Massimo Bartolini quit as Ducati Vehicle Performance Engineer to beꦿcome Yamaha’s technical director.

Marco Nicotra left the Itali♎an for the Japanese manufactuꦐrer to become head of aerodynamics.

These two acquisitions are a major boost for Yamaha who are reeling from a terrible season, and who lag a long way be𒁏hind Ducati.

“It's certainly not trivial to lose important pieces every year,” Paolo Campinoti, the Pramac boss🐽, told . 

“But Ducati is the strongest team from a technical point o🉐f view. 

“And it is normal that they co🌃me to fish from 🃏them. 

“Massimo, as well as being very nice, is a very good guy and I don't think a company like Yamaha can afford ꦏto continue [like this], so I understand their move."

Another high-profile departure from Ducati’s MotoGP team is Paolo Ciabatti.

Ciabatti was spo🎐rting director la𝕴st year, but has moved out of the MotoGP programme altogether to oversee the brand’s new off-road project.

And on the track, Ducati must deal with the huge arrival of Ma🌊rc Marquez - a r🗹ider who they appear to accept might ruffle some feathers.

“In this sen𝄹se, Gigi Dall'Igna is v♛ery good at managing,” Campinoti said about these changes. 

“But I feel very sorry for Paolo, to whom I am very close on a professional but ꧋also person🐎al level. 

“He's not really going away, given that ꦬhe will move on to managing off-road, but we will miss him."

Could Pramac themselves follow these Duc🃏ati figures out of the door?

Yamaha and KTM are both vocal about adding satellite teams 🎀to their 🔜brands next year.

Pramac’s current contract with Ducati - which sees them equipped wi🔯th factory-spec bikes - expires at the end of this season.

“True, but we have the optꦕion to renew,” Campinoti said.&nbs🅠p;

“Leaving Ducati is not a realistic scenario for u🌄༺s.”

Pramac kept hold of Jorge Martin, who missed out on a promotion to the Ducati factory team when he 👍failed to win the championship last season.

Martin enters this season already threatening to qui🐽t Ducati if he is not rewarded with the official team next year.

Franco Morbidelli left Yamaha and will replace Johann Zarco as Mar꧙tin’s teammate this year.