PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE
Danny Kent is on target to follow Jack Miller direct from Moto3 to MotoGP, after confirmation of a firm offer from the Pramac Ducati team for a three-year deal.
Pramac Ducati team manager Francesco Guidotti told press-men that the offer was on the table, but at this stage there was no pressure and no decision deadline; while the rider explained that he intended to wait and assess all offers. “I’m still in the middle of deciding,” he said.
Unlike Miller, Kent has already run one season in Moto2 – a disappointing 2013 on the uncompetitive French Mistral – and is top of pretty much every Moto2 team’s shopping list after his still-dominant season in Moto3. But the lure of MotoGP is strong.
“With Michelin coming back next year I think that it’s the best year that a Moto3 rider could think of making the jump,” Kent said. “It’s all new tires, the electronics should bring the satellite bikes closer to the factory bikes. Hopefully next year with the changes it gives the satellite teams a chance to compete.”
With all factory-team seats settled, the satellite Pramac Ducati team is the only squad at a reasonably high level that a rider looking to the big class can consider, and Kent’s is far from the only name in the frame.
Crutchlow’s name has already been mentioned, though he said at Brno his aim is to stay with Honda.
Should Kent elect to stay with his Leopard Team and move to Moto2, another strong candidate would be Johann Zarco, whose current massive lead in the middle class mirrors that of Kent.
He too is considering his options, but said he might delay any move to the top class until he is sure he can join a good team.
“I have learned again this year, when I came back to the Ajo team, how important it is to have a good team behind you,” he said. When he rode for Ajo in 2011 in 125, he was second overall. “Now I am back with the same team, I am leading the championship,” he said.
Frenchman Zarco is a voluble interviewee, and added: “I am 25 now, but Valentino shows that you can still be strong when you are more than 30.” Thus there was no hurry.
