Petrucci: 2018 will be my last season at Pramac

Petrucci first joined Pramac in 2015, and while he has yet to win a grand prix, he has racked up five podium finishes in his tenure with the Italian outfit.

The 27-year-old agreed a one-year extension to his contract last year despite being courted by Aprilia as it sought a replacement for Sam Lowes.

It emerged earlier this month that Pramac is in advanced negotiations with Moto2 rider Francesco Bagnaia about bringing him to MotoGP in 2019, which would entail Bagnaia replacing Petrucci. 

Now Petrucci has clarified in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport that he and Pramac will part ways after 2018 as he seeks a move to a factory team – likely either Ducati or Aprilia.

He said: “[Pramac owner] Paolo Campinoti and I are both aware: he pulled me out from hell, but we knew 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 believe everything will be decided in the first few races and I don’t 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 didn’t want to be ‘divorced while living together’.

“However, after seven years in MotoGP, the dream is this [to be a factory rider].”

Additional reporting by Matteo Nugnes