Franco Colapinto sends ‘backup rider’ message to Pramac after Alpine MotoGP deal

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Pramac have announced a deal with Alpine ahead of the 2025 MotoGP season. The Formula 1 manufacturer will become their main partner.

It was already a particularly significant year for the Pramac team. They’re leaving the Ducati stable to become a Yamaha satellite squad.

This comes after Ducati snubbed Jorge Martin, who became the first rider in the MotoGP era to win the title for an independent team. They opted to sign six-time premier-class champion Marc Marquez as Francesco Bagnaia’s teammate instead.

With Martin securing a factory deal at Aprilia instead, Pramac will field an all-new line-up. Franco Morbidelli has switched to VR46 to remain within the Ducati setup.

Paolo Campinoti has recruited Jack Miller, a four-time MotoGP race-winner, after the Australian left KTM. Miguel Oliveira also arrives from Trackhouse.

Pramac will reveal their 2025 bike later this week, along with the Yamaha factory team. The Alpine logo is likely to feature on the livery.

Franco Colapinto jokes that he’s ready to ride for Pramac after Alpine agreement

As part of the arrangement, Alpine and Pramac will promote one another’s interests. For example, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the F1 drivers and MotoGP riders unite for marketing events.

Alpine finished sixth in F1’s constructors’ championship last year. They’re set to relinquish their works team status in 2026 as they start racing with Mercedes engines.

Grand Prix winner Pierre Gasly is the team leader at Enstone, partnered by newcomer Jack Doohan. Doohan is the son of MotoGP icon Mick, who has won five premier-class titles.

They’re supported by Franco Colapinto, the former Williams driver who’s just joined as their 2025 reserve. And the Argentine offered his reaction to Monday’s announcement on Instagram.

“Ah well, if you need a backup rider in MotoGP I’m here too,” he wrote.

Ducati partners had mixed feelings on Pramac winning riders’ championship

2025 will likely be a comedown year for Pramac. Yamaha finished second from bottom in last year’s constructors’ championship, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they tumbled down the order.

Their flagship rider has also seen his stock fall. Indeed, one journalist believes Pramac didn’t sign Miller for sporting reasons, suggesting that Dorna are keen to have an Australian rider on the grid.

• READ MORE: MotoGP fans predict under pressure F1 driver to move to two wheels after Pramac announce new partnership

While Ducati will suffer from the loss of Pramac, most of all when it comes to data-gathering, their sponsors may prefer the arrangement. They’ll want the factory team to be in the spotlight.

Indeed, Ducati’s sponsors want them to be most ‘important’, rather than their satellite squads. But they also recognise, in the words of Luigi Dall’Igna, that the victories ‘serve everyone’.