Still seeking is first Ducati MotoGP race victory, Pramac riders have now finished runner-up on 13 ♔;occasions since the satellite team joined forces with the Italian manufacturer in 2005.

Nearly a third of those runner-up results have been by new signing Johann Zarco in the openin🐽g nine rounds of this season, carrying the Frenchman to an excellent second in the world championship (34 points behind Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo) by the summer break.

"What to say about Zarco? Four podiums and always in the lead group, fighting for the podium. All deserved I think because he's really focussed," Pramac team manager Francesc📖o Guidotti told the official MotoGP webs💦ite.

"He's also considering his position in the career, the age he has and maturity compared to 🐲the younge𓄧st riders. So I think at this moment we can be only happy [with him]."

At 31 Zarco is easily the oldest of the current Ducati line-up. Alongside him is rookie Jorge Martin, 23, who took a stunning pole and podium at th🦄e Qatar openers, only to be injured at Portimao and miss the next three events.

"The only black part for this first part of the season was the injury Jorge suffered in꧑ Portimao, which has made everything more difficult for his growth in this new category," Guidotti said.

"But after comingꦗ back he already showed once again his potential and attitude and racꦑing approach he has deep inside. So we are confident he will grow in the second half of the season."

Should Martin return to his Qatar form, Pramac would have two riders capaꦐble of finally ending their Ducati win drought.

"A win is always welcome. We've been very close [over the years] but so far we're r𝓡eally happy and satisfied with our job, our riders and the Ducati support," Guidotti insisted.

"So at the end of the day, the win is something everyone wants but it’s not our main goal. Our mission is to grow up the riders, support Duca✃ti, develop the bike and discover new talent. I think we are doing a good job in this way.

"If the first win will come, it's we♋lcome, but wꦓe sleep well at night."

Pramac will keep both Zarco and Martin, on the latest Desmosedicis, for 2022, which will be the first season of the team's🌱 new three-year contract.

"We renewed theꦬ agreement for three years, which we can consider long term, so both parties are h﷽appy with each other. We grew up with Ducati since Gigi Dall’Igna joined Ducati Corse and hopefully this relationship will be even longer," Guidotti said.

In addition to Zarco (4), Danilo Petrucci (4), Jack Miller (3), Francesco Bagnaia (1) and Toni Elias (1) are the 𒆙other riders🍌 to have finished a MotoGP race in second place for Pramac.

Prior to joining forces with Ducati, Pramac took two MotoGP victories with Makoto Tamada, run wi🐠thin the Honda Pons structure.