Testing is over and racing is soon, which also means it’s Team Presentation season. It was Alma Pramac Racing’s turn on Monday evening, with the Italian squad revealing their 2018 project in the Sala Olimpico at Lamborghini in Bologna, with Danilo Petrucci and newcomer Jack Miller on hand.
After some incredible podiums last year for Petrucci – including a few fights for the win – and the addition of premier class race winner Jack Miller, the team are on a high going into 2018. And joining the riders on stage were some key figures in the project including CEO of Ducati Motor Holding Claudio Domenicali, Pramac CEO and Alma Pramac Racing Team Principal Paolo Campinoti, Gruppo Alma Company Shareholder Luigi Scavone, General Manager of Ducati Corse Luigi Dall’Igna, Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti and Team Manager of Alma Pramac Racing, Francesco Guidotti.
Petrucci says he’s up for the challenge, and wants to take another step forward.
“I’m very happy to race for another season with Pramac Racing,” smiles the Italian. “I’m the rider who has raced the most in these colours and I’m proud to; we’ve done great things since I arrived in 2015. This will be the most important season so far. I have an official bike, I have big expectations and with another year of experience, I will try to do even better than last season.”
Miller, meanwhile, arrives for the first time this year. After some impressive results in testing as he gets to grips with the GP17 he’ll be riding, the Australian is settling in.
“I’m really enthusiastic to be here,” says the Queenslander. “The countdown’s now over and this is the first race weekend of the season; I’m super motivated and excited. So far we’ve done a great job in testing and I can’t wait to get to Qatar and race on Sunday. I’ve got high expectations for this new adventure.”
He’s not the only one – with that a recurring theme of the presentation, for good reason.
"We arrive at the beginning of the 2018 MotoGP season with high expectations," affirms Campinoti ahead of the season opener. "We are enthusiastic to celebrate the presentation of our team in such a prestigious location such as Lamborghini, and with the welcome participation of Ducati. It’s a great Italian party that we hope will be a good omen for the race on Sunday in Qatar. We’re embarking on a new, fascinating adventure with Alma and for this I would like to thank Luigi Scavone for the trust put in our project.”
Francesco Guidotti is also positive ahead of the new year and says the goal is to progress, as well as wishing the riders and everyone involved some good luck for 2018.
“Our target is to grow every year. In 2017 we made a big step forward in the results we achieved with Danilo Petrucci. And we welcome Jack Miller to the team, of whom we have big expectations. I want to wish both our riders the best of luck, and the same to all the engineers, technicians and staff within the team. It will be an intense season and we have to concentrate and work hard if we want to do even better.”
After a positive test at Losail with both bikes in the top ten, the lights go out for the Qatar GP on Sunday.