Avintia Ducati set to hold first 2021 MotoGP team launch

Avintia Ducati is set to hold the first 2021 MotoGP team launch after announcing a date of February 5 for its online presentation.

The team has an all-new rider line-up this season with Moto2 champion Enea Bastianini and title rival Luca Marini taking over from Johann Zarco and Tito Rabat.

Avintia is set to run two different liveries, with Valentino Rossi's younger brother Marini remaining in Sky colours and being run by VR46 within the Avintia structure.

Marini's Sky VR46 Desmosedici was unveiled on Italian TV last December, but Bastianini's MotoGP livery remains unknown. Barring the arrival of a major new sponsor, it is expected to be similar to the Zarco/Rabat colours of last season.

While their bikes will look different, both Bastianini and Marini will be using year-old GP19-based machines. All other Ducati riders will have the GP20.

The MotoGP technical freeze means that engine design for all but KTM and Aprilia must remain unchanged until 2022, however the chassis, suspension, electronics and aerodynamics can be updated.

Zarco, promoted to Pramac for 2021, gave Avintia it's first MotoGP podium and pole position on his way to 13th in the world championship. Rabat, who is switching to WorldSBK, was just 22nd with a best finish of eleventh.

Following the Avintia launch, the Official Ducati Team (Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia) will hold its online presentation on February 9, with Repsol Honda (Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro) rumoured for February 11, KTM (Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira) and Tech3 (Danilo Petrucci and Iker Lecuona) set for February 12 and Monster Yamaha (Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo) confirmed for February 15.

Dates for the other team launches – including defending world champions Suzuki - remain unknown.