Pramac confident of new Ducati deal for 2014

Ducati’s long-running association with its satellite Pramac squad looks certain to continue in 2014, despite an already forgettable current MotoGP campaign.

The Italian-based Pramac squad was in the unusual situation in Laguna Seca recently of having both its contracted riders absent through injury.

Ben Spies was present at the California race but still not fit enough to ride his Desmosedici machine while the 2009 WSB champion is the final stages of recovering from a long-running right shoulder injury.

And Italian rookie Andrea Iannone was absent from Laguna Seca while recovering from a dislocated shoulder he suffered at the previous round in Germany.

There were rumours that Pramac could lose one of its bikes for 2014, with Ducati known to have held talks with Marc VDS Racing about a deal to run British Moto2 world championship leader Scott Redding.

But Pramac Ducati boss Francesco Guidotti said: “We will still be running two bikes. We started speaking to Ducati in Assen and it looks like everything is going to be the same as this year. Ben has a two-year contract and there is an option with Andrea but it seems he will be with us.”