former bosses reverse their decision, "I will not come back with a team that does such things to you: who would want continue with someone who does this to you? "
"I am very sad and disappointed, but I have to move on and focus on the next steps," he adds on social media. "I would like to say a big thank you to all my supporters, all my teams, my fans, my sponsors and especially to my family who supported me in good times and bad".
The eviction of Abraham opens the royal road to the arrival of Johann Zarco in the Avintia team, although the French does not participate in the last tests of the year this Monday and Tuesday: the n ° 5 heals his injuries to the ankle following the loss of the forward in Valencia (Spain).
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