Ducati comes into 2021 with an all-new rider line-up at its factory squad, with Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia stepping up from Pramac (where both last year were works-supported runners).
The Italian manufacturer’s 2021 machines feature a slightly altered, more predominantly red livery to that it ran last season, while also confirming long-time sponsor Lenovo as its title partner.
Ducati will be looking to defend its constructors’ crown from 2020 and end a 13-season wait for another riders’ title.
Ducati will once again field six bikes on the grid in 2021, with the two factory team riders running alongside the works-supported Johann Zarco and rookie Jorge Martin at Pramac, and the all-rookie Avintia line-up of Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini on GP19s.
Avintia launched its season in Andorra last week, while Pramac is yet to announce its launch plans for 2021.
Ducati scored two victories in 2020 courtesy of Andrea Dovizioso in Austria and Danilo Petrucci in France, while Zarco, Bagnaia and Miller added six further podiums to the marque’s total haul of nine.
Due to COVID-19 cost-saving measures, Ducati’s 2021 bike (as is the case with Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda) will be largely carried over from 2020, with engine development frozen.
Once the season starts, one aerodynamic development will be permitted for each non-concession manufacturer, while normal update rules regarding chassis, suspension, etc will be allowed.